The earlier parts of our holiday trip are here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4
The midgies were already in the air when we woke to that stunning view in bright sunshine. Teddy was already flopped out on the dashboard and comatose from the heat. We set off for our next destination, planning to dawdle and to play at Little Gruinard bay before settling overnight at the Inverewe camp site. The sun grew ever brighter and ever hotter and then Mr L came up with a most sensible suggestion – let’s drop our plans to arrive there slowly, leg it to Inverewe and enjoy the garden in this beautiful weather, instead of tomorrow when rain is expected. Well done, that man.
And that is just what we did – we drove straight to the gardens and spent an enjoyable day. It may have been late in the season but there was still plenty to see – there were even a few Rhodies in bloom.
The front desk was advertising a “Bad” Midge Day but we found, after our recent trials, there to be relatively hardly any midges present at all. I needed my sun hat for the sun not as insect cover for a change. It was hot and quite hard work, especially as I was lugging the Canon and a spare lens with me. I have been a little disappointed with the photographs but a few have made it through Lightroom to the blog.
Much of my camera time was devoted to tree bark studies, documenting textures and patterns. My favourites were the Eucalypti, which looked like they were wearing Camo trousers.
The gardens are a brilliant place to hang out with a camera – there is so much close-up detail, wonderful landscape views and absorbed people ideal for candid shots.
With the garden under our belt, we headed for the tea room where we shared an egg mayo sandwich and had a cake and a cuppa. Verdict: poor value, with th e cakes being definitely under-par and the sandwich lacked a deal of filling though it was tasty enough.
We were still a little early for checking in at the site, about 250 metres down the road. The forest trails beckoned however I was worn out after the heat in the garden bit, so Nell and Mr L did the Forest #6 part on their own, while I napped on Brunhilde’s bed.
They were back before I knew it, so perhaps I slept.
Inverewe was our second formal camp site. Expensive but with good facilities, extremely clean and orderly, and just across the road from the sea and within sight of the gardens (the NTS own the land but the site is club-operated).
We walked out before tea to explore Poolewe, which is pleasant, and afforded ourselves of the picnic table outside the Poolewe Hotel, for a cooling pint of cider, before exploring the very interesting burial ground adjacent to the camp site.
The kirkyard was a good ‘un and once again I was presented with sights not previously seen – I love the way that each area has its own style of memorial. This time I saw something surely unique – a metal hare, adorned with glass baubles!
After our meal we sat by Brunhilde’s window and were teased by what must have been a brilliant display by the sun on the far side of the hill. What we got was quite astonishing enough though.
We have by this time given up all hope or pretence of keeping Ted out of the bedroom. In fact, these being warmer climes, he is by now sleeping on top of the duvet rather than down the bed and is in fact less troublesome that way
Ready for Part 6?
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