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Today was a mix of sunshine and showers - and I managed to avoid the heavy ones!
It was also a day of visiting ruins, though the first stop, Cawdor, is still very much intact with an impressive interior.
Then I stopped at Boath Doocot - a 250 year old dove home that sits upon a castle mound with some lovely views of the area. It overlooks the site of The Battle of Auldearn in 1645 between the Royalists and the Covenanters - so a connection with the memorial I saw in Deerness.
Next on the list was the ruins of Kinloss Abbey, which was founded in 1150 for the Cistercian Order.
Then I went to Burghead on the coast of the Moray Firth. The Visitor Centre detailed the local history and was very interesting. It is located on the site of a Pictish (approx 500AD) Fort. They also had the key for the Burghead Well, which is unusual in that it has a flight of stone steps leading to a chamber containing a tank fed by a spring, therefore not a standard well. It is unknown what it's exact purpose was, and there has been speculation that it was Roman - but it is more likely to be Pictish.
Next stop was Duffus Castle, which really was duff as the north wall collapsed due to subsidence! There are still some extensive ruins to explore though.
And now for something completely different... a ruined palace. Spynie Palace was the seat of the Bishops of Moray for about 500 years and dates back to the late 12th century. Some parts are more castle like and the Bishops obviously expected trouble (which was wise) so the palace was equipped with a portcullis and murder holes.
Then I made for Dufftown, which describes itself as "Whisky Capital of the World" as there are several distilleries nearby. However, as I don't drink I didn't come here for that, but to see Balvennie Castle. Yes, it's another ruin. I'm sure that as I wandered around I was getting drunk from the dunes of the nearby distilleries!
Then I drove down the A97, which twists over the beautiful Correen Hills, to the final castle of the day - Kildrummy. This is located on the edge of the Cairngorms.
After checking into my B&B, I drove to Ballater and enjoyed a lovely fillet steak at the Clanach Grill.
Today, we drove 138 miles.
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