Take Any Road to the Highlands, But Stay on the Left
By
Marc Cullison
A twenty-two year old daughter graduating from college and the new millennium. What better reason to celebrate?
The year 2000 may have been a non-event for many people, but it sparked a new adventure for my family. With almost a year of discussions and preparation behind us, my daughter, wife, her sister, and I lunged into travel mode for eight glorious days in Scotland and three not so glorious days in London.
My wife's sister was the only one of us even close to being a seasoned world traveler and the rest of us had no earthly idea of what to expect. The eight day exposition of the Scottish Highlands was a pleasant surprise to us all, allowing us liberation from the doldrums of American small town life, indulgence in Scottish cuisine, discovery of a fascinating and beautiful country, and near tragedy.
We had no planned itinerary other than we wanted to see what we wanted to see, when we wanted to see it. Therefore, there were no bus tours or other tour groups. We were entirely on our own and at the mercy of Scottish hospitality.
Follow our exploits via the links below or to find out more about me, read my bio here.
Follow the Journey
May 20th: We're in Scotland!
Picking up the rental car at Glasgow airport leads to a crach course in driving on the left side of the road.
May 21st: Aviemore
Using Aviemore as a base we explore as far north as Inverness, taking in the Culloden battlefield on the way.
May 22nd: Fort William
A tour of Loch Linnhe and lunch at a restaurant on the pier killed the discomfort of the icy wind and warmed us with the same Scottish hospitality we found elsewhere.
May 23rd: Cawdor Castle, Urquhart Castle, and Loch Ness
After sampling a traditional Scottish breakfast, including haggis, it's off to check out some castles.
May 24th: Eilean Donan Castle, Isle of Skye and Dunvegan Castle
Some more castles, and the incredible scenery or the Isle of Skye.
May 25th: Around Aviemore
A day spent closer to home with visits to the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre and more traditional Scottish cuisine.
May 26th: Speyside
Driving around this area north of our base led to many discoveries including an oasis for lovers of heather.
May 27th: Reflections
A great trip that left us invigorated, not tired. There are some tips for travelling in the Highlands and links to the places we visited.
