Scotland - Day 6

Not just Day 6 but Mrs S Birthday.

We started the day with a continental style breakfast followed by Birthday Cake, baked by Tiana last night, I could feel the calories going on as I ate it!
We set off for our walk to Cluny Woods aiming to finish at Nelson’s Tower, another ‘Bucket List’ item.
If you didn’t know the opening times you can tell when it’s open by the Red Ensign flying from the top. We walked for about ninety minutes before we noticed the flag was flying fifteen minutes early so we made our way to the tower.
Run by volunteers we were greeted and set off up the 97 steps to the top. On the way up there on two levels are rooms holding displays from the original “Forres Trafalgar Society”, I know Nelson and the Trafalgar stories well but still found the displays interesting. Those that follow my Blips will know I’m not good with heights but the view from the top out over Findhorn Bay was spectacular.

Home for a ‘Birthday Tea’ largely made up of £100 worth of various cheeses from a local cheesemonger at the Connage Dairy Farm along with breads, olives etc.

Our last walk took us a short distance over to Kinloss Abbey, another fascinating place, right on Joshua and Tiana’s doorstep.
Kinloss Abbey is a Cistercian abbey and was founded in 1150 by King David I "in order to extend the benefits of civilisation to the remoter regions under his sway." The legend of its founding is similar to that of the founding of Holyrood Abbey. As well as 74 Commonwealth War Graves, almost all of which are RAF, there are the remains of family mausoleums and centuries old headstones.
Lots to see and look at.

Home for our last night, always a little downbeat, even the dogs sensed the change of mood.

It’s been great.