THE MISSING LINK IS MISSING NO MORE

The walk in September was a bit of a departure for us as it was, essentially, an urban walk. We tend to like being in the countryside, and there is a lot of it about around Inverness. Today, however, Mac and Janet took us round some bits of Inverness we hardly knew existed.

The adventure started off mundanely enough in Tesco's car park and there was plenty room for all of us. It was a little damp to begin with.

Soon enough we were saying Mar sin leibh to the car park and setting off on the walk.

We crossed the line and there was no going back. Well, actually there was, but from a different direction.

Before we had gone any distance, our guides pointed out a tree stump. This was no ordinary stump. The rings had been counted and various notable events in Inverness were marked on the at the appropriate tree ring. An interesting exercise in dendrochronolgy. 

So, the tree was already growing at the opening of the Caledonian Canal in 1822. It was not felled to make a telephone pole when phones were invented in 1876. Nor was it used to make books for the opening of the first public library in Inverness in 1883. It wasn't used to make paper to record the only meeting of the British Cabinet outside London in Inverness in 1921. It wasn't made into the propeller of the first scheduled plane that flew into Inverness airport in 1942. It wasn't felled to help in the construction of the Kessock Bridge in 1982, nor was it used to make a poster for the first RockNess festival in 2006.

It stood for over 180 years and a lot happened in that time. Remarkably no mention was made of Dave teaching at the High School during all that time.

We walked past the tranquil waters of the Holm Burn.

We passed a mysterious looking back garden. The consensus was that this was some sort of drainage system, but who knows for sure.

We should have passed by the entrance drive to Ness Castle. This is not a castle, but a private house. Well it should have been private, but for the rubber-neckers among us who couldn't resist a look.
Ness Castle is not, in fact, a castle. It is a Georgian villa built about 1830. It was described as a castle in an 1832 Atlas of Scotland. It was also known as Darochville and was mentioned by that name in the 1845 Statistical Account. At that time it was occupied by Lady Saltoun, who was said to be the only aristocrat living in Inverness! My, how times have changed. LLoyd George is reputed to have stayed there at the time of the cabinet meeting in Inverness. You will remember from the tree stump at Tesco's that that was in 1921. During the Second World War, the house and grounds were used by the military and the surrounding parkland was used as a golf course. I suppose that the military use was confined to officers as the poor infantry would have had little time for a round of golf.

Astonishingly, at least for the majority of us, we emerged from the undergrowth into a new and Stepford-like housing scheme. Or prestigious new development community as they seem to want to be called now.

Still, there were some nice trees left standing nearby.

Before we had a chance to look in the showhouse or to put our names down for one of the overpriced residences, we were back at the Dores Road, passing by the gates to Donald MacDonalds Inverness house. I suspect he doesn't stay there often, because he owns a chain of hotels and can't be short of places to lay down his head for the night.

From there we ventured onto new ground - literally. We started walking along the new West Link road. Apparently this was restricted to Ness-side residents only, but we were sure that Mac and Janet would speak up for us if we were challenged.

This looks like a photo of a grey sky. That is because that is what it is. I was actually trying to photograph an osprey being mobbed by gulls and crows, but I failed miserably.

The new road is very grand looking.

The crows had a wee rest after mobbing the osprey.

I have included this drawing especially for Jimmy, who could not be on the walk, but who has an obsession with the road and bridge.

This is not a scarecrow's head, but a dust monitoring station.

We left the spanking new road to get onto the riverside path that most of us did not realise existed.

We even got to see a river gauging station.

On we walked through the trees by the river.

We did attract some odd looks.

Once we got to the construction area, Hugh, otherwise known as Mr Skippy, was pleased to see that a higher standard of skip was on hire for all their waste disposal needs.

The new bridge abutments. Jimmy would have been wetting his pants by now.

Rather than do that, Mac disappeared down beside an old building. He also checked for any remaining evidence of malfeasance on the part of his sons.

Dave checked as well and declared that poor Tracey had been unfairly traduced. He couldn't believe that she possibly did all that she was alleged to have done.

A YES tree.

From the river we went up to the new road, where we noticed these little elf doors. No doubt there was a requirement in the contract to ensure that no minority was excluded.

A better view of the bridge.

The same view marred by the dinosaurs.

From here, we walked back to the cars, Tesco and the toilets.

From Tesco, we took the cars across the river, but not via the new bridge as it is not open yet! We crossed another bridge onto the Ness Islands where we were going to have our lunch.

This bridge looks quite old, but in fact, dates to 1988. The original Islands bridges were built in 1829, but they were washed away in the Great Flood of 1849. The bridges were replaced in 1852 and remained in place until they were replaced in the eighties. However, the bridge at this spot was not destroyed. It has been rebuilt and now carries the narrow gauge railway at Whin Park. 

Lunch on the Islands - what could be better?

Despite eating lunch, we risked stopping for a bridge photo on the new old bridge.

We walked through Whin Park, without paying attention to the rebuilt old bridge, because we didn't know then what we know now.

The boating pond was nice, though.

At the west end of the Park, we came upon a fence which we gazed through towards the rugby club's new playing fields and clubhouse.

We could also see the new bridge.

The fields of dreams.

Luckily Mac and Janet knew where they were going next, so off we went.

We went to get another glimpse of the bridge.

A short step to the river bank affords a more exciting view. Hold yourself in check, Jimmy. I have included two photos just so that Jimmy can overdose on it all.

From the view, we walked back to the entrance to the Park and some of us were short enough to get under the barrier without ducking.

We took access to the new steps leading up to the new bridge approach road and to the canal.

Right on  cue a yacht motored down the canal for us.

There is an underpass under the road to get you into the rugby club complex.

The back of the clubhouse.

Here we are about to pass through the underpass to get under the road. Underpasses really do exactly as the say they will.

From there it was a short walk to the Floral Hall for tea and cakes, which was pretty good.

Many thanks to Janet and Mac for organising such an interesting and informative walk.