... is the translated title of a 19th century travel report by Theodor Fontane. In those days Fontane, Mendelssohn and scores of English gentlemen made the journey north for inspiration and education. Today Scotland offers remote highlands and a unique coastline.
Recently we had friends and collagues making their Scottish journey for different reasons. First we had friends from Spain and we had to take them to Tentsmuir. Here is why:

a beautiful beach.

Time to take the binoculars out.

At work I was visited by a colleague from the US who has supported us with plenty of reagents and advice. And so we used the first day of the visit to tour the North East coast despite the remnants of Hurricane Katia. Here is Dunnottar castle which was our first stop...

... and here St. Cyrus beach with views all the way to Montrose and the Arbroath cliffs.

The view is a little more limited to the North but still very beautiful.

... and here a Scottish portrait.

We then went via Dundee to Braemar from where we followed the Dee to Aberdeen. And after castles, beaches, salmon rivers and Munros the only thing that was missing was the sight of the barely domesticated beast which is known as the highland cattle. Here in its usual lethargic state...

... and here with an expression resembling Janet Leigh in the shower scene of Psycho!

HW