Holiday to Inverness: Days 1 - 2

23 - 24 March 2013
Journey up and visit to The Black Isle

Rob, Brock and I are just back from a week's holiday staying at The Bothy, Croy, near Inverness.

On the day that we were leaving for our trip, our area was hit by a heavy snowfall, with drifting of up to 4' deep in places. Our nearest neighbours were completely snowed in, we were luckily able to get away as our house is on a hill with two directions to travel in.

We stopped off at Dunkeld for lunch and to give Brock his third walk of the day, along by the river. We found a cafe that allowed dogs, albeit in a tiny annex area. We stocked up on some nice wine and food at the deli before heading to Croy.

We arrived at 5pm and got the wood burning stove fired up.

On Sunday, we started with a walk along the River Ness, from the South Kessock area towards Inverness. We saw lots of interesting buildings along the way, but this graffiti caught our eye. (Click on any photo to see a larger version.)

Rob and Brock with Rocpool restaurant in the background. Rated the #1 restaurant in Inverness on TripAdvisor - but only has one vegetarian option on the menu!

Next, we headed to the Black Isle. The weather was cold, with an icy wind.

We walked Brock at Chanonry Point, then headed back to Rosemarkie for lunch at the community-run cafe on the beach.

The lighthouse at Chanonry Point

The beach looking towards Rosemarkie

Master Brock on the beach

Cromarty was our next stopping point, where we had a warming, 'luxury' hot chocolate in a cafe and bought some cheese, second hand books and handmade soap in some of the lovely, little independent shops there.

A view from Cromarty harbour.

We drove round a little more, before heading back for a glass of red wine next to the log fire at the cottage!

Our Holiday in Inverness

Day 1:Saturday 3 October 2009
Journey up, Perth, and arriving at The Bothy, Croy

We set off at 9.25 am, stopping at Perth for lunch and a look round the farmers' market, finally arriving at The Bothy, Croy at around 5 pm.

Lunch: Goodfellow & Steven's Bakery/Cafe
JKW: jacket potato, cheese and coleslaw; lemon tea
RJW: jacket potato, cheese and beans; coffee
Cost: about £10
Also bought a cornflake/chocolate cake and a coffee tower (a gorgeous coffee eclair) downstairs in the bakery.
Recommended: Yes - nice food, quick service, good value and great cakes!

Perth Farmers' Market is a monthly event and well worth a visit.

We bought vegetarian pates from Findlater's Fine Foods, very tasty award winning pates; Anster cheeses from the St Andrews Farmhouse Cheese Company; Lime & Thyme soap from the Caurnie Soap Company; and Raspberry Wine from Cairn O' Mohr.

Thanks to excellent directions from the owners, we found the Balblair Cottages easily. They are situated 10 miles East of Inverness, near Croy. We stayed in The Bothy - a very cosy and well-appointed cottage with a gallery double bedroom reached via a spiral staircase; sitting room/dining area; kitchen and bathroom.

It is just right for two people, and the Strachans (the family that run the self-catering cottages) allow dogs, so Henry was able to come with us. There were home made cakes waiting for us, and the cottage had everything you could need for a self catering holiday - dishwasher, microwave, cooker, washing machine, bath and shower, comfortable sofa and bed, wood burning stove with plenty of free logs to burn. Soap, bed linen, towels, face cloths, iron and hairdryer were also provided, along with environmentally friendly cleaning products. They seem to have thought of everything. There was a nearby dog walk for Henry and he loved Trig, one of the Strachans' dogs who was very friendly and even came on walks with us.

We paid £276 for a week's accommodation (from 3 October, including £16 for the dog), plus £6.60 for electricity (charged on an 'as used' basis).

Here are a few photos of the interior of The Bothy.