My travel group and I spent three days in London before traveling to Scotland (see previous post). Scotland is part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It was a sovereign state and said to have been founded in 843 A.D. Our energetic tour manager was excited to show us his country! Initially, we were supposed to fly to Glasgow but were pleasantly surprised when we learned we would take the train instead! This way, we were able to see more of the beautiful countryside.
We boarded the high speed train from London Euston Station to Glasgow Central and settled in for the 5 hour train ride. We stopped at several smaller stations along the way. This was an adventure within an adventure because I had never traveled from city to city by train. After arriving, our motor coach driver met us at the train station and drove us to our hotel. After settling in, we boarded the coach again and got a taste of contemporary Scottish fare at our welcome dinner. We were entertained by a bagpipe player dressed in full uniform, including kilts. He explained the uniform components but wouldn’t reveal what’s worn under the kilts.
The next morning, we left Glasgow and headed to Glengoyne Distillery for a tour and whiskey tasting. This distillery has been flourishing since 1833. I’m not a whiskey drinker, so I couldn’t appreciate the taste, but enjoyed the interesting tour.
We had lunch in Callender, a pretty town situated at the junction of two rivers in an area of outstanding natural beauty known as the Trossachs. Afterwards, we traveled through the famous and beautiful Glen Coe Mountains. We stayed the night at the Ballachulish Hotel, a traditional Victorian hotel on the banks of Loch Leven.
The next day, we took a ferry ride to Isle of Skye, a popular Scottish island known for its rugged landscapes, dramatic geological formations, and picturesque fishing villages, such as Portree. Our local guide met us at a designated stop and on boarded the bus. He showed us some amazing views. We enjoyed lunch in this charming town. On our way back, we returned to Ballachulish by the Skye Bridge and took a scenic drive along the “Road of Isles.”
Day four was another busy day; therefore, we got an early start. We enjoyed stunning and unspoiled landscapes as we journeyed further into the Highlands. We traveled through Great Glen, famous for its many lochs (lakes). We stopped to visit the striking ruins of Urquhart Castle. Afterwards, we visited on of the most iconic locations in Scotland, Loch Ness. It’s a tradition for visitors to hunt for the legendary monster, Loch Ness. It’s called “Nessie Hunting.”
On day five, we grabbed our windbreakers and took a ferry adventure on the Orkney Islands, off the northern most coast of Scotland. According to our tour manager, artists admire the ever-changing clouds rolling across the sky. We had another local guide to share knowledge as we visited the Standing Stones of Stennes, Skara Brae, and the remote town of Kirkwall.
On day six, we made our way ‘doon the road’ as they say in Scotland. We visited Dunrobin Castle, a stunning castle built onto the cliffs facing the North Sea. On the beautiful lawn, we enjoyed a falconry show featuring falcons and hawks. Later that day, we boarded the coach to depart for Inverness, the location of Macbeth’s castle in Shakespeare’s play. We visited the atmospheric battlefield of Culloden before departing to our chateau style hotel with the squeaky steps and multiple nooks and crannies. After dinner in the hotel, we enjoyed tea and coffee in the lounge area.
Day seven was another adventure. We were off to see the sheep dogs! We arrived at Leault Farm and were greeted by the rugged and much-respected owner and breeder. When the owner blew his whistle, each sheep dog (border collies), knew their own distinct sound. While the eleven month old dog demonstrated his skills by herding and separating the sheeps, the other dogs knew to lie down. He even demonstrated how to shear a sheep! After the much needed haircut, the sheep took off to join his family.
After a stop in the vibrant Victorian town of Pitlochry, we boarded our coach to depart to Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. That evening, we enjoyed a lively and interactive cooking show with a “wee dram” in hand. Afterwards, dinner consisted of what was cooked.
On day eight, our last day, we enjoyed a panoramic tour of Edinburg’s new town and visited Edinburg Castle, home to the Scottish Crown Jewels. Afterwards, we had free time to explore the beautiful city on our own.
Later that evening, we went to the Spirit of Scotland show. We were immersed in the captivating world of traditional Scottish music, song, and dance. The men were in Highland dance kilt uniforms. We delighted our taste buds with fine Scottish food as we enjoyed the show. Oh, by the way, as one man danced, we found out what was worn under the kilt!
Francie Mae. September 27, 2025