Slept in and found that the tent gets very hot when the sun is shining on it. A nice clear sunny day. Plan to visit a castle a short distance off the route but as always it will add a couple of hours to the day. Got going and a quick study of the map showed some standing stones and a passage grave just up a side road. Get there and up we go, very steep. Unable to find the stones so off with the packs and over a gate and into a paddock full of cows but still no stones. Hot and bothered by now so decided to give up. Back to the packs and off along the road to find a circle of standing stones the other side of the side road. Cursed the map for showing them on the wrong side and they weren't much to look at anyway. Get a bit further along the road and look back and now we can see the right standing stones in the right place just over the crest of the hill where we gave up. Bugger, bugger, bugger. Not going back now, already going to be a long day. Get to the River Avon and stock up at a small general store. Like their approach to things around here.
Over the road on the other side of the river was the gate house to the Ballindalloch Castle and grounds. Not bad at all.
Not allowed to go to the castle through there (must be a short cut) have to go up the hill around to the back to get in. I asked Annette, "Is this the trail we are on?" Answer "Noooo." Silly me, maybe next time.
Get to the castle and have a good look around. Very well maintained and lots of money being spent on the upkeep. Apparently a very big estate and there are a few rules. If it stands still paint it, if it grows cut it and if it moves shoot it.
A very old castle that has been added onto numerous times over the years. When you look around inside you can see just how old parts of it is.
Annette couldn't believe the public toilets there so she took this photo to show you all what we expect next time we come a visiting your house.
Back on the move (about 3.30pm) and a fair bit of road work to get done before we are back on the correct trail.
Back to the river Spey.
Back along the railway line.
A few contented cows
Oh, a house that was next to the River Avon, a bit Swiss looking.
We managed to get to Charlestown of Aberlour, about 19 ks and very tired. Asked two gents who were fly fishing where the caravan park was and got the reply that we had a wee way to git yet and that they would give the wee lassie and her father a ride after one more cast. Well that made Annette's day. Anyway, we were escorted to their vehicle, a range rover and it was packed with gear from a weeks fishing holiday. How they got our two packs and us in I don't know but when they got us to the park Annette rewarded they both with a decent cuddle. Turns out they had both been to Australia when they were in the army together, one a Scot the other English. The Caravan Park had a huge brick wall around it and it was part of an old estate. Tent up, showered and boy did we need it after two hot humid days. Cooled down and both had a great nights sleep.
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