Scotland: Day 6: Edinburgh

Scotland: Day 6: The beloved capital, Edinburgh. What a town steeped richly in literature, architecture, history, royalty, & witchery! ⇢ "Old town" along the Royal Mile to Edinburgh Castle to see Scotland's 👑 jewels. Onward ⇢ Highlight: 'the elephant house' {where J.K. Rowling wrote Harry Potter}, along to Greyfriars Kirkyard {where she also got Tom Riddle's name!!}, Victoria Street AKA Diagon Alley and then we held an OWL! I'm pretty much at Hogwarts⚡️

Edinburgh has become a heart home. I could have spent a whole week in just this city! If you’re traveling to Scotland, PLEASE allow yourself more than two days here! And especially if you’re traveling in August, check out The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Sadly, we arrived in Edinburgh days after the festivities had come to an end.

We began our morning in “Old Town” to Edinburgh Castle to admire Scotland’s Crown Jewels.

Then we ventured out on our own and getting lost… we did happen to find a quaint boutique (tucked among the touristy shops, hidden away) in which I bought the girls mini wooden carved highland cows, tweed tartan bracelets, and little bears with tweed dresses. We also bought them books along the way. Upon stumbling into this boutique we happen to pass by a man holding an owl. He asked the crowd who would like to hold it ( and me getting off a high from the highland coo’s) volunteered ( it wasn’t free). It was wonderful and heavy! Something about the nature in Scotland just speaks to me and funny enough Golden Retrievers were first bred in Scotland. 

I was determined to get to Greyfriars Kirkyard in order to see where J.K. Rowling was inspired for Tom Riddle’s name and so many others in her Harry Potter series. And not just Rowling’s inspiration but also many others. One of my favorite stories they told at the kirk was that Charles Dickens looked at the grave of what he thought said, Ebenezer Lennox Scroogie, a “mean man” but what it actually said was a “meal man.”

We walked along Victoria Street and I realized how easily the imagination could wander into mistakenly transforming this into Diagon Alley. This city has a bewitching ability to run away with your mind and steal your heart. We stopped at a nice restaurant for a bite to eat but once we sat down we realized that this wasn’t where we wanted to spend our last lunch in Scotland. So before we could order we excused ourselves to find an authentic Scottish pub. BEST DECISION. Great fish and chips and beer. 

Later that afternoon we boarded The Royal Yacht Britannia. I love watching The Crown, and after walking around the Britannia I could see how a ship like this could be a sort of second home. However, once again my (strep) throat was killing me and being in such small quarters wasn’t happening. I wandered as long as I could before I made my way to open fresh air. 

This was our last actual full day in Scotland. The next morning, as we boarded the plane and tears swelled up in my eyes while we took off. I’ve traveled to other countries and always have been ready to return home.  However, this trip was too short and I felt like I was leaving a piece of my soul behind. 

When planning your vacation make sure you account for travel days (days that won’t actually be spent in the place). This might be a "duh" point, but it wasn't something I thought of. The next time, I’d like to go for at least 8 days.


Until I see you again, bonnie bonnie Scotland...

Gus am faic mi thu a-rithist, bonnie bonnie Alba

Day 5: DUNDEE: ST. ANDREWS: PERTH: EDINBURGH 

Day 4: ISLE OF SKYE: CULLODEN MOOR: PITLOCHRY: DUNDEE

Day 3: GLASGOW: FORT WILLIAM: GLENFINNAN: ISLE OF SKYE

Day 3: PART 1: Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond

Day 2: GLASGOW, GLENGOYNE, STIRLING & BANNOCKBURN

Day 1: Glasgow

Scotland: Day 5: Happy 30th and Heilan Coo's

Day 5: My favorite day of any year, my birthday! What a place to start a new decade & I hope my 30's bring lots more travels! Dundee ⇸ St. Andrews {where we "hit" some balls on the driving range! Sadly, I don't think Sammy would have claimed me today}. We ventured around the town. Climbed the rocks jutting out to sea and visited the ruins of St. Andrews cathedral. ⇸ Perth, where I may have climbed over some land & fences just to touch a wee Highland Coo (hbd to me!). We ended our night with haggis, bagpipes, and Scottish dancers. 🐂 #writeandpeak

It’s no secret that birthdays are my absolute favorite holidays. They don’t even have to be my birthday. Growing up a middle child, I yearned for that special attention. Middle child syndrome is real. So my birthday was the one day that it was just about me. Even in college, I began a tradition to treat myself on my birthday. Luckily, my birthday normally falls on a holiday or a holiday weekend (Labor day).

Side note: Growing up I thought it was called Labor day because my mom went into labor. Makes sense.


This year we began my 30th birthday by going to St. Andrews. I attempted to hit golf balls on the driving range, but it turned into just me posing and pretending I was hitting them while the man beside me was an avid golfer and I was embarrassing myself. St. Andrews golf course was a dream of my father’s though. He played golf almost every day and managed not one but two hole-in-one over the course of his life. I know he would have loved to be there, but also, would have pretended he wasn’t with me because I was such an embarrassment. 

My husband and I then toured the city. It was gorgeously rich, in every way. We walked the ruins of St. Andrews Cathedral, marveling at the ancient graves.

I regret not taking pictures of the Kelpies when we walked down to the beach to take pictures on the rocks. If you’re in St. Andrews, make sure you snap a picture of them!

Next we drove to Perth to visit Scone Palace, the home of the Earl and Countess of Mansfield. Here we learned about the Stone of Destiny. There is a great movie on Netflix or Amazon Prime (I can’t remember now) called the Stone of Destiny, that is a true story. It’s about a group of college students from Scotland in the 1950’s that plan a mission to bring the Stone of Destiny back to Scotland and out of England. Highly recommended! 

Well we started out with a group guided tour in Scone Palace, but because my throat was hurting so bad and I could no longer breathe inside, I convinced my husband to duck out with me and go in search of some “Heilan Coo’s” outside on the grounds.

Lucky for me, I found them. I may or may not have hopped some fences to take a picture with them. I found three, what I’m guessing were the mama and daddy and baby. It wasn’t until they were walking closer that I realized a.) how big they are b.) Uh, aren’t they still bulls??? c.) what a stupid idea this was d.) That I forgot to take a picture with the cows, so it could just be any ones picture… and back I went to take a selfie. 

On the plus side, the baby really liked me and even licked me. Happy Birthday to me! And yes, I convinced the baby to come to me and then to pet it. No worries though, I was on the other side of the fence at this point!


On we went to Edinburgh, we crossed over the new Forth Bridge RIGHT after the Queen opened it! It was amazing because we could see her helicopters flying over.


We arrived at our hotel (great location but not my favorite by any means), quick freshen up, and then on to the Spirit of Scotland show for my birthday dinner. My favorite birthday, in my favorite place!

Sir Walter Scott Monument outside our hotel room in Edinburgh

*Check out the labels on my blog to visit more Scotland post! Days 1-4!
Day 4: ISLE OF SKYE: CULLODEN MOOR: PITLOCHRY: DUNDEE
Day 3: GLASGOW: FORT WILLIAM: GLENFINNAN: ISLE OF SKYE
Day 3: PART 1: Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond
Day 2: GLASGOW, GLENGOYNE, STIRLING & BANNOCKBURN
Day 1: Glasgow

Scotland: Day 4: End of The Clan Way of Life...

Day 4: Awoke on the Isle of Skye to a breathtaking sunrise. Voyaged 

our way up to Loch Ness and then continued on our way to CULLODEN MOOR. There is definitely a sadness that hangs about in the air; knowing that this was the end of the Clan way of life. ↣ Quick visit at Leault Farm to see the 🐑 & 🐶. Tea time in Pitlochry before ending in Dundee for the night. I have to say, THIS just might be a place where the fairies live.


This day seemed like a breather from the past couple of days. Not as much go, go, go. Slower, calmer, needed.

We stopped for a short photo op at Loch Ness, and as beautiful as it was, it just didn’t impress me as much as Loch Lomond. To each their own.

We visited Culloden Moor. It was windy, with spurts of mist in the air. It only seemed to add to the sadness that still lingers in the air 272 years later ( April 16, 1746). It was quiet. The type of place that you know in your body something tragic has happened there. You feel it. In contrast to the sadness and tragic end to the Jacobites, the heather that grows is a reminder. MY reminder that even in the worst of conditions and soil and places, beauty can grow. {My inspiration for the blog and my 2018 year} 

Next we traveled to Leault Farm, a champion shepherd with his flock and sheepdogs. It was INCREDIBLE. The shepherd was so personal too. He told us that he thinks the only thing dangerous about Scotland is the “do-gooders.” From his point of view, I can see why. They want to reintroduce bears and wolves back into Scotland. Right now, his children can roam the hills for hours with their picnic and imagination and he isn’t worried, but add bears and wolves back into Scotland and his sheep, dogs, and children are all put at risk. He also talked about how the schools were teaching to not drink dairy milk anymore, which I kept this piece of information tucked in my mind (until I went to bathroom in Edinburgh and their were signs on the stalls about this!). I loved hearing about Scotland from a local. PS. HE is amazing to watch! 

AND I got to feed a baby lamb. Day made.

We visited the town of Pitlochry for shopping and tea. I could have stayed here so much longer. Quaint and filled with the most gorgeous doors, windows, and flowers. And HOT TEA! If I haven’t mentioned in previous post yet, my throat was on FIRE at this point and I was eating Tylenol every six hours. Surprise: I was diagnosed with strep throat when I got home AND Scarlet fever!

Our hotel that night was in the town of Dundee. I loved this hotel! My husband and I freshened up. The bathrooms are always fun in Scotland. It’s like a half bath/shower contraption that I may or may not have flooded every place we stayed because I couldn’t figure out how to shower like a European. Then, ventured around the grounds. I’m so thankful for a husband who will seek out of the ordinary places with me. I felt like I was in The Secret Garden. The pictures below speak for themselves, but really, I think this might be a place that fairies live.

Scotland: Day 3: Part 2: Over the Sea to Skye

"Sing me a song of a lass that is gone/ say could that lass be I/ Merry of soul, she sailed on a day/ over the sea to Skye."

We boarded a ferry, Lord of the Isles, in Mallaig to cross to the Isle of Skye. A breathtaking of a day and view. While we were waiting to depart, I looked into the sea and saw a seal playing in the water. The seal would float on it’s back and then pop in and out of the water. I’m not sure if I’ve seen a seal free and wild in the sea. It was wonderful to behold nature in such a respectful and intended way. Something so simple was a highlight of my day. Even with sun and very little cloud coverage, the boat ride was freezing. This was one of the colder days in Scotland (reminder it’s beginning of September and in the Southern States still regularly reaches high 80’s and 90’s). I layered everything that day (blanket scarf included).

Once we arrived at the Isle of Skye we made our way to Eilean Donan Castle in the village of Dornie. It was a romantic castle, that was first inhabited around the 6th century.

After touring the castle we headed to a Pub {notice the giant P U B on top of the building} for some drinks before retiring to our hotel, The Dunollie for the night.

The sunset and sunrise out our window, made up for the all the quirks and quaint's of such hotel (to include getting lost every time you left your room). It’s also a reminder that while sometimes fancy hotels are wonderful with all their amenities, a view is sometimes worth more. The sounds of Scotland’s waves crashing gently on the shore. Being pulled in and out as if it were dancing on its tiptoes.The light smell of the salt that hangs in the air, being able to sleep with open windows, and a calm reassurances of safety tucked on a little ancient island.

 A room with a view

If I could change or add anything to this, I'd like to visit the Fairy Pools on the Isle of Skye. I think I'd like to spend more time exploring the island, instead of touring another castle.