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Scotland 23
  • William Struth

Scotland 23

It's our Covid shut down and 35th anniversary trip! Edinburgh to Skye and Glaskow. Read more
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  • Trip start
    September 10, 2023
    William StruthScotland 23Traveler
    Arriving at our hotel, the Nira Caledonia in the new town.
    Ready to departOur first visit to the Waters of Leith WalkwayOn the walkwayHere we are standing in front of St. Bernard's Well along the walkway.Greyfriars Bobby. Commemorating a most loyal dog.Bobby's close upSharon at the Vennel View point.The main view from the Vennel viewpointA key hole view. Near the Vennel Viewpoint.Another great view of the CastleLooking out to Arthur's SeatLook at that bar! We had dinner upstairs. Haggis for me, and fish and chips for SharonWe found a dessert bar for dessert of course. This was the chocolate fondueThe castle seen while walking back to our hotel

    FIRST DAY IN SCOTLAND

    September 11, 2023 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    We arrived! We didn't expect the room to be ready at Nira Caledonia, our hotel, and it wasn't. So, we explored a bit at the Waters of Leath Walkway and had lunch. After lunch we did a hop on hop off bus tour of the city. We hopped off at the university district and tool a short walk to the Vennel View point for a view of the castle. and stopped in this great pub for dinner. and an cool dessert shop for a chocolate dipping experience! Dinner was haggis for me and fish and chips for Sharon.Read more

  • William StruthScotland 23Traveler
    The garden at the hotel. Our room was right on the garden!St. Giles Cathedral in the morning.The Royal Mile. It extends from Hollyrood Palace to the Castle.One of the closes. These alleyways are actually public ways that connect the Royal Mile to the city.The Scottish MonumentUsSt. Giles CathedralA view from Edinburgh Castle.The Royal Guard!The wedding chapel in Edinburgh Castle.The entrance to the Witchery Restaurant.Sharon at the WitcheryCadenheads whiskey samples from the jugs at the right! I bought a bottle of the peaty one.The filming location for Jaime Frasier's print shopThe entrance to Dean's villageThe waters of Leith at Dean's Village.The waters of Leith at Dean's Village.More of The waters of Leith at Dean's Village.The hotel at night

    The Castle and beyond

    September 12, 2023 in Scotland ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    Today, we did a tour to Edinburgh castle and walked the Royal Mile. We had a great tour guide, she was actually from Croatia, and was lots of fun. I ended up buying a peaty treat for myself at Cadenheads. We also explored some of the many closes off of the Royal Mile and had lunch at the Witchery. And tea and scones at Clarinda's Tearoom. We also visited the giftshop at Hollyrood Palace, and the Scottish Parliment building, a wild looking modern structure. In the evening,
    we made it down to Dean Vllage on the Wayers of Leith and then back to the hotel for dinner.    Read more

  • William StruthScotland 23Traveler
    Hairy coos!
    Mama & babyFeeding time!The HermitageRoots at the HermitageDouglas firs at the HermitageCoins in the stump at the Wishing tree.The bridge at the Hermitage. We had a great view of the fallsThe falls at the HermitageForest floor shrooms at the HermitageA stone house at Culloden FieldStanding stones at Clava CairnsMushrooms at Clava CairnsSharon didn't want to pose like Claire from The Outlander!One of the Cairns at Clava Cairns. The entrance to the burial chamber

    Off to Inverness

    September 13, 2023 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Today, we met our tour guide Dan, and tour group. We all were at the same hotel but didn't know it.

    Today was our travel day from Edinburgh to Inverness. We first stopped to see some highland coos along the way at a highway rest stop of all places. We then crossed the Firth of Forth and visited the Hermitage, originally a private park, where we walked along the forest paths and saw the Wishing tree stump. The scottish lord, who had it made, actually tried to hire a hermit to inhabit the place but had no takers! Next, we visited the battlefield memorial at Culloden, where Bonnie Prince Charlies was finally defeated. From there, we went to the Clava Cairns, where there are standing stones and burial chambers dating from prehistoric times, and finally to Inverness.Read more

  • William StruthScotland 23Traveler
    A tribute to a local musician in Inverness
    A little side street in InvernessUs on the wobbly bridgeThe view up the River Ness in InvernessSharon up close and personal with a hairy cooWhere we waited for the bus in InvernessCastle UrquhartSharon and Heather at Castle UrquhartMe and Sharon at Castle UrquhartThe ruined tower at Castle UrquhartSome ducks joined us for lunchThe view from the River Morrison going up over the West Highland mountains.Us at the LookoutThe five SistersEilean Donan CastleA rainbow, but Scotland doesn't have any leprechaunsSassy Mary's castle on the Isle of SkyeEnjoying the water of lifeSome libations in a local coffee shopDinner on Skye

    Inverness to Skye

    September 14, 2023 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    Today, we made a quick trip to Inverness with some time to explore the old town and get a cup of coffee to warm up. While we were in town, we went on the wobbly bridge, which was built by a local iron company to show off their products. I had to pick up some supplies from a local pharmacy for my cold. Then the bus took us along Loch Ness, and we stopped at Urquhart Castle to see the ruins and to have some lunch and see the wonderful views from there. No Nessy, though.

    Then we went to over the West Highland mountains and stopped at a beautiful viewpoint where we were told of the 5 sisters who wished for immortality and were turned into a mountain range. Next stop was Eilean Donan Castle for a quick photo op and finally on to the island of Skye. On Skye, we stopped for a rest break and got to see Sassy Mary's castle before we got to our hotel.    Read more

  • William StruthScotland 23Traveler
    A rent collection tower built by the MacDonalds.
    A church we passed by.Quiraing ViewpointLooking the other way at the Quiraing ViewpointMe at the Quiraing ViewpointWe went to a beach with dinosaur footprints.Views to the sea.The Old Man of Storr.The harbor in Portree.WaterfallOne of the waterfallsSome of the last heather of the season.Heather for HeatherMealt falls

    Touring The Isle of Skye

    September 15, 2023 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    Today was one of the highlights of the trip for me. We got to tour the Isle of Skye on the Troternick Peninsula. We saw the Old Man of Stoor, lots of waterfalls, the town of Portree, the head of the giant, and the Quiraing viewpoint. Oh, and the dinosaur footprint beach.

    They were the highlights, and the whole trip was beautiful.    Read more

  • William StruthScotland 23Traveler
    Loch Houm on the way to the Armadale Ferry
    Leaving SkyeA view across Loch HoumArriving in MallaigThe River MorarGlenfinnan, where Bonnie Prince Charlie landedThe Harry Potter ViaductUs at the Glenfinnan Viaduct aka Harry Potter train bridgeBen NevisMountain in GlencoeMore of GlencoeThe view from Glencoe viewpoint.Me in Glencoe valleyInverary CastleInverary waterfront

    Skye to Ineveraray

    September 16, 2023 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    After breakfast this morning, we headed to the town of Armadale and we took the Skye Ferry to Mallaig. From there, it was a short ride to a beautiful sandy beach on the River of Morar, named the Silver Sands.

    And then we are off to the valley of Glencoe and the Glencoe viewpoint. The Valley of Glencoe was absolutely gorgeous and belies the massacre that happened there. These highland Clan Cheifs were really bad people.

    We drove over the mountains and moors from Glencoe to Inverrary on Loch Fynne. The road over the Moors is built on wood logs, so it actually floats on the peat bogs. If the road did not float, the bogs could swallow cars when the bogs get wet from the rain.

    Inveraray is a pretty small town, and we did stop by the Inveraray castle. The town itself was moved by the clan chief so he could build himself his new castle.    Read more

  • William StruthScotland 23Traveler
    Our breakfast room today
    The town of Luss. An early factory townThe title says it allHairy wet coosMore ruins in the distanceOur distellery tour!Where the good stuff is madeKing and queen! At Stirling castle.A window on Stirling CastleThe Wallace Monument seen from Stirling CastleSharon at Stirling CastleFalkirk WheelA little more spinGlasgow St. Mungo muralGlasgow muralMore muralsRobert Burns in GlasgowWe got upgraded!Kelpies!Kelpies in the rain.

    The way to Glasgow

    September 17, 2023 in Scotland ⋅ 🌧 15 °C

    So it rained all day today. But we drove thru some of the most beautiful scenery. Due to a popular revolt yesterday, our tour guide Dan decided to find a place we could see some hairy coos. They were all wet from the rain but Sharon was very satisfied!

    We made a visit to Stirling Castle, which I think was my favorite castle of the trip. And then to Deanston Distillery where we got a tour and a chance to sample their whiskeys.
    Because of the rain, our tour guide decided not to go see the Kelpies, but we drove by them. What we saw instead was the Falkirk wheel, a gigantic rotating canal lock gate that is stunning, and we got to see it rotate to bring a tour boat down. Glasgow was wet and rainy, but we did get to see a couple of murals on the drive into town.

    And lastly: I shared a picture of our seats on the flight back the next day. The airline kept on changing planes and bouncing us around so when we checked in on line we were actually separated, but when we got new seat assignments at the airport, and we found that they had actually bumped us up into first class.    Read more

    Trip end
    September 18, 2023
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