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by carmentom

Highland Highlights

…also some city highlights from Glasgow and Edinburgh.

I’m lucky enough to have some wonderful family friends in Scotland; truly some of the most brilliant people I’ve ever known; and so I’ve been up north a few times now. I’ve travelled up to Glasgow by train, and if you know your dates far enough in advance you can get a fairly decent ticket… you can even catch the train all the way to Inverness – but definitely from there a car has made it much easier, and cheaper, I’ve no doubt.

Loch Ness

Some of my favourite Scottish experiences this year include:

  • Dancing at a ceidlih. I had no idea what was going on most of the time, but as I was being flung around the room, twirling and heel and toeing.. everyone was laughing and singing and it was really, really good fun.
Highland dancing at the Ceilidh put on by Nairn Ceilidh Group
  • Canoeing around Loch Morlich – with the snow-topped Cairngorms in the background, it was perfectly calm and serene (if a little too cold to swim in early April)
  • Climbing Arthur’s Seat (an extinct volcano!!!!) in Edinburgh. Every time I decided I was done, it was too cold (I think it was actually snowing on me at one point) and I was leaving, I’d turn around to see yet another spectacular view. Well rewarded with a pint and a haggis burger afterwards!
Blurry phone pic, but this was halfway back down Arthur’s Seat. Check out the puzzle piece edge of the cliff!
  • Swimming in the North Sea – three times, and once it was so sunny and warm I didn’t want to get out!!!
Not what you expect when you think of Scotland, eh? Nairn Beach

  • Driving to Applecross on the West Coast – the landscape in the west is so wild and otherworldly; absolutely stunning and it actually feels like you’re on another planet. We lunched at The Applecross Inn, but were glad to have called ahead to reserve a table as it gets quite busy!
  • Watching the caber tossing at the Highland Games in Nairn
  • Bagging Stac Pollaidh and beating the fog. So glad we were prepared with a packed lunch and wore proper layers. It was lovely weather at the base and we warmed up quickly after about ten minutes, but the change in temperature at the summit was crazy. Layers layers layers! The ascent was just over 500m which makes Stac Pollaidh a Graham. Bagging a Monroe (3000ft or higher) is on my list of things to do before leaving the UK!
The view during the ascent of Stac Pollaidh in April..!
  • Climbing Charles Rennie Mackintosh’ spiral staircase at The Lighthouse design centre in Glasgow. It’s free to go up and oh, the views!!
  • Watching Nairn County FC beat Brora in the Highland Football League on home turf, and celebrating over some beers with local supporters.
  • Picnicking by Loch Ness at Fort Augustus with a lovely Loch Ness Pale Ale as I watched a boat pass through the locks.
Loch Ness Pale Ale

We ate and drank and sang and danced, in the most beautiful places surrounded by beautiful people. Scotland – good for the soul, and so much to explore.