Today we change hotels so the luggage needs to be manhandled again after breakfast.

We hop on the shuttle for a 30-minute drive to the start of our hike along the northern shore of Loch Tulla. On the way, we are told that this area was part of the film location in Skyfall and we listen to Adele’s song. Our hike this morning is another 4 1/2 miler.

Rob warns us to keep moving through the cattle. Apparently there is a bull that is skittish of people. These cows look familiar. Have we seen them before?

Along Loch Tulla amid the Highlands.

The national flower, the thistle.

This path is a gentle rolling trail with mostly gravel.

We take a selfie squinting into the wind but it keeps the midges at bay.

Ross and Cat along the trail.

Maybe checking for otters in the water.

A glimpse of an estate house that once belonged to the Ian Fleming family. His family’s residence in Scotland plus Sean Connery’s Scottish background influenced the author’s use of Scotland as Bond’s birthplace.

Near the end of the walk.

Ross with our guides Rob and Cat and driver Auggie in the middle.

Nexr stop is the River Inn in Killin for lunch.

Lunch is followed by another walk along the River Lochay to the outflow of Loch Tay. Just starting that walk here. We elect to stay back and explore Killin.

Then more time on the shuttle with a stop at the Crannog Centre. Crannogs are circular, stilted dwellings dating back to the Iron Age. Roads had not been developed yet, and therefore, homes were often built in the water and reached by boat. Some crannogs have been constructed at the Centre and there are also displays of critical skills during that period including fire-making, textile weaving, and wood-carving.

Several of the Crannogs.

Another photo.

Crannogs were also built on the water for defensive purposes; the Centre is currently constructing one on the water. Our guides told us that the little islands with trees we frequently have seen in lochs are likely above a sunken Crannog. There is evidence of 18 such Crannogs on Loch Tay alone.

We stop to check out a woodworker.

And this interesting totem that I would like to take home.

Leaving here, we have a one-hour drive to our next accommodation, the four-star Ballathie House Hotel in Kinclaven on the River Tay. The hotel was built in 1880 and currently has 53 bedrooms.

This was inside the front hallway.

Our room was upstairs.

And this was part of the upstairs hallway.

Once again, our rooms were scattered all over and each was different so we had to explore, evaluate, and critique each others’ rooms. The granddaughters got the best room this time. Once again no air conditioning. Dinner is in a private room and we were told we would be experiencing “fine dining.”

I chose the risotto tonight and it was okay but the truly nice surprise was the green vegetables.

Dessert was something chocolate. Missing the sticky toffee pudding.

The kids explore outdoors later and take this very nice photo from the other side of the hotel. Our room was on the second floor and I think the second set of windows from the left. I lament the energy that Ross and I didn’t have to wander around the property; we just wanted to sit and prop up our sore feet.

Looking at the map of where we were today. Our first hike was in the circled area on the far left, the Bridge of Orchy and Loch Tulla. Then we went to Killin for lunch near the western end of Loch Tay. Our visit to the Crannog Centre took us to the other end of Loch Tay, near Kenmore. Our hotel is in the lower circle on the right, north of Stanley and along the River Tay.