We set out on a 3-day tour of Scotland and its beautiful countryside from Edinburgh. Going past Glasgow, reaching the famed moors, the many castles, one by one, the Lochness and its legends, staying over at little hamlets at cosy Scot homes, it had been one memorable trip, made more memorable by Andrew’s (our guide cum driver) vivid narration of Scot history, legends, customs, interspersing them with the country’s political upheavals and their national fervour.
Here are the details:
- Day One: Drive from Edinburgh to Kyleakin via Glasgow, Luss, Rannoch Moor, Glencoe, Fort William, Invergarry and Eilean Donnan Castle
- Day Two: Drive from Kyleakin to Drumnadrochit via Broadford, Dun Beag Broach, Uig, Quiraing, Old Man of Strorr, Portree and Invermoriston
- Day Three: Drive from Drumnadrochit to Edinburgh via Urquhart Castle, Loch Ness Ferry, Inverness, Culloden (Battlefield), Dunkeld and Sterling Castle.
Day One: Drive from Edinburgh to Kyleakin (325 kms) via Glasgow, Luss, Rannoch Moor, Glencoe, Fort William, Invergarry and Eilean Donnan Castle
We started from Edinburgh on the tour by the award-winning Highland Experience, at 8 in the morning in a coach with visitors from around the world. Our guide, Andrew Jones, traditionally dressed in his kilt told us, we were in for luck – the famous bluebells of Scotland were in full bloom and had swarmed its woods, and that we’d get rains along the way, adding what is Scotland sight-seeing without its rains?
With that, we stopped by the Luss village with its beautiful Loch Lomond. Loch, in Scottish, stand for lake. Soon after, the moors greeted us – Rannoch Moor of Stevenson’s Kidnapped fame, was the first we crossed – and with it, many a childhood book came alive. The drive here onwards only got better, with the beautiful Glencoe valley, the famous town of Fort William, the pretty Invergarry village and finally, the absolutely stunning Eilean Donnan Castle before we halted for the night at Kyleakin. Along the way, it had been a day of Scotland’s bloody history, England’s political shenanigans ironically juxtaposed with stunning landscapes, beautiful flowers and beautiful people…
- Staying over at Kyleakin: We stayed at one of the most charming of bed and breakfast at Kyleakin — Kyleakin Bed & Breakfast at Ceol Na Mara. Read about it here — Kyleakin Bed & Breakfast at Ceol Na Mara, Scotland) For dinner, Andrew told us to not miss it at the most happening joint of the place – Saucy Mary. We loved the place!
Day Two: Drive from Kyleakin to Drumnadrochit via Broadford, Dun Beag Broch, Portree and Invermoriston
This part of the drive gets stark as you drive through the Isle of Skye. Andrew regaled us with yet more stories of Scot life and folklore even as we drove past Broadford village, the iron-age Dun Beag Broch, the pretty little Uig village, the Quiraing mountain pass, the famous Old Man of Strorr, stopped by Portree town for lunch, and saw the Invermoriston falls. Was an extremely cold day, made colder with the incessant rains that accompanied us everywhere.
- Staying over at Drumnadrochit: For the night, we stopped at the Dumnadrochit village by Loch Ness that greeted us with a rainbow. We stayed at the Drumnadrochit hotel (Read about it here — Drumnadrochit hotel).
Day Three: Drive from Drumnadrochit to Edinburgh via Urquhart Castle, Loch Ness, Inverness, Culloden and Sterling Castle.
The final day held more drama for us what with driving up to the Urquhart Castle and exploring it, taking a ferry ride on the legendary Loch Ness wondering if the Loch Ness monster would show up, stopping by the little town of Inverness for lunch, going up to Culloden to hear tales of battles, and finally a tour of one of the most important castles of Scotland, the Sterling Castle.
Needless to say, we were sad when the tour end. It had been three days of overwhelming landscapes brought to life by Andrew’s tales of his country. The insights he gave us into the Scot life, stays with us. The music he played along the way, still haunts us – Skyfall in the moors, the national anthem as we crossed Glasgow’s rugby stadium. Once again, ask for Andrew Jones for your guide – he added a complete new dimension to our Highland and Isle of Skye tour.
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Plan your holiday in Scotland with the help of our experiences, itinerary and suggestions. Read this: Ye Banks and Braes o’ Bonnie Doon –A Holiday in Scotland