Viola is still on holiday in the Highlands of Scotland. On the 19th August 1921, she visited Rogie Falls near Strathpeffer. This beautiful spot remains a tourist attraction today and is famous for being a good place to see salmon leaping, which is what Viola describes.
Atlantic salmon return to the river where they were spawned to breed. They make a remarkable journey from the sea to their native river, and it is on part of their journey upstream that they may be seen leaping in rivers across Scotland. You can read more about salmon here.
On the 20th, Viola describes herself as being on the ‘Skye railway’. This refers to the Dingwall and Skye Railway. This rail link to Skye and the Hebrides was opened in 1865, and there was a branch line to Strathpeffer that opened in 1885 which may be where Viola boarded the train on her journey. The Strathpeffer branch closed in 1951 but the line from Dingwall to Kyle of Lochalsh still operates today.
August 19. Rogie Falls Strathpeffer. 6.00 p.m.
Saw salmon leaping. Have never seen them before.
Very interesting to watch.
August 20. Skye Railway. 6.00 p.m.
Saw two groups of deer. One lot ran away terror
of the train, but the other didn’t seem to mind it.
