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Scotland
  • Amy Schultz
  • Amy Schultz

Scotland

“No bad weather in Scotland… just bad choice of clothing!” The highlands are calling me! Read more
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  • Trip start
    March 18, 2024
    Amy SchultzScotlandTraveler
    11

    I’m on my way!

    March 18, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F

    Flying Stand-by can be stressful sometimes…. But not today! Christy dropped me off at the airport nice and early. No lines to see an agent and get my “jumpseat” pass on Delta. Security was only 20min! I had a bit of a heart attack when I forgot my watch, but luckily had plenty of time to retrieve it from the Security “lost and found”! I got my snacks and water for the plane and was given a seat assignment before they even started boarding! A whole row to myself in Comfort+! To be able to lay down on a 10hr all-night flight is the bestest!! Feeling so grateful! ☺️Read more

  • Amy SchultzScotlandTraveler
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    Scotland… I’m here! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

    March 19, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 52 °F

    London airport was a bit crazy! Even with the kindness of no less than 8 helpful people, I still missed two flights of hoped to catch to Edinburgh! But all that is history, now. My first glimpse of Scotland out the window was green rolling hills dotted with sheep! Am I dreaming?! I caught a double-decker bus to City Center and walked to my hostel. It was hard not to run into poles or fall off curbs as I took it all in! The first view off the bus was this sharp gothic tower of a structure back-lit by the setting sun! I meeeeaaan 😲 And there’s a church view from my hostel room that’s just… I’m speachless! The hostel has to be one of the nicest I’ve ever stayed in! It’s a pod-bed, which is a first for me, but I like the privacy it offers. I’m exhausted… but the sun is setting and I don’t think I can miss the evening views, so out I go again!Read more

  • Amy SchultzScotlandTraveler
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    First night in Edinburgh

    March 19, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 46 °F

    Found out that it’s the St Giles Cathedral just outside the hostel! I walked up and down the “Royal Mile”, which is mostly very touristy, but I don’t mind one bit! SO much plaid wool, shortbread and highland cow paraphernalia everywhere! Some of the shops were so cute! I can’t start shopping now! … I’ve nowhere to put it all!! The people so far are very genuine and kind. A great beginning! Good night!! 🌙💤Read more

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    I don’t mind a moody morning!

    March 20, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 45 °F

    It’s been a drizzly morning and I really don’t mind! I imagine the stones of Edinburgh wouldn’t shine quite so well if they were dry! After I bought my croissant and Americano, I walked through a small “locally made goods” market housed in an old church. I had to have a Rhubarb & Bramble hand lotion! Yummmm! My first plan today was to climb a hill called Arthur’s Seat for the views, but when I got to the base it was raining even harder and people coming off the trail had mud way above their ankles! So pivot! As I meandered, I came across the Calton Cemetery. Cemateries only seem right to me on gloomy days anyways. The old history represented in European cemeteries always fascinates me and some of the gravestone dedications were quite beautiful. Next I walked to Calton Hill Park. It was established in 1774 and was one of Britains first public parks! The views of the city from the park were great even on a grey day! Just a couple of blocks from the park I found The Society Kitchen, a very cute place to have my lunch and warm up.Read more

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    Umbrella…ella…ella!

    March 20, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 45 °F

    After lunch the rain really started coming down, so when I saw this large covered outdoor mall, I was ready to shop for an umbrella! ☔️ 😆 It’s so nice to have no communication problems! Every other time I’ve come to Europe, I’ve had to deal with language barrier! I especially appreciate it when it comes to menus and to shopping! After buying myself some extra rain protection, I made my way past that large gothic monument I passed yesterday. It turns out it’s a tribute to Sir Walter Scott (Poet/Author) erected in 1840! I decided to walk through “old town” on my way back to my hostel. More cute shops, a view of the back of Edinburgh Castle and a stop for some specially crafted hot Chocolate.Read more

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    Together!… this time in Scotland!

    March 21, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ 🌬 48 °F

    Andrea is here and we spent our first day together in Edinburgh putting in some miles! We walked to Dean Village - a former small little village by the Water of Leith. Along the way we saw the opulent Ross Fountain from the Victorian era with views of the formidable Edinburgh Castle behind it! We also passed so many architecturally jaw-dropping churches… we just didn’t have time to see them all! It was a blustery day. Almost no rain, but winds that cut thru ya and kept rippin’ the cap right off me head! 😆 So thankful for all the layers I was wearing today! Multiple stops for warm liquids were a welcome respite from the bitter cold breeze!Read more

  • Amy SchultzScotlandTraveler
    1Tapestry
    2Crib and nursing chair of King James VIHorsehair Sporran worn by Chief Clanranald1Belt Pistol - 16451Large loom1Silver Chalises (1400-1600s)An archers outfit1Tunic with bullet hole visible

    Too much today for one post!

    March 21, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ 🌬 46 °F

    Our next planned stop was the National Museum of Scotland. This museum had SO much to see and entry was free! We didn’t have more than a couple of hours to spare, so our visit was much more abbreviated than what is needed to see all of this amazing museum! We swept through some of it and spent the majority of our time in the “Kingdom of the Scots” wing. I learned so much history and am inspired to learn more!Read more

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    Last but not least today…

    March 21, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ 🌬 46 °F

    Edinburgh Castle was last on our list today and the skies cleared enough to have some impressive views from this fortress on a rock! From a small well preserved chapel King David built in 1130, to a cannon gifted to King James II that could shoot giant cannon balls 2 miles, to the “Great Hall” (originally built 1488-1513 and restored in 1880s) that still has its original oak ceiling and houses 400 years of weapons and armory… I just kept saying WOW on this tour!Read more

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    Don’t like the weather?… Wait a minute!

    March 22, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ 🌬 39 °F

    Today’s weather was cRaZy! Woke up to sun, but the day held everything from blinding sun, sideways rain, pelting hail, freezing cold… and back to Sun again. Every 5 minutes It seemed to change. One thing was true ALL day… it was cold! We visited Hollywood Palace today, which has served as the principal royal residence in Scotland since the 16th century! I only have a few pictures because photography is mostly forbidden.Read more

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    We got our steps in today, again!

    March 22, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ 🌬 39 °F

    Not to be stopped by the unpredictable weather, we walked….a lot… again today! My feet are going to thank me when we finally leave Edinburgh with a car! So many cool things to see in this city. We finished our day with St Giles Cathedral! Founded in 1124 by King David I, it has been a working church for almost 900 years! In 1559, the church became Protestant with John Knox, the foremost figure of the Scottish Reformation, as its minister. After the Reformation, St Giles' was internally partitioned to serve multiple congregations as well as secular purposes, such as a prison and as a meeting place for the Parliament of Scotland.Read more

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    Keep cool and stay LEFT!

    March 23, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ 🌙 41 °F

    We have left Edinburgh and rented ourselves a car! A nice car! (we basically had no choice). Rentals were ridiculously priced and very low inventory. We will just have to grin and bear it! 😆😉 Driving on the right side of the car, in the left lane, in a country that loves their roundabouts… well, it’s been something!! We had a very quick stop at the Linlithgow Castle (Mary Queen of Scotts was born there). Then we drove to Stirling and will be spending one night here in an inexpensive hotel. The highlight of today was the Stirling Castle, but you’ll have to see the next post for that! I also got a few pics of the Wallace Monument just as sun was setting. Quite a stand out tower against the soft landscape!Read more

  • Amy SchultzScotlandTraveler

    Stirling Castle!

    March 23, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ 🌙 41 °F

    Stirling Castle has records as far back as 1110 and is one of the largest and most historically important castles in Scotland! (So much history in-fact that I will not be going into detail 😆). It was a lovely afternoon and the sun lit up Stirling Castle for us in the most beautiful ways! The castle stands on the edge of a cliffside on the top of a hill and the views from the walls of the castle are breathtaking! I was in picture taking heaven! It was a storybook come to life! …I don’t know how I’m going to pick only 10 pictures for this post. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤪Read more

  • Amy SchultzScotlandTraveler
    2Kelpies
    Looking out over the valley where the Battle of Bannockburn took place.2Hettie's TeaRoomThe Tea Menu! So many good ones! 😋Rovky Rainbow Tea212Our B&B1Along the River Ness in Inverness.... say that three times real fast! 😆

    Headed to the Highlands!

    March 24, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 39 °F

    Leaving Stirling today, we headed south a bit to see the “Kelpies”. The Kelpies are a pair of monumental steel horse-heads that stand about 98ft high. They are relatively new sculptures, but are fast gaining notoriety and I can see why! Next was the visitor center for the Battle of Bannockburn. I’m so glad we took the tour which was another major learning experience for me. As I looked out over the beautiful hills and fields, it was hard to imagine the carnage that took place that brought about such a win for the Scott’s freedom. Afterwards we headed north to Pitlochry with a stop at Hettie’s Tea Rooms for lunch and some highly acclaimed tea and cheesecake. My “Rocky’s Rainbow” tea was soooo good! I especially appreciate how dog friendly many places in Scotland are. Made me miss mine, though. While I had plenty of scares at the narrow streets and small parking spaces, Pitlochry was definitely worth it! And, finally, after passing through some beautiful mountains dusted with snow and dotted with sheep, we arrived at Inverness (considered the capitol of the highlands)! We are staying at a darling B&B here for two nights.Read more

  • Amy SchultzScotlandTraveler
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    Shut up Kate!

    March 25, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ 🌫 39 °F

    We have named our GPS system Kate. She can be quite insistent with her British accented directions and sometimes is quite wrong! Like today when she basically instructed us to take a right … down some stairs! 😂 Most of the the time we say “why, thank you, Kate.” Or “Will do, Kate”! But there are times that the round-about frustration comes to a head and we just say… “Shut up, Kate!” Then Andrea and I will laugh a little and carry on. 🤣 Today we started off with a very nice breakfast spread provided by our B&B hosts. Max and Angie have taken a liking to us and just before we entered the breakfast room, Angie whispered to us, “I saved you the table by the window. I told everyone you had reservation. Shhhhh” with a wink. 😉 We were both in need of some clean clothes, so finding a laundromat was a priority today. We also were able to visit the site for the Battle of Culloden. A wet marshy moor! Another interesting site we visited, nearby, was the Clava Cairns. Clava Cairns were a sacred burial site thousands of years ago! The burial chambers would have been rocks piled into a sort of igloo shape with one entrance and the entire tomb would have these standing rock slabs set intermittent all around them in a larger circle.Read more

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    A walk through Inverness

    March 25, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ 🌫 39 °F

    We managed a sort of self-guided tour thru part of Inverness this afternoon. We saw the oldest house still standing in Inverness and Leakey’s Bookshop, which was a highlight for me. It’s Scotland’s largest secondhand bookstore and has everything from current day fiction to books over 100 years old (I even saw a few prints that were supposed to be over 300 yrs old)! A wood burning stove situated right in the middle keeps the place warm! It is SO cold today! It feels cold everyday, but our hosts actually said there’s snow in the forecast! We looked up the weather and it says possibly some tonight! 😳😲 We grabbed dinner-food from a grocery, earlier today, and are now back at our little B&B eating, planning and posting!Read more

  • Amy SchultzScotlandTraveler
    1Loch Ness from the farm! You can see the castle ruins!
    The babies... 4 months old!Ian... be the land/farm owner and our guide.Mac... he "helps" around the farm. 😆

    The Sound of Mooooosic!

    March 26, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 37 °F

    We had a really nice gal (Coral), in a shop in Inverness, recommend a nearby tour to meet some highland cows! That’s been a goal of mine since… before Scotland! 😆 It also just happened to be along our planned path by the Loch Ness toward the Isle of Skye! I was practically giddy! I may have done a little happy dance while giggling like a little kid! It did not disappoint! Ian (the farmer and owner of “hairy coos”) picked us and two other couples up in a small van at a parking lot beside the loch. His farm was a short distance away, up a steep and muddy road. The views of Loch Ness up there were breath taking! AND the hairy coos were so cute, even with their muddy winter coats! 😆😍Read more

  • Amy SchultzScotlandTraveler
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    Highlands road to the coast

    March 26, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 37 °F

    The drive from Loch Ness to the coast was in many ways epic and in some ways familiar! The Highlands are somewhat barren hills and mountains covered in dark (dormant) heather. Some are dusted on top with snow and have waterfalls running down into lochs (lakes) at their base. The road curves a lot and around each curve is a new “wow”! So thankful for another day of great weather!…. Which means that in-between short spells of rain or sleet we had incredibly crisp and clear views and bursts of sunshine that lit up the lochs and hills!Read more

  • Amy SchultzScotlandTraveler
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    Castle Eilean Donan

    March 26, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 36 °F

    Our last stop of the day before arriving at our B&B for the next two nights is the Castle Eilean Donan. This little island's original castle was built in the thirteenth century and was a stronghold of the Clan Mackenzie and the Clan MacRae. Because of these clans’ involvement in the Jacobite rebellions, government ships destroyed the castle in 1719. The present-day castle was reconstructed by Lieutenant-Colonel John Macrae 1912-1932. (Most rooms of the castle don’t allow photography)Read more

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    Takes pluck to get to Plockton

    March 27, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 39 °F

    We arrived at our cute B&B in Plockton yesterday. This tiny little fishing village is our home base while we visit the Isle of Skye. There are a total of two places to eat, no gas station, no grocery. There are probably a couple of ways to get here but our route from the Eilean Donan Castle was a one lane road speckled with sheep like you would see in a movie! So fun! But these one lane roads are not for the faint of heart! They are narrow, no shoulders and often steep drop offs or mud that would easily come halfway up your tires! There are potholes to avoid and “passing places” (small turn-offs two allow the passing of two vehicles) to watch for! If you come across another vehicle, you hope you are near a “passing place” or else one of you will be reversing to the next widest spot you can manage. Many cringe worthy moments in our drive, but all part of this adventure AND we did it!!Read more

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    Cheddar Scones and Toasty Buns!

    March 27, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 39 °F

    The weather took a bit of a turn last night (the windy gales woke us both up intermittently! 😯) and today we had our wettest and coldest yet! It was a wild and enchanting day on the Isle of Sky! We drove with only the smallest idea of where we were headed next and stopping when photo opportunities with turn-offs presented themselves! The temperatures were FREEZING 🥶! It was pretty common to see snow mixed with rain on the windshield! We would get out of the car to view sights briefly and dash back to shelter when our hands were numb, our ears aching and our faces stinging! Another luxury of our ride is heated seats! So thankful for toasty buns! We managed to view famous sites like Neist Point, Kilt Rock Waterfall and the picturesque town of Portree. We stopped at a cute cafe in the middle of nowhere and had a wonderful warm lunch! I love the scones here and my hot spicy cauliflower soup came with THE BEST cheddar scone EVER! 😋 Such a perfectly timed stop in a day full of chilly escapades and driving through the untamed highlands of the Isle!Read more

  • Amy SchultzScotlandTraveler
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    The gift of a sunrise walk!

    March 28, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 41 °F

    Today is my last full day in Scotland! 😢 We have done SO much and made the most of each day here! It was a blessing and a gift to wake up to the sunrise this morning! I threw some clothes on and hurried outside for a walk and some pics. I have FOMPO… Fear Of Missing Photo Opportunities!Read more

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    Epic Scotland Send-off!

    March 28, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 39 °F

    Today we drove from Plockton to our last little Airbnb in Tarbet (half-way down the west side of Loch Lomand). It would seem Scotland wanted to give us a last taste of some of its enchanting beauty mixed with a good dose of its iconic weather! We stopped in Glenfinnen to view a viaduct that was completed in 1901 (made more recently famous by being featured in Harry Potter). We were met with great views accompanied by drenching rain and wind that could knock you off your feet! Driving through Glencoe was one of the best drives yet! Breathtaking summits, valleys, waterfalls and lochs! The rain and sun played hide and peek the whole time! As we approached Loch Lomand we witnessed a vivid double rainbow! It really felt like the best Scotland send-off a girl could hope for!Read more

  • Amy SchultzScotlandTraveler
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    On my way home!

    March 29, 2024 in England ⋅ ☁️ 48 °F

    We manged one last look at Loch Lomand before making the drive to the airport to return our spiffy rental car. We said our sad goodbyes to Kate “our GPS” 🤣 and our sad goodbyes to each other! Andrea’s UK adventure continues, but I had a quick flight on British Air to London. It turned a bit lengthy after a delayed departure and then no buses to take us to the terminal when we landed! Then there’s another bus to a terminal for connections. I’ve walked miles and have cleared 3 security check points 🤪! I missed a few flights I would have like to have got on and all direct flights after that have filled up! Instead, I will be taking Virgin Atlantic to L.A. and then hoping to finally catch my own airline back to Seattle late tonight! Just thankful, as always, to have a seat and SO thankful for this incredible thrilling adventure I’ve been on!Read more

    Trip end
    March 29, 2024
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