By now it was late afternoon and the rain was getting worse so we stopped at the tourist information office in Grantown to try to book a room in Inverness. A call to the Maple Court Hotel confirmed that a room was available and off we set again. The weather really closed in as we crossed the Monadliath Mountains and the final run into Inverness was very unpleasant indeed as we were battered by heavy rain and high winds.
Kevin, the manager of the Maple Court Hotel, is originally from the Isle of Skye and is a biker with a Fireblade and an early 750 Slingshot Suzuki. He insisted that we bring our jackets and trousers into a function room where he gathered up chairs to hang our sodden clothing against radiators to dry. He also had fan heaters sent to our room to help dry out gloves and boots. A kind, generous and friendly fellow indeed and I have no hesitation in recommending his hotel to any of you who happen to be up that way.