The Scotland Plan

Its 10:26 on Thursday May 31st. We leave tomorrow morning....and I'm all set. I have all day to do whatever I want and not stress about leaving. Just last minute bathroom items need to be tossed into the suitcase.

Man this feels good.

No guilt about leaving work behind either. Didn't think I'd ever get here. I hope by the time I get back the job is all changed and my hours will drastically be reduced.

Anyhow, I wanted to type out what our itinerary is not only so you all can tag along with us, but because some day I'll be scrapbooking this and will want to look back.

I recently took a class about travel scrapbooking and one of the things it brought up - that I hadn't ever really put to words - but that your trip itself may be a certain amount of time, but you live it longer than that brief moment. You spend months planning and then you'll spend the rest of your life talking about the trip. It's very true and I think that's why I love traveling so much. The stories. That and experiencing different cultures and seeing how others outside the US (or even inside the US) live.

So here goes...

Scotland June 1 - June 15th.
Scottish Highlands and Islands

DAY 1, SATURDAY JUNE 2, 2018
We get in around 7am -  by the time we get to our hotel we'll probably have a half of day to go and do something. I've suggested the Glasgow hop on hop off bus - it covers a lot of ground in a short time. That evening we'll have a welcome dinner and meet our travel companions.

DAY 2, SUNDAY JUNE 3, 2018
GLASGOW–DOUNE CASTLE–ROYAL BURGH OF CULROSS–EDINBURGH
Apparently on our was to Edingurgh we'll stop a couple of places. If you've seen Outlander some of them you may recognize. Trossachs National park to see the Doune Castle (castle #1). I love castles. I have secretly thought about doing a tour of Scotland and hitting all their castles.

Then, at the Royal Burgh of Culross - a charming little town, I hear...

That night we'll be doing the optional Royal Burgh of Culross, follow your Local Guide through Scottish evening with Highland dancers, bagpipers, and the Ceremony of the Haggis. Lil' Sis won't be doing this particular excursion. But the rest of us are. I will be trying Haggis and I most likely will be hating it. But I have to...


DAY 3, MONDAY JUNE 4, 2018
EDINBURGH
We'll start the morning sightseeing with a local tour guide.  We'll be visiting the 200-year-old “New Town” and the famous scientists, inventors, and novelists who lived there. Then we'll visit the “Old Town,” drive up the narrow Royal Mile to Edinburgh Castle (Castle #2).  If available we'll get to visit Holyrood Palace.

We opted in for the extra excursion this day too. We'll be heading to Rosslyn Chapel, made world-famous by Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code, and also one of Scotland’s most remarkable buildings It will be the one place I may regret bringing the big camera. I suspect my breath will be taken away with its beauty (I may have already googled it).

DAY 4, TUESDAY JUNE 5, 2018
EDINBURGH. ABBOTSFORD EXCURSION
Today we'll visit parts of the Scottish Lowlands and Border Counties. The countryside will be on display as we drive through what I assume are the rolling hills and leafy valleys ultimately stopping at Abbotsford House - which is Sir Walter Scott’s home. I'm not sure I've ever read anything from him so I'll have to do some brushing up on that on the airplane.

After that we'll hit Melrose Abbey, the burial place of Robert the Bruce’s heart.

Later that evening Lil Sis and I will be doing an extra excursion to board the former
Royal Yacht Britannia to see how the Royal Family and crew of 240 lived and worked on board.

DAY 5, WEDNESDAY JUNE 6, 2018
EDINBURGH–ST. ANDREWS–BRAEMAR–INVERNESS
Today we'll leave Edinburgh behind. My Scottish Friends (R and G) have pointed out to me that as we pass over the Forth Road Bridge we'll pass their old house!

We;ll cross the Firth of Tay and from Dundee, head into the Highlands with a lunch stop in Braemar. The highlands are HIGH on my list and cannot wait to experience them. We'll drive through the Grampian Mountains and Cairngorms National Park to Inverness, the Highland capital - and where some of Outlander takes place. If only I can find my highlander who's wealthy and looking for an American bride. :-)

DAY 6, THURSDAY JUNE 7, 2018
INVERNESS. HIGHLANDS EXCURSION
Today we'll stop first at CLAVA CAIRNS, featured in Outlander and one of Scotland’s most
evocative sacred prehistoric sites with three exceptionally well-preserved burial cairns, each enclosed by stone circles. I'll be careful to not lean on any stones just in case I get hurled back into the 17th century.

We'll visit the Culloden Visitor Center, the story unfolds of the crushing Hanoverian victory over Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Scottish clans.

Then, caslte #3 Brodie Castle, the ancestral home of Clan Brodie. Back in Inverness, That afternoon we'll be taking in the famous Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle (castle #4). It includes a boat ride on the loch. I'll have my camera ready in case I see Nessie.

DAY 7, FRIDAY JUNE 8, 2018
INVERNESS–THURSO
Today is going to start off the Scottish way...a tour of a Whisky Distillery. Then we hit castle #5 Dunrobin Castle. I think we have the evening free for this day.

DAY 8, SATURDAY JUNE 9, 2018
THURSO. EXCURSION TO THE ORKNEY ISLANDS
At John o’Groats, we'll board a ferry to cross to South Ronaldsay, one of the Orkney Islands. We'll cross the four Churchill Barriers and overlook Scapa Flow, where the German fleet scuttled itself in World War I.

After lunch we'll get to tour the Orkney Brewery. SIL and I are in a win win situation here. Neither Lil' Sis or Blueberry drink, so SIL get their servings! Hiccup!

Then, we go to Skara Brae, where we'll see the remains of a 5,000-year-old Neolithic village and visit Skaill House. And then the Ring of Brodgar, the Orkneys’ Stonehenge. Some day the real Stonehenge will be seen by me.

DAY 9, SUNDAY JUNE 10, 2018
THURSO–DURNESS–ULLAPOOL–ISLE OF SKYE
Our guide book starts today with, "A day to sit back and enjoy the breathtakingly wild and unspoiled scenery, some of the finest in Britain." The northern coast is lined with miles of yellow-sand beaches and pretty estuaries, and the hills and mountains take on a purple hue as the summer progresses." Ok. I'm in. We drive through Durness to the quaint fishing port of Ullapool, where we get to enjoy a traditional fish and chips lunch at a local restaurant.

DAY 10, MONDAY JUNE 11, 2018
ISLE OF SKYE
Isle of Skye is by far what I'm looking forward to the most.  I've heard so many tales of it's striking landscapes, weird rock formations, and dramatic waterfalls that I cannot wait to see them all for myself. We will drive around the Trotternish Peninsula and visit the Museum of Island life. Then, we'll drive up (or down) the spectacular coast route, stopping for photos, I hope, of the many waterfalls and gorges, and finally visiting the island capital of Portree. On the way back to Broadford, we'll take in the views of the jagged and dark peaks of the Cuillin Hills.

I always wonder if people who live in these types of places recognize just what an amazing place they live in. I'm not sure we Seattle folks really recognize it either though. I mean, we know it's beautiful and all, but do we understand why people flock to visit our city?

We're doing the extra excursion to the Eilean Donan Castle (castle #6 I think). What is said to be one of the most iconic images of Scotland, Eilean Donan Castle is situated on an island where three great lochs meet.

DAY 11, TUESDAY JUNE 12, 2018
ISLE OF SKYE–GLENFINNAN–ISLE OF MULL
Today we'll be at the Museum of the Isles to learn all about the Clan Donald  and insight into 13 centuries of clan history. We will board a ferry at Armadale to cross the Sound of Sleat. Rejoin the mainland at Mallaig and follow the “Road to the Isles.” Stop at Glenfinnan with its viaduct, as seen in the Harry Potter films, then take the ferry to the Isle of Mull, where we will conclude our day with a visit to the quaint island capital of Tobermory.

DAY 12, WEDNESDAY JUNE 13, 2018
ISLE OF MULL. IONA EXCURSION
Another day to "leisurely relax and enjoy the best of Scotland’s western isles". We'll drive across Mull to visit the beautiful Isle of Iona.  We'll have time to visit the Abbey and explore the religious settlement before returning to the hotel in the early afternoon. Maybe a nap.

Part of our trip to Isle of Mull is the extra excurstion to the Duarte Castle (castle #7). Duart Castle is the ancestral home of the Clan Maclean. Standing proudly on a cliff top guarding the Sound of Mull, Duart enjoys one of the most spectacular and unique positions on the West Coast of Scotland. This tour includes a glass of whisky in the banqueting hall.

DAY 13, THURSDAY JUNE 14, 2018
ISLE OF MULL–INVERARAY–GLASGOW
The final island ferry crossing brings us to Oban. Then, over the Pass of Brander and from Inveraray to the “Bonnie Banks” of Loch Lomond. I most likely will be singing this song the entire time. Everyone will enjoy that...

Back in Glasgow this afternoon, we'll get a city tour...which we may have already seen on our first day. There's a 12th-century cathedral, (another cathedral for SIL and I to explore...I've lost count of how many she and I have seen in all our travels).  Later that night we'll have our farewell dinner. I'm sure I'll be ready to come home while feeling sad about leaving.

So that's it. If you're still reading...thank you. I'll be posting throughout the trip...