• Nancy Reavis
  • Nancy Reavis

Scotland ~ 2025

Exciting adventure to Scotland with old and new girlfriend's. Read more
  • Trip start
    July 5, 2025

    Arrived in Scotland!

    July 5 in Scotland ⋅ 🌬 15 °C

    Made it! Long airport, plane time, and 3 hours of sleep but started the adventure as soon as we landed. I'm keeping details short.

    Hop on hop off bus for grasping the city of Edinburgh. Beautiful architecture! Lots of cobblestone streets.

    There is a Scotland festival (concert) going on this weekend. Lots of live music. We found Deacon Brodies Tavern, one of the haunted taverns, enjoyed a local Scotland beer, haggis, and other Scotland local foods, and people watched.

    Headed to the haunted cemetery and underground vaults. Pretty creepy and interesting 😬 Lots of war and death.

    Got back to our hotel for a nightcap and bed. Oh man, did that bed great!
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  • Day 2!

    July 6 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    8:30 am tour guide to the country.

    St Andrew's Golf Club. Lots of history. Big golf community, college town. Lots of money 💰

    The best fish and chips in Scotland- ANSTRUTHERs, SO delicious! Close to Ireland's yumminess.

    Continued on to Fife. A fishing community. This was are only rainy spot. Had coffee and walked around town. Really pretty stone cottages.

    *We went over the bypass of the 4th Road Bridge. This is an Engineering Wonder of the World.

    On to the town of Falkland. Beautiful cathedral. Walked to the river and up a hill to find the stone that the Roman's were here. Could not find 😎

    Beautiful country.

    Back to Edinburgh for dinner and nightcap. 22,000 steps today! 18,000 yesterday. Blisters today 😫

    Early day tomorrow. Tea time with the 👸
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  • Day 3 - Edinburgh Castle Tour

    July 7 in Scotland ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    Took a guided tour of Edinburgh Castle. There are over 2 million visitors a year. The castle is built on a volcanic rock with steep rocky cliffs with the only access is from the east making it difficult to attack. However, it has been attacked over 23 times since it was built in 1633 mostly by England. They still house active military there today. The onsite prison, no longer used, was very eerie. I feel like there were spirits of the past. Lots of fun history facts but you'll have to travel to Scotland for the details😎 Pretty amazing structure. I feel like Ireland has got the Scots beat on impressive castlesRead more

  • Day 3 - Chocolates & Wine Tasting

    July 7 in Scotland ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Chocolate and wine tasting was really fun. We learned about cocoa plants and origins. How to pair different wines with chocolates. We got to make our own chocolate bars. Lots of interesting information and a real fun time.

    We headed up the Royal Mile for dinner and some local street entertainment. Only 11,281 steps today. Really fun day!
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  • Day 4 Heading to Inverness

    July 8 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Took the train from Edinburgh to Inverness. Started a bit rough. There are no attendees to help put luggage on. Very small areas to store it for the ride. Jenna had put hers in an unacceptable area, and the engineer came through and said no!!. He drug her suitcase off and started taking it to the next car. She was confused and upset that her bag was being put somewhere random, and the train whistle blew. She was crying was freaking out, thinking she would be left behind. All turned out well.

    The scenery is amazing. It was a 3 and a half hour ride up to the highlands. Mother nature has been so very great. In the 70s. Unusual for Scotland.

    Arrived in Inverness, the cubbies didn't want a 5 pound fare, 15 minute walk to hotel with all our big bags. Guess who was crabby 😫😅

    After check-in, we had time to walk around town, shopped, and took in the views.

    8pm reservations at The River House. Top notch food, fun environment. Really enjoyed our dinner.

    About 5,000 steps today.
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  • Day 5 - Balmoral Castle

    July 9 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    Our driver picked us up @ 8 am for the 2-hour drive to Balmoral Castle on a very skinny, 1-lane road. Reminded me of Ireland roads. Not for the weak or car-sick person.

    Balmoral Castle is stunning! Queen Elizabeth had it built as her person home. A place to get away from the city. The weather is once again perfect. We were able to enjoy the garden for a few hours! Very nice!

    Off to town for lunch. Wagu burger for me. Yum!

    Not sure why photos are out of order 🥴🙄

    Off to the Glenfiddish Distillery 🥃🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
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  • Day 5 - Glenfiddish Distillery

    Jul 9–14 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    Took a beautiful drive to the Glenfiddish Distillery. Very curvy and bumpy road with construction. Took a while to get there. Walked the grounds, took the tour, and tasted. The single malt #18 is my favorite! We didn't have time to go to the Glenallachie Distillery. Back to the hotel by 7, quick walk to dinner, and back to the hotel. We are all exhausted and in our room by 9 pm. Early departure to Isle of Sky and other fun places. Another 12-hour day.Read more

  • Day 6 - Loch Ness

    July 10 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Tour van picked us up at 8 AM. 1st stop was the Lochs. These are huge bodies of fresh water. Loch Morar 1,017 feet. Loch Ness 754 feet. Loch Lomond is 623 feet. The waters are dark due to the heat moss and other sediments. Not only has Nessy never been found, there are several other creatures that live in the lochs that are dangerous. Beyond Nessie, there are kelpies and water-horses, shape-shifting creatures that lure people to watery deaths. Other creatures include the Bean Nighe, a washer woman who haunts streams, and the Blue Men of the Minch, who can create storms.
    I am pretty sure I saw Nessi" 's nose popping up.
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  • Day 7 - It's my birthday 🎂 🥳 🎉

    July 11 in Scotland ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Early walk to the train station to head back to Edinburgh. We were all just a tad hung over. Had a blast listening to trad music last night.

    Getting on the train was a much better experience. Happy we had reservations as some people were left at the station. We all thought we would sleep but carried in talking and laughing 😃 Taxi to hotel. Rooms were ready by 3, checked in and got ready for our next adventures.

    We had a 5pm appointment for bag making. Really fun and super cute bags. My favorite Scotland suvineer.

    Birthday dinner @ CHAOPHRAYA Thia restaurant. Beautiful rooftop seating. Gorgeous views and the best Thai food ever. Note to self: 2 chili peppers 🌶 are like 5 in the states. We had a few cocktails 🍸 after dinner and headed to our rooms early.
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  • Day 8 - Scottish Food Tasting Tour

    July 12 in Scotland ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Headed out around 10 am for our local Scottish Food Tasting Tour. I LOVE haggis! Really great guide that offered a history of the city as we walked to different places to try local foods. We finished around 6 pm. Stopped at the secret garden for a spritz. More touring and a nightcap. Fun day ~ 30,000 steps 🤪Read more

  • Day 9 - Highland Cow Farm

    July 14 in Scotland ⋅ 🌧 19 °C

    Went to the Highland Cow farm. These cows are so adorable 🐂 One came up front and personal. Some gave him a head rub.

    Our last day and nothing planned. We went shopping, walked through the rose garden, and there was a live band and other activities happening.

    Went to room to get ready for our farewell dinner. Hawksmoor Restaurant. Best martinis ever🍸🍸

    We had one last hurrah at the hotel bar. You'll never believe that Edward Norton - villain from The Italian Job - was our bartender!
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  • Departure from Edinburgh

    July 14 in Scotland ⋅ 🌧 19 °C

    At the airport to head back to the states.

    Such a wonderful trip. Met some new friends I'm certain they will be forever. Our weather has been perfect! Sunny and in high 70s to 80s. Yesterday was the last day of the heatwave. Today is very rainy!

    Thank you guys for following my journey 💜🧚‍♀️🐂🌞👸🧚‍♂️💜
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    Trip end
    July 14, 2025