Preparing for our trip to Scotland is taking up most of my time these days. I have used the airbnb website as well as Google satellite photos to get pictures and locations of all of the places where my brother and I are going to stay. I'm giving you the "sneak preview" so here goes:
From Glasgow airport we are taking a shuttle bus to the downtown train station where we will take a train to Stirling and pick up our rental car. We'll be staying in the village of
Dollar for a couple of nights doing some hiking near the Campbell Castle and the Stirling Castle.
 |
| Looking out the bedroom window towards the Ochil Hills. |
 |
| Dollar, near Stirling UK |
 |
| Campbell Castle |
We are descended from the Campbells as well as the Gordons.
From Dollar we head towards Perth, Scone and Pitlochry staying at the Kirkmichael Apts near Blairgowrie.
 |
| Kirkmichael Apts |
Most places we are staying for 2 nights except for Isle of Skye (5 nights) and Taynuilt, Oban (6 nights). These places are jumping off points for further exploration, hiking, boat trips and other excursions (distilleries!)
After our time in Kirkmichael we head further north to Grantown-on-Spey, just skirting the Cairngorms National Park and staying in an inn called The Hearthside. We'll be hiking around Loch an Eileen - one of the most picturesque places in Scotland.
 |
| Grantown-on-Spey |
 |
| Loch an Eileen, Cairngorm National Park |
From there we have to get around Loch Ness so we will drive to Inverness and then drive on the northwest side of Loch Ness stopping to explore along the way. This will be the longest day of driving as we are headed for the Isle of Skye and staying near the northernmost part of the island.
 |
| Glamping on the Isle of Skye!! |
 |
| Isle of Skye |
We have lots of time to explore all that Skye has to offer including a boat trip to Loch Coruisk located in the Cuillin Hills. Of course we'll be stopping at the famous Bridge of Sligachin where it is said that you can gain eternal beauty by washing your face in the water under the bridge. I may have to stay there for a good while!!
Loch Coruisk
Bridge of Sligachan
After the Isle of Skye we will either take the ferry off the island to Mallaig on the mainland but that depends on the weather. If unable to cross via ferry we'll be taking the long way back, but either way we'll end up in Gairlochy which is near Fort William where my Gordon ancestors had a castle (one of many)! I have a ticket on the Jacobite steam train (Harry Potter's train to "school") which I am very excited about!
 |
| Our BnB in Gairlochy, near Spean Bridge |
 |
| Jacobite steam train |
 |
| Spean Bridge; near our BnB |
From Fort William we head south to the village of Taynuilt, close to Oban. This will be our jumping off point to go to the Isles of Kerrera, Mull, and Staffa, again depending on the weather...fingers crossed!
 |
| BnB in Taynuilt |
 |
| Isle of Staffa |
I would really really like to take the ferry from Tobermory, on Mull, across to Arndamurchan which is the westerly most point of the mainland that juts out into the Atlantic Ocean. On a clear day you can see across the water to the islands of the Outer Hebrides - Eigg, Muck and Coll.
Which reminds me - while we're on the Isle of Skye there is a ferry that crosses to Lewis and Harris of the Outer Hebrides and if we get a nice day we might go across. Time will tell...
Then we start heading back to Glasgow but first a wee visit to Fintry where we've booked a night at the Montrose Estate in the Fintry Hills.
 |
| Montrose Estate |
 |
Looking out from our bedroom except it will be fall, not spring.
|
From Fintry we are a short drive back to Stirling where we will be dropping off the rental car and taking the train to Glasgow where we've booked 3 nights in a historic area of the city and to do some major shopping :) and museum/gallery visiting.
 |
| Glasgow |
By then, and likely before then, I'll be very homesick and needing a good cuddle with Lily and Luna and of course, Kazi!
Lots of things are dependent on the weather in Scotland, as they do get a lot of rainy and windy days but we won't let that get us down. We both have good rain gear and hiking boots and with having a car we can go where we like. Torrential rain means a day in the nearest town/city - and we both LOVE used book stores! I just checked the weather in all of the places we are going to and every single one of them is cloudy but no rain. A good sign with a month to go :)
Sounds lovely. No Orkeny Islands though?
ReplyDeletedoes indeed sound lovely. We are flying into Glasgow leaving Toronto on September 9th!! We too are staying in Scotland, Gretna.
ReplyDeleteWow! What a trip you've got planned. Sounds fantastic and I'm looking forward to seeing the photos en route. Fingers crossed the weather holds for you - it's on and off down here at the moment, but Scotland has its own weather system, I think :) At least it'll still be warm and the heather will be starting to bloom - gorgeous! xx
ReplyDeleteSluggy: not this time around but someday!
ReplyDeleteGill: we'll both have stories to tell!
Annie: it's pretty exciting though I'll miss Edinburgh, will have to go back again someday!
I can't wait to see your Scottish adventures. It's on our list of places to visit within the next 5 years. I love castles. Rain is just part of that environment - as long as you plan for it and take enough warm clothes you'll be fine!
ReplyDeleteOh!!!! That all looks fantastic!
ReplyDeleteI've been watching Moone Boy on Hulu lately and it's got me itching to go back to Ireland.
If nothing else but for the fantastic accents!!!
We are just back from another long weekend in Crinan (south of Oban); it's definitely getting cooler there with clear signs of autumn and, of course, we had two days of rain. It is of couse the wind that interrupts the ferry crossings and if you are unable to get out to or spend as much time in the Western Isles as you might want because of the weather, a suggestion for that area and to fill a day would be:A186 south from Oban stopping at Kilmartin in heart of oldest populated area of Scotland with a museum you might find interesting (or worth a stop just to read the information boards outside) and you can also wander to the barrows or view from afar. Then turning right just after Kilmartin across peatbog and onto Crinan (home of our retirement project) where there's a good coffee shop overlooking the canal basin or a seafood bar (freshly caught enormous Loch Crinan langoustines)and you can stroll (or hire bikes to cycle) along the canal - all very picturesque with wonderful views. Do a complete circle back to your starting point taking in Inveraray on A83 (home of the Campbell clan for a long time)with a castle, old court house and interesting shops for browsing and then returning on the minor road through Balantyre (not too bad as it is a bus route) to the top end of Loch Awe. Do have a great trip.
ReplyDelete