8 Days in Scotland

“There are few places in my life that I’ve found more ruggedly beautiful than the Highlands of Scotland. The place is magical – it’s so far north, so remote, that sometimes it feels like you’ve left this world and gone to another.” – Julia London

My twin, Mariah, has always wanted to go to Scotland. Its all she talked about pretty much since she new it existed (a long time, guys, a long time…). Anyway, I found a sick deal on expedia, and her Husband, EJ, and I planned 8 days in her version of Heaven.

Side Note: for over 3 months I tried to convinve her that she needed a passport to go to Canada with me, but she argued and then I gave up and had EJ tell her it was for a trip to Scotland, because she wasn’t listening to me, and I wanted it to be a surprise, but whatever.

So, 8 days, 7 nights, a Mercedes Benz C class sedan later, we had a whole adventure planned out and an itinerary that you wouldn’t believe. I’ve posted it below so you can see how crazy Mariah was about this trip. (I wasn’t so excited, but then we got there and it was AWESOME, and I need to go back and see all the things we missed, and definitely drink more Scotch.)

Scotland 2019 Itinerary

May 25, 2019 Day 1 (Arrive 10:40AM)

Rent Car- Booked (JESSICA)
Glasgow (explore) Late Lunch Early Dinner
APPX: 50 Mins From Airport
Loch Lomond FREE
APPX 50 Mins From Glasgow
Return to Edinburgh (Appx 1.5 hrs from Loch Lomond)
Check In Piries Hotel (After 15:00)
Edinburgh Night life: 10 Best on Trip Advisor

• Frankenstein
• Three Sisters
• Ensign Ewart
• Ox184
• Beer and Skittles
• Tigerlily
• The Standing Order
• Bar Tonic
• Why Not Night Club
• Hive

May 26, 2019 Day 2 [04:43-21:37]
Princess Street Gardens (OPEN @0700) FREE
16 Minute WALK from Hotel
Edinburgh Castle (OPEN @ 0930) PASS
5 Minute Walk from Gardens. 9 Minute DRIVE from Hotel
**Holyroodhouse Palace (Last Admit @1630) £15.00
Craigmillar Castle (Last Admit @ 1700) PASS
14 Min from Hotel
Glenkenchie Distillery {Late Lunch}
22 Mins from Craigmillar
Tantallon Castle (Last Admit @1700) PASS
36 Mins from Distillery
Dirleton Castle (Last Admit @1700) PASS
14 Mins from Tantallon
**Scotch Whisky Experience (Start @18:15 90 Min tour) £27.00
**Haunted Edinburgh

• Mercat Tours: £18.00
• City of The Dead £13.00
• The Real Mary King’s Close: £16.50

**Harry Potter Locations FREE walking tour

• Spoon Café
• Potterrow
• George Heriot’s School
• Greyfriar’s Kirkyard
• Elephant House

May 27, 2019 Day 3 [04:42-21:39]
Arthur’s Seat (BEFORE SUNRISE) FREE
23min from hotel. 25min hike
Bannockburn
1 hour from Arthur’s Seat
Stirling Castle (OPEN @0930) PASS
15 mins from Bannockburn
Doune Castle (Last Admit @1700) PASS
15 mins from Stirling
St. Andrew’s Cathedral PASS
1 Hour 30 mins from Doune
**Scone Palace (Last Admit @1700) £12.50
Dunkeld (small village) #RickStevesRecommended
I hour 10 mins from St. Andrews
**Blair Castle (Last Admit @1700) [GROUNDS ONLY] £15.00
BACK TO EDINBURGH
1 Hour 30 mins from Dunkeld
May 28, 2019 Day 4 [04:40-21:40]
Ruthven Barracks FREE
2 hours 15 mins from hotel
Loch Eilein £1.50 + £4.50(parking)
30 mins from Barracks
Urquart Castle (Last Admit @1715) PASS
Brodie Castle (Last Admit @1700) PASS
1 hour 10 mins from Loch Eilein
Culloden Battlefield (Closes @1800) PASS
35 mins from Brodie
Urquart Castle (Last Admit @1715) PASS (AND LOCH NESS)
3 hours 30 mins to Edinburgh
Return To Edinburgh
May 29, 2019 Day 5 [04:37-21:43]
Morar FREE
4 hours from Hotel

FERRY TO ISLE OF SKYE

Mallaig to Armadale £19.90 + £12.00 fare
Fairy Pools FREE
2 hours from Morar
**Talisker Distillery
30 mins from Fairy Pools
**Dunvegan Castle £14.00
1 hour from Talisker
Return to Edinburgh- 5 hours

May 30th Day 6 (optional)
Oban
3hrs from Hotel
Iona PASS
Mull (Pass through on bus to Iona)

May 31st Day 7
Juniper Festival £20.00 (1 Summerhall Place)
8 min from Hotel
June 1, 2019 (DEPART 12:30 PM)

We started in Edinburgh Airport, had a terrible experience with Hertz, and I angrily drover to Glasgow to see the Cathedral and Necropolis.

After we saw the Necropolis, we drove back to the Airport in Edinburgh to return the stupid Skoda, and went to Avis to pick up a better car. I told Stephanie (at the Avis Desk) about the mishap with Hertz and the crappy car they gave me, and she asked if I wanted a Mercedes C class to drive around… I couldn’t say no to that, at HALF the price of the Skoda from Hertz! Moral of the story, DO NOT RENT FROM HERTZ ABROaD, EVER.

So here we were, headed to our hotel in downtown Edinburgh, where we stayed every night of the 8 days. I recommend finding a hotel along your route while you tour the country, so that you can see everything you want to. We had to cut out several stops because of the amount of time it took to return to Edinburgh every night. Lesson Learned, folks! Maybe, try staying in one of the MANY castles throughout the country to enhance the experience! See, this is why I NEED to go back.

We stayed at the Pires Guesthouse, which is similar to a hostel, but you get your own room on one of the 4 floors. P.S. all are walk-ups, so be prepared to lug that giant suitcase with you. Try packing light… I bought packing cubes prior to this trip and they were an immense help with organizing luggage as well as shoving as much stuff as possible into my suitcase. These were the one’s I picked up at TJ Maxx: https://www.amazon.com/Travelon-Lightweight-Packing-Organizers-Bolds/dp/B06XHFM5HF

There were so many castles and sites to see, that I can’t even remember them all, but I’m just going to post the pictures for your enjoyment, readers! I’ll try to annotate the location as this post goes on, but no promises.

Above is Sterling Castle. It’s well preserved and a staple in Scotland for it’s significance in history leading further back than Robert the Bruce (Watch Outlaw King on Netflix to get an understanding the times). Could you imagine living in a CASTLE this fantastic?

Back in the day, the English confiscated the Scottish Crown Jewels, and the Scottish people decided wicker was a decent replacement for a time. This is a display of artists’ work (replicas of course) from that time when England thought they were making a statement (I’m not sure which time this was, maybe the 5th or 6th in the century, but you get the idea… English are mean!).

I’m not too sure why this regime chose a unicorn, but it’s a symbal of Scotland these days. This was a tapestry in Sterling Castle, and the room its displayed in regails you with the story of how it came to be at the castle.

We drove ALL OVER this countryside, and everything is so green and lucious. As you look over the collage above, you’ll see all sorts of things, including sheep! I wonder what level of export these animals have from here… Mutton Stew and Haggis are on every menu oI saw when we were there, so I’d assume they;’re also exporting. Also, wool is huge in Scotland! Everything from scarves to kilts are made from wool, some you can custom order and have it shipped home for you! I recommend doing some research on clans so you know what you’re ordering some some tartans.

Interesting Tidbit: My high school is the Burns Hilanders, and our mascot is A HILANDER. When I was a senior, I registered 2 tartan designs for the school, and they’re now offical Scottish clan tartans!

Bannockburn was a massive battle for Scottish independance from the English Crown. Robert the Bruce erected an army and this was a major battle in that effort.

Driving across the Queensferry Bridge, there was the Kelpies. I think they just look like horses (shapeshifting water spirits), but they’re a part of the Scottish heritage that is so vast and in-depth around the entire country.

We went to Culloden Battlefield at the edge of the Highlands, The Ruthven Barracks, and several more castles around the country. I’m not sure what these next pictures are, but I hope you enjoy the view as much as I did!

And, to finish of the tour in this blog, here is Edinburgh and Edinburgh Castle. Parts were under renovations, but it didn’t really detract from the experience.

Don’t forget the SCOTCH in SCOTLAND, readers! We toured and enjoyed a tasting at Glenkinchie. I would say its similar to bourbon with its wheat-ier flavor profile than some Scotch whisky out there (think Laphroaig and Oban).

Thanks for sticking around! Remember, eat haggis, drink all the Scotch, and enjoy a few beers while you’re there! Scotland has so much to offer, and it’s definitely a place worth visiting.

Until next time,

@LeaderofNerds,

-Jessica