Inverness & Culloden

Today was such a nice Sunday.  We went to Sacrament Meeting at the Inverness Church, walked along the river Ness and then went out to Culloden Battlefield. The sacrament meeting was really nice. The chapel was small compared to what we see in Utah, but it was so awesome to see that things are conducted, blessed, handled, etc. just like they are at home.  A wee lass decided that've closing hymn was extra uplifting and that she needed to come to the front of the chapel and dance (spin) to the song.  It was so cute!  Dad talked to a few of the members and missionaries, but there was nobody still in the ward that he remembered.  

The church sits right off the river Ness, so after church dad took us on a river walk...something he used to do quite often when he was in Inverness.  We walked down one side of the river then crossed over to a chain of islands that run down the middle of the river.  We walked down the chain of islands and came out on the other side of the river.  We then walked to the next foot bridge and crossed back overto the church.  What a beautiful walk!!  Mom said that she couldn't hardly stand all the nature that was calling to her.  :-)

From the church we drove out eastof Inverness to Culloden Battlefield.  This was the site where the Scotsmen that supported Prince Charlie were defeated by the British in a horribly bloody battle.  The battle lasted less than an hour, but over 1500 men died.  Prince Charlie fled Scotland to France and never returned to Scotland again.  The local residents had to bury all the bodies, so they dug graves and any body that they could identify their clan, went into the specific clan grave.  Any they couldn't identify went into the mixed clan grave.  The graves are still marked by clans.  It was a very sombering experience to think about how all those men lost their lives there. It was very peaceful out on th field...very different from that day over 200 years ago.

Dad standing outside the church in Inverness.

View from the front of the church.

A portion of the walkway on the river walk.  The river is on the left hand side.

The footbridge crossing over to the islands.

Looking up the river Ness from the bridge.  Gorgeous!!!

Mom on the river walk.

Vie w of the church from across the river.  The blue car in the parking lot is our rental.

Culloden Battlefield

Well of the Dead.  This spot is where there were a lot of deaths.  The clan graves look very similar to this, but the mound is a little larger and the stone will indicate which clan is buried there.

Mom and dad at the Culloden Monument.

A small cottage that is located right near where the British front line was during the battle.  They say that a cannon ball was found in the side of the house.

Me trying to venture inside...but to no avail.  With that small of a door, I was hoping to discover a new species of Hobbits!