Disney Magic visits Invergordon, Scotland

Today we are arriving for the Inaugural visit to Invergordon, Scotland (June 8, 2016).  The farther north we go, the longer days we have.  The sunrise is at 4:21 a.m. this morning and sunset was at 10:12 p.m.

We have a private tour set up with Gavin from Invergordon Tours.  There are 10 of us in our group going, but he has two buses with about 30 total guests from the ship.  He has arranged a private tour exclusively for our group with some extra perks that you can’t get if you booked a port adventure through the ship.  Originally, we were scheduled all aboard at 4:45 p.m., but then they extended the time in port, so we were here until 7 p.m.  That allowed Gavin to add those extra items that we weren’t originally planning.

Gavin is one of the best tour guides I have had.  He was so much fun, so informative and just such a great guy that I would highly recommend him to anyone who is thinking of doing something on your own if you are ever in Invergordon.  He does exclusive tours and just about anything someone wants to do.  He told us one time 2 guys wanted to golf 18 holes in kilts.  So he arranged the kilts and got their tee times and was the host for the day (and he doesn’t even golf).

Invergordon is known as the Crown Jewel of the Highlands.  It is a small, friendly village nestled near the head of a Firth (fjord) on an arm of the North Sea, and is surrounded by majestic mountains and gentle rolling hills that have farms everywhere.

The town was a strategic harbor for the Royal Navy during World War II.  It is also the home of the Loch Ness one of Scotland’s larges lochs and where “Nessie” the Loch Ness Monster resides.  Last night our table was inaugurated into the “Order of Nessie” by our tablemates Bob and Dale, and of course includes a special sigh that only those that belong to the Order of Nessie know.  I even have a Certificate from Nessie that I belong to the Order to Nessie.

Gavin has requested we get off the ship as soon as it is cleared so we can get a full day in of sightseeing, so our group meets at 7:45 in the atrium and heads out.  This is definitely a working dock.  No dock building, just a dock.  The tide is out right now, so the shoreline is visible with locks of rock and sand.

Gavin is right past the security gates in his kilt as promised, and we all check in and head to our bus.  While waiting for Gavin we take some pictures of the Disney Magic docked in Invergordon.

We head first down the Caledonian Canal and into the deepest waters of the Loch Ness looking for Nessie.  We have a one hour tour of the lake and get off at the Urquhart Castle.   There are some unconfirmed sightings of Nessie, but she was too quick for any of us to get a picture.

The Castle ruins date from the 13th to the 16th centuries, built on the site of an early medieval fortification. Founded in the 13th century, Urquhart played a role in the Wars of Scottish Independence in the 14^th Century. It was subsequently held as a royal castle, and was raided on several occasions by the MacDonald Earls of Ross The castle was granted to the Clan Grant in 1509, though conflict with the MacDonalds continued. Despite a series of further raids the castle was strengthened, only to be largely abandoned by the middle of the 17th century. Urquhart was partially destroyed in 1692 to prevent its use by Jacobite forces, and subsequently decayed. In the 20th century it was placed in state care and opened to the public: it is now one of the most-visited castles in Scotland.

 

We then reload our bus and go into the town Inverness and have an hour for shopping and eating.  Chuck, Janice and I head to a famous local bakery called Harry Gow to purchase meat pies.  I got a meat and mashed potato pie and it was delicious.

Next we headed to meet up with others in our group where they were having some brew at the local pub and mussels and fish n’chips.  The food was enjoyed by all.

In the meantime, Michael, Pete and Faith went shopping and Michael actually bought a kilt.  He had changed from his jeans to his kilt when he met up again with the bus.

Next we headed to the Culloden Battlefield where we got to spend an hour and walk around the battlefield or just relax and enjoy the sunshine.



The Battle of Culloden was the final confrontation of the Jacobite rising of 1745 and a part of a religious civil war in Britain. On 16 April 1746, the Jacobite were decisively defeated by loyalist troops near Inverness in the Scottish Highlands.

The quick and bloody battle on Culloden Moor was over in less than an hour when after an unsuccessful Highland Charge against the government lines, the Jacobites were routed and driven from the field.

Between 1,500 and 2,000 Jacobites were killed or wounded in the brief battle. Government losses were lighter with 50 dead and 259 wounded. The battle and its aftermath continue to arouse strong feelings.
 

Then we headed to the standing stones and burial ground called Clava Cairns (another bonus of the tour) and spent time there in the quiet valley taking pictures and enjoying the greenery of Scotland.  The are the ancient burial grounds built 3 to 4 thousand years ago.

Michael in his new kilt with Gavin.

Then we were off to the Black Isle Brewery where we received a tour by the owner/operator of a small local organic brewery.  It included actually going into the brewery where they were making the beer.  We walked over hoses, wet floors etc., not something you would do in the United States, for safety reasons, that’s for sure.

By then it was 5 p.m. and it was off to the ship to return from our day with Gavin.  Gavin was so excited he had a surprise for us.  Mickey and Minnie (the Invergordon version) met us and we got pictures taken as we ended our spectacular day.

I would love to spend more time in Scotland.  It was absolutely beautiful.  Everything was so green.  The day was nice, but definitely cool when you were near water and had a breeze.  Layered clothing is once again in order for the day.

We are met at the dock by the local bagpipers.

Then in the atrium there was another bagpiper and some Scottish dancers.

There were local townspeople down near the ship, but they couldn’t get as close as the day before.

We all met at the Walt Disney Theater at 6:30 p.m. for the Music and Comedy of John Charles.  As usual, he was funny and does great song impersonations.

I had a quick hour, so came back to the room before going to dinner in Carioca’s.  Tonight one of the regional favorites on the menu was a Guinness Meat Pie.  It was really good (but my meat pie in town was better).  Our assistant server made us special hats for the night.

Faith

Michael

 Bob and Dale

In Fathom’s after dinner Pete Matthews was the adult entertainment.  Oh my, he was hilarious and his jokes were over the top.  He did his usual juggling, but his ad lib had the audience in stitches.

After Phathom’s we visited in the hallway for quite a while with crew we know and then decided it was time to call it a night.

Worked on the blog for today, and have everything completed, now just to take the time (painfully slow) to pick pictures and upload so I can post the day’s events!

Tomorrow is Kirkwall, Scotland, so until then………..Goodnight from the Disney Magic