Edinburgh, Stirling, Oban, Glencoe, Skye, Inverness, St Andrews
Scotland is full of purple heather wildflower, walking trails, locally distilled whiskey, and the Edinburgh castle. Travel Scotland by car.
Edinburgh
Our journey began with a flight to London then a subsequent flight to Edinburgh. Staying in Edinburgh, one day at the beginning and one day at the end, gave us time to see the following sites: Museum of Scotland, St Giles’ Cathedral, Royal Mile, , and of course, Edinburgh Castle. Given more time, we would have visited the Holyrood Palace and hike Arthur’s Seat.
The Museum of Scotland was vast and modern. It consisted of multiple floors with historical displays dating back over 1,000 years up to current events. The museum was insightful and provided creatively constructed exhibits.
Sitting on Castle Rock, the old fortress of Edinburgh Castle was a must-see in Scotland. To guarantee entry, it required a ticket wisely purchased in advance. There was more to the castle than we imagined with multiple separate buildings. Such as a trebuchet in the Argyle Tower, walls of the Great Hall lined with swords and spears, royal apartments to kings and queens, and the birth room of James VI.
One of the many cannons among the the old artillery is fired at 13:00 every day. It’s a reminder of the strong defense the castle maintained throughout the centuries.
The National War Museum is full of extensive artifacts and exhibits from over 400 years of Scottish military involvement. It was one of the most amazing museums to see.
Overall, we allowed about 2.5 hours, which did not include eating at any of the restaurants within the castle grounds.
For lunch and dinner the Royal Mile had plenty of pubs; for shopping, there were many souvenir shops to choose from.
Stirling
We picked up our car in Edinburgh on our second day in Scotland and traveled to Oban. Between Edinburgh and Oban is Stirling and of course Stirling Castle.
A guided tour brought to life the history and its residents, retelling of kings, queens, and battles dating back over 800 years. Within the castle was the royal palace home to Mary Queen of Scots, a chapel, and live actors dressed in period costumes. A large medieval banquet hall, and kitchens complete with mannequins preparing meals from bowls of fruit, vegetables, and locally caught venison. Surrounding the castle are the royal gardens filled with shrubs, trees, and beautiful flowers.
Within the castle structure is a cafe that provided a timely and convenient bite to eat. A short distance from the castle is the William Wallace monument and an old cemetery.
Oban
Oban is a seaside town where we stayed to break up our journey northwest. It boasted of great seafood, so we grabbed fresh mussels for dinner at the harbor from a local vendor and they were delicious.
After dinner, we strolled through the town and turned our walk up to McCaig’s Tower for a stunning view of the harbor. Oban is also recognized for its excellent whiskey distillery, and the transportation ferry to the nearby islands (Inner Hebrides) of Mull, Staffa, and Iona; our choice would have been Mull.
Glencoe
To enjoy Scotland means traveling into the valley of Glencoe. It was like stepping into a world not touched for hundreds of years.
The Glencoe Visitor Center was so well done, had a cafe, and staff who suggested the best hiking options. We were glad we stopped, as they had a wealth of appreciation for Glencoe which they eagerly shared. Driving and hiking through Glencoe was serene; we could understand why it’s so popular. We spent a few hours in the area. We skipped Fort William, a bit touristy for us, and moved on.
Isle of Skye
The largest island off the western coast of Scotland is Skye (Inner Hebrides) and an excellent opportunity for hiking. There were two routes to reach Skye, a ferry or a bridge. Since taking the ferry required precise timing, we chose the bridge.
Portree was a convenient location for our ventures; without a car, it would have been difficult to get around. Starting out early in the day along the Trotternish loop from Portree, we hiked Old Man of Storr, visited Lealt Gorge and Kilt Rock, and walked around the Fairy Glen. Lastly, we toured Dunvegan Castle. These sights, including the hiking, took two full days.
Inverness
Leaving Skye, we took the bridge again, and drove by the Eilean Donan Castle. This well recognized medieval castle is situated on a tidal island, and has endured 800 years of battles, clan wars, and most famously the Jacobite uprising. We continued on after the castle and stopped at the Loch Ness Visitor Center for an entertaining overview of the local legend. The lake was much larger than I expected. Then we passed by Urquhart Castle, and traveled to Inverness for the night. There were other lodging choices in nearby towns with a little more charm.
The next morning, we toured Culloden Battlefield for about two hours. The Jacobite rebellion, Scottish ancestry, and English battles were accurately and thoroughly retold. Outside the center we walked the grounds visualizing events that took place centuries ago.
Pitlochry and Falls of Bruar
On our route to St Andrews, we drove through Pitlochry, then stopped at the House of Bruar, a somewhat isolated shopping outlet with a vast selection of wool clothing, various assortment of stores, and restaurants. It was a good place for purchasing wool souvenirs.
Next to the outlet, and sharing the same parking lot, is a pathway running along a stream leading to the Falls of Bruar. A pleasant walk on the narrow path took us through the woods and over a bridge to beautiful waterfalls.
A Highland Coo was a delight to see along the roadside!
St Andrews
Our last town to visit in Scotland, before traveling back to Edinburgh, was St Andrews. Sitting on the coastline, St Andrews is a college and golf town. We walked around the college buildings, watched a few golfers on the greens, and after the rain, witnessed the most beautiful rainbow along the beach.
After a short drive to Edinburgh the next morning, we returned our car, then spent a few hours shopping along the Royal Mile.
