A Day of Lochs, Legends and Hospitality.

We’ve just returned to the cottage for the second time today. Our first return was after a delightful boat trip along the full length of Loch Ness. We didn’t spot any great beasties in the water, though we certainly heard all the stories of the Loch Ness Monster, told with such enthusiasm that every ripple suddenly seemed suspicious.

Our second return was only an hour ago, after a fabulous dinner with the McKinnons, the owners of the cottage, where we enjoyed haggis for the second time on our honeymoon.

The first time was on the day we arrived, but in the excitement of everything happening around us, I completely forgot to write about our first encounter with this rather unusual Scottish tradition. We were a little wary once we learned what goes into it, but to our surprise, we really enjoyed it. We even asked the replicator for the traditional accompaniments, which made the whole experience feel wonderfully authentic.

As for tonight’s meal, our hosts’ hospitality was exceptional. Once again, we earned the unofficial award for being the furthest travelled guests they’ve ever had stay in the cottage. They asked whether we had visited Aberdeen yet, which happens to be James’s home city. They gave us a generous list of places to explore, and we were genuinely grateful for their suggestions.

So it seems that tomorrow we are off to Aberdeen.