TRAVELS AROUND SCOTLAND

Crossed from Belfast, Ireland to Cairnyran, Scotland by ferry as foot passengers. Picked up a 
rental car at the ferry terminal and drove to spend the night’s lodging in nearby Stranraer. Our first stop through an inland valley found us along a narrow countryside road amongst blue bells lining the roadside. From there we made our way to an incredible cliff top castle on the spectacular west coast of Scotland called Culzean.

The Kennedy family are one of Scotland's oldest families and trace their ancestry to Robert the Bruce. Culzean Castle was their principal seat from 1759, the castle and its landscape reflecting their status and aspirations. Over the centuries, the Kennedys transformed a Medieval tower house, built to protect its inhabitants during dangerous times, into one of the grandest country houses in Scotland.

The entry and armory display is the largest collection of its type in existence, apart from Her Majesty the Queen's at Windsor Castle. In 1812, the flamboyant and ambitious 12th Earl bought the pistols and swords from the Office of Ordnance at the Tower of London. The arms were dispatched from London in twelve chests along with ‘one of the men from the tower with the Arms, who fixed them up for display in a proper manner. The inside of the castle was  an open museum to the public for the admission of 15 shillings. We admired decades of the family clan treasured heirlooms and artifacts on display.

The Wars of Scottish Independence (1296-1303)were a series of military campaigns fought between the Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England in the late 13th and early 14th centuries. Scotland’s braveheart warriors were Robert Bruce who had supported William Wallace's uprising against the English for independence. William Wallace, a 13th-century Scottish warrior who led the Scots in the First War of Scottish Independence against King Edward I of England was another one. After Wallace was defeated, Robert I, known as Robert the Bruce, was the king of the Scots who secured Scotland's independence from England. These two men are considered to be the brave hearts of Scotland .

Headed northward to visit Inveraray Castle, a magnificent Scottish castle and ancestral home of the Duke of Argyll, for another unique “country house” visitor experience. It is the Scottish locations of where one of the  Downton Abbey TV episodes was filmed portraying a chronicle of the lives of the British aristocratic Crawley family and their servants in the early 20^th century.The family visited their Scottish relatives for an excursion trip here. Researching Trip Advisor we learned that Inveraray Castle was not only lovely, with no crowds or que waiting, and a much more cheaper alternative for a Downton Abbey fix. It is on the shore of Loch Fyne, Scotland’s longest sea loch. It has been the seat of the Dukes of Argyll, chiefs of Clan Campbell, since the 18th century.  

Driving onward to Oban we took a ferry and a bus to walk in the footsteps of ancient monastic monks on the Isles of Mull and Iona. Mull is a haven of peace and relaxation or simply a charming and beautiful centre for a Highland holiday away from the cares and pressures of modern life.There were Highland Cows and white tailed eagles on the Isle of Mull.

A fifteen minute ferry ride from the Isle of Mull took us to the World Heritage abbey site on the Isle of Iona

Iona is a tiny island off the southwest coast of Mull in the Inner Hebrides. It is only 1.5 miles wide by 3 miles long with an illustrious history and is well known as being ‘The cradle of Christianity’ in Scotland.Iona Abbey was founded by St Columba in 563, although little remains of the monastic buildings of this period. Theworld heritage site is visited by many people the world over. Monks illustrated and scribed centuries ago the Book of Kells in seclusion at Iona.

Driving in The Highlands of Scotland to Glencoe, “Glen of the Weeping”site of the infamous massacre of the Macdonald clan by the Campbell’s in 1692, was amazing spectacular terrain.

Fort William provided breathtaking views of Britain’s highest mountain Ben Nevis. 

We caught a ferry to the big Isle of Skye in the Hebrides of Scotland as a must for exploring Scotland’s harsh rugged landscape. 

Captured Eilean Castle’s reflection in morning light on the waters across the footbridge not long after departing Skye.   Traveled to Inverness, known as the capital of The Highlands, to glean the history of the Cullen Battlefield where Scottish clans once clashed.

Drove to visit Queen Elizabeth’s Scottish home at Balmoral Castle, petted her royal horses,  and envied her royal gardens.

Strolled the Old Golf Course and celebrated the ancient university at St. Andrews and surrounding ruins of the old cemetery. 


Crossed inland passing fields and fields of yellow canola for cooking oil production. 

Toured Stirling Castle, a symbol of national pride and once a place of great power for Queen Mary of Scots. Viewed the “Stirling Heads” wood carvings, halls with century old tapestries, chapels and bedrooms of the imposing castle.

Edinburgh Castle

Walked the highlights of Edinburgh; Royal Mile to and from Edinburgh Castle perched high on a hill to the elegant Holyrood Palace of Queen Elizabeth, the Royal Botanical Gardens, and admired touring the Royal  Yacht of Brittannia which was decommissioned in 1997. 

Holyrood Palace of Queen Elizabeth

This famous yacht, once described by the queen as “the one place where I can truly relax,” had sailed over 1 million miles in 44 years to more than 600 ports in 135 countries, on 968 official royal visits, with a crew of 276. What a lavish vessel to board and see.

After four days on foot in Edinburgh, our auto route lead us southwest over more of Scotland’s mountainous terrain with beautiful views.

Several old monastic ruins were explored in the Scottish Borders. We strolled the grounds at Dryburg Abbey and found the burial site of Sir Walter Scott the famous Scottish historical writer, playwright, and poet.

Ravaged by time and warfare, Jedburgh Abbey remains as one of the country's most spectacular ancient monuments. It was founded as a priory in 1138 by King David I who intended to prove to Scots and English alike that he could create buildings on a magnificent scale, even on the fringes of his realm.This impressive Augustian abbey was a favorite photo opt with its mixed style of Romanesque and Gothic architecture.

Scotland’s journey had us immersed in centuries of clan history, listening to bagpiper music, eating hearty Scottish breakfasts, drinking a “wee” dram of whisky, viewing blue bells and canola fields, remote islands, plaids and tweeds, and speaking a few Scottish phrases like “Cheers! Here's tae ye! Here's tae us, wha's like us? Damned few an' they're a' deid (classic Scottish toast),”, “Guidbye Bye Bye for noo See ye efter (good bye)”.