Ever since I applied for my youth mobility visa to live and work in the UK I’d wanted to travel Scotland. I always saw it as this untouched wilderness that bore truth to tales like the Loch Ness monster. Scotland has this allure to it that not many other places in the world do, it’s as if visiting there could whisk me off into another time.
It took me over two years and a very gracious offering from Haggis Adventures to finally make the trek up to travel Scotland and experience the mystical lands for myself. And let me tell you it was everything I thought it would be and more.
My time in Scotland began with the Hogmanay New Year Celebration, but it wasn’t until I’d boarded the bus to head north that the trip really took off. Thus I bring you the highlight real from my two-day exploration high up in the Scottish highlands and onto the Isle of Skye.
The National Wallace Monument sits atop Abbey Craig just to the north of Stirling. It was here I gathered to hear the true tale of William Wallace and not the garbage Hollywood produced to make Braveheart. Apparently there was once a statue of Mel Gibson at the base of the craig but it was far from welcome and torn down several time before finally being removed.
The Bridge of Dochart in Killin spans across the Dochart Falls. It’s a popular tourist stop off and having seen it for myself its hard to argue why it wouldn’t be. Narrow roads lead in and out of the village with this beautiful bridge and falls sitting smack bang in the middle.
Driving further into the Scottish Highlands and you will arrive at Glencoe, said to be one of Scotland’s most famous glens. It’s both home to some amazing scenery and the massacre of Glencoe where right along the glen many members of the MacDonald Clan were killed. It’s been said to not visit the area if your last name is Campbell, due to that clan having been involved in taken the MacDonald’s lives.
Waterfalls are plentiful in the highlands as they dance their way down the mountain side. It’s an interesting site to see with the snow capped tops and rocky mountainsides leaving quite the distinctive contrast. This shot below was taken near the site of the Battle of Glenshiel.
Now we’ve all heard the stories of Loch Ness, but if I have to be honest actually seeing the Loch was a little underwhelming. It’s just a large mass of water, nothing overly amazing about it unless you take into account the tacky shops and so called museums that have sprung up nearby to it touting Loch Ness Monster merchandise.
Kilt Rock and Mealt Waterfall can be found just outside of Ellishadder along the A855 on the Isle of Skye. Mealt Waterfall is the result of overflow from nearby Loch Mealt and sets a stunning picture for Kilt Rock which can be seen in the distance behind it. The barrier fence that stops tourists from falling over the cliff here is also a slight attraction. Holes drilled into the pipes make for an interesting instrument as the wind blows through them.
The Battle of Culloden in 1746 took place near Inverness and marks the last jacobite rising. Now a protected area there are gravestones to mark the mass burials of the clansmen who fought for Scotland on that day.
And lastly to show that the sun does shine in Scotland is this beautiful sunset over a field on the way back to Edinburgh on the last day.
Have you travelled Scotland? Let me know which part you loved the most with a comment below.
This campaign is brought to you by Edinburgh’s Hogmanay and is supported by VisitScotland, ETAG, Edinburgh Festivals, Haggis Adventures and Skyscanner.
I absolutely love Scotland. Cheers!
Looks like a great time, mate. Glad you enjoyed yourself. I need to get my ass up to Scotland soon… for sure.
Michael you will have to get up there while your over in Europe still, gods country up there
To The Aussie Nomad – your website is getting me through! 98 days and counting until I depart for my first European/London adventure. It been a year of hard savings but I can’t wait… and Scotland is at the top of my list.
Thank you for writing your blog, your articles on the YMV and how to set up in London will serve me well in the coming months.
Cheers! x
Wow it really does look stunning as everyone tells me, unfortunately I didn’t have time this Euro trip just gone. Next time I am going to do Ireland, Scotland and Whales. How long did you spend in Scotland? Just looking to gauge how much time to spend in each, cheers
Lovely blog, we visit Scotland quite regularly and I was just googling to see what other sights we can take in next time we go there. Lovely blog, I must do all of these. I absolutely agree, there is something so magical about Scotland, with the most untamed beauty I’ve ever seen anywhere. So much so, that I convinced my husband to marry me up there, he wanted to be married in East London but we tied the knot in Belladrum Temple, having our reception in Bunchrew House…we couldn’t have found such enchanting venues anywhere else in the UK, I’m sure.