I have listed 5 of my top spots in Scotland but I cannot begin to list all of my favorite places. Nearly every mile I drove upon crossing the border is my favorite spot. We crossed the border right after the sun went down, about 10:30, so I couldn’t see much there. The next morning, however, I woke to the sights and sounds of sheep in the field behind the motel. From there until we boarded the plane a week later, I was captivated by the beauty and wonder of the architecture, the landscape, the history, and the people of Scotland.
In the coming posts, I will be talking about some of the places that we visited and some of the our adventures. Unfortunately, a week is not enough time to explore all the sights in Scotland but that’s OK. This gives me reasons to return and visit areas missed on our last trip.
#1 Aberfeldy
Some of you may wonder why Aberfeldy is top of my list of favorite spots. Well, we can look at the charming city itself as a reason. Some of the buildings have been around for nearly 200 years. Maybe we can look at the Dewar’s distillery on the outskirts of town, home of Aberfeldy Whisky. Another good reason might be the history displayed in the cemetery, one of which is right across the street from Dewar’s. These are all good reasons to be top of the list but for me, it has as much to do with the fact that my 5th great-grandfather was born and married there in the mid-1700s. We stopped briefly this past summer and found the people we met extremely helpful and friendly. I plan to return and spend a little more time exploring the area and researching more of my family history. If you are interested in the history of Aberfeldy and the area, (Grandtully, Logierait, Weem) click on the community name for a website.
Tay Bridge – Aberfeldy, Scotland
#2 Culloden
The Culloden battlefield where hundreds died in a failed attempt to return a Catholic king to the throne of England might be another odd choice for my list. But once again this has more to do with my family history than a place of awe-inspiring beauty, majestic hills filled with heather, or a place with castles steeped in the rich antiquity of Scotland. The day we visited was overcast and a little dreary – hey it is Scotland. The battlefield has a little somber feel to it and imagining the fighting that took place there that day in mid-April of 1746 might be emotional for some. Yes, I am one of those. The visitor center is well laid out and will give you a basic understanding of the events that took place. Again, for those who would like to dive into the history more I am providing a link. There are hundreds of sites depending on your level of interest.
Memorial to the fallen Scots at Culloden
#3 Edinburgh
Really, Edinburgh should be on everyone’s short list of favorite spots in Scotland. What’s not to love? If you love history, as I do, Edinburgh has a castle that dates back over 900 years with the city itself stretching back another 500 years. The architecture alone would be enough to warrant inclusion on any list. St. Giles Cathedral just celebrated its 900th birthday. If you enjoy shopping there is nothing like the Royal Mile lined with shops of every kind. But for quaint shops with hundreds of years of experience follow the path down the many side streets and get a better feel for old Edinburgh. For those that like a more rural setting Holyrood Park has hiking in a park-like setting with views of the city and surrounding countryside. If you are looking into your family history several places have records dating back hundreds of years – yes you are seeing a theme for me. I spent a few hours looking through old records and can say the people there went above and beyond to help. There are too many things to see and do in Edinburgh and I missed many. One could easily spend a week exploring the city. My next trip will be much longer.
Edinburgh Castle Scotland
#4 Glencoe
Glencoe is just a magnificent area with mountains, streams, and bridges that will take your breath away. If you want to see the Scottish countryside this is just one of the many stops you should make. It, too, like Culloden, has a violent and tragic history. A few years after the Jacobite Rebellion of 1689, the MacDonald clan was attacked by government forces due to their delay in taking an oath of allegiance to the new monarch. Over 30 men, women, and children were killed in the attack in February 1692. Many small villages dotted the landscape until the Clearances in the mid-1700s forced most people off their lands.
Glencoe Scotland
#5 Loch Ness
Nessie! Did we see her or was she in hiding? Do you believe she exists or is just a figment of the imagination or even a creation of an entrepreneur looking to make a buck? The first recorded sightings date to the 6th century so maybe she’s real. But no such luck for us on our day. The weather was a little damp and we could only figure she was staying warmer. Now the waters of Loch Ness are cold all year long so I’m not sure that is an issue for her. The loch itself is a beautiful stretch of water with a long history. It was formed almost 10,000 years ago and took its shape from the collision of two tectonic plates with England almost 400 million years ago. Regardless of whether Nessie shows herself a trip is worth your time with the ruins of Urquhart Castle being an added attraction. The castle has a long history having been taken over by Robert the Bruce in the early 1300s.
Nessie checking out the tourists