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ABOVE: A competitor flings a weight at the
Tain Highland Gathering, which is the place to go if you need bouncers for your
nightclub.
Invergordon (Inverness) shore excursions
Continued
from: Port of Invergordon
During the Silver Whisper's port call in Invergordon, we
took the free Silversea shuttle bus to Inverness, capital of the
Highlands and gateway to Loch Ness. (The Loch Ness Exhibition Centre is 14 miles
away.)
Inverness is a lively trading center with a good selection of
department stores and shops that cater mostly to local people. It does have
shops of interest to tourists, such as James Pringle Weavers (where you can
watch tartans being made). We saw a number of kilt shops, but Durant resisted
the temptation to dress up as Sean Connery on Formal Night.
After the half-hour ride back to the ship, we joined the ship's
excursion to the Tain Highland Gathering in a field by the sea within 15
minutes of the port. We spent the
afternoon watching pipe bands, kilted throwers of cabers and stones, young
Scottish dancers, and other competitors from as far away as Australia. The
Glenmorangie distillery sponsored the
event, and the admission ticket included a coupon good for a "wee dram" of
Glenmorangie's single Highland malt whisky. (Note to whisky drinkers:
"Glenmorangie" rhymes with "orangey." Now we've cleared that up, you can feel
comfortable ordering it at Scottish bars.)
Other Silversea excursions from Invergordon included a visit to
Foulis Castle, seat of the
Clan Munro, and the salmon leap at the
Falls of Shin.
For more
information on Inverness and the Scottish Highlands, see:
Inverness, Scotland
Highlands of Scotland Tourist
Board
To arrange your own
excursions from Invergordon, visit
shoreexcursions.co.uk, where two locals--Nigel and Elaine--offer half- and
full-day tours and guided walks. (Their minibus accommodates up to seven
passengers, and you can book by the seat or reserve the entire van. Tour
possibilities include castles, the Dalmore Distillery, the Falls of Shin, and
Loch Ness.)
Next page:
Port of Stornoway (Outer Hebrides)
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Durant
& Cheryl Imboden's