2006 Scotland
McCuistion Vacation to Scotland - 2006
On August 4th in the evening, Kevin called us into the living room for an announcement. Since we were leaving on vacation the next day, he needed to tell us that he was engaged to Kerri! He looked so happy next to her. The age difference is the same as between Lynn and I, only backwards. It was a good thing he did. Otherwise, we'd come home from our trip and everyone would know except us. That would not be a good plan.
So the next day, Lynn and I take off on our vacation to Scotland and Ireland.
Sunday: It took all day to get to Scotland. We flew via Newark into Glasgow. Jim and Beth eventually found us, and Betty showed up a little thereafter. Then came our driver, and we were set.
Since they drive on the wrong side over there, and we expected to be a little weary after our travels, we thought it expedient to have a driver the first day. He took us to Edinburgh, where we visited the Edinburgh Castle and got acquainted. We saw the Destiny Stone and started to hear the many stories Jim spins as we traveled from place to place. He knows all the background on the many places and events we visited. We walked down the Royal Mile and glanced at the Hollyrood Palace, where the queen stays when she visits. We also drove through Glasgow, but that is more of an industrial town, with not much of interest to tourists.
We dismissed our driver and tried to find our way out of town. It was a bit frustrating. I couldn't find my GPS tools initially, so we had to drive from advice to advice. Everyone knew where we should go, but their credibility seemed lacking. Eventually we found our way to the Bowfield Hotel. Our Tour setup guy gets top marks for great places to stay.
I was able to find my GPS, and we then set off to find dinner. We learned to trust the GPS as we drove around and easily found our way, back to the hotel for dinner. This technology toy was a great lifesaver for us. We could focus on left-side driving, left-side gear changing, round-abouts every few miles, and not knowing where we were. Plus, it may have saved a marriage or two.
Monday, we set off for Paisley and its Abbey, which has some part in the McCuistion/McDonald family. When we got there, the volunteer guide showed us around. We knew many of the stories he told us. When Jim described our Quest in Scotland, to visit the Uisdean/McDonald sites, he told us that his brother-in-law had written a book on the McDonald stories. Well, we exchanged cards and addresses. He promised to send a copy of that book, which indeed was there waiting for Jim when he returned home to America.
On then to Irvine. The others went to the Maritime Museum. Betty and I walked around the beach and talked.
Next, north to DunDonald. This castle was the HQ for the McDonald leader for a while. Lynn and I played our bagpipe chanters and Beth played her Flute there in the Castle. The acoustics were great, with the sound echoing off the stone walls. When we described our Quest to the visitors center, she exclaimed "McCuistions? We have a McCuistion here who's a historian!" She promptly got on the phone and rang him up. Moments later, we meet a local McCuistion. He introduced himself "My name is Jim McCuistion". Well, our Jim McCuistion was very pleased to meet him. We had a nice talk about Uisdean and McDonald stories.
We then went further north to Troon beach and had dinner at a seafood restaurant, where we talked about how fortunate we had thus far been.
Tuesday morning as early as we could, we had breakfast and checked out of Bowfield. We were heading for the Isle of Skye, and it was a bit of a drive. We took the west side of Loch Lomand northward. We visited Luss, the home of Calquhouni, which is Beth's line. It is very picturesque along the Loch. Near the top, we stopped to see a Bagpiper playing and a Highland Stag lounging in the Heather.
We briefly visited the Glencoe area, home of the Massacre of Glencoe, where the McDonalds were murdered. Then on through Fort Williams to the Ferry at Mallaig. Apparently you need reservations, but we got lucky and there was room onboard for our car.
We arrived at the Isle of Skye. We stopped at the Clan McDonald center and saw the McDonald Castle. There is bagpipe music written associated with the McDonald clan. We checked into our hotel which is rated the most romantic hotel in Scotland. It was very pretty.
Since the evening was still young, we decided to drive out to the Dunscaith castle. On the way, we ran into a traffic jam: a bull in the middle of the road! Dodging that obstacle, we arrived at the point in the road where you had to abandon your vehicle. We made it on foot across the sheep pasture to the point of the peninsula where the remains of the castle stood. There's a nice bridge to the narrow entrance to the castle, but the bridge timbers were out. So I shimmied across the bridge support and climbed up into the castle. On the top there is nothing but green field weeds and a small amount of the original wall.
Wednesday, we were getting used to each other, the Scotland culture and the Scotland food. Scotland breakfast is generally bacon, eggs, sausage, tomato, toast and black pudding, along with all the coffee, tea, juice and hot chocolate you can drink. We headed to Portree, where the Isle of Skye was holding its annual Highland Games. It was a little windy and some drizzle rain. We watched the contestants throwing the hammer, weights and shot put, saw the young women dancing the Highland Fling, and saw the pipers competing. The Chicago Pipers band and the Pittsburg Pipers band were there and played along with the Isle of Skye band.
We wanted to see them throwing the caper (the tree/log) event, but had more castles to visit, so we headed northeast to Caistle Uisdean. We parked by the farm, and Jim and I went looking for the owner to obtain permission and blessing to cross the pasture.
We met a young man, Ian Martin, who lives and works there. He knew the story of the McDonald Uncle who attempted to assassinate the Lord of the Isles McDonald. He was very surprised to learn that we were McCuistions! He hoped that we were more courteous than the original. It was amazing that the original Martins (who received the assassin letter) were still landowners after all these years. He gladly gave us pass to go visit the castle.
The castle is mostly just a rectangle stone enclosure. The entrance is through a small window hole, but was obstructed by a jutting rock. Betty, Beth and I ventured inside. I climbed up on the castle wall and took shots of the interior and surrounding area.
After spending some historical time thinking about the past and gazing out at the island to which the Uncle fled (and was subsequently captured and imprisoned with an empty water jug and salty beef), we continued north to Castle Duntulm. This castle was also in ruins, but was clearly a larger castle in its day.
We continued on to Flora McDonalds grave and the Isle of Skye museum, which featured thatched roof houses and lots of particulars from the crofters era of Scotland.
We wanted to round the furthest point of Skye, so we continued on north. Just as we got to the very point of the Isle of Skye, what should we see but a village sign announcing MhicQuithein. Of course, we visited the village, which turned out to be a couple houses, some pasture land and the biggest rabbit we'd ever seen.
We started south, stopping at Kilt Rook and looking at the Old Man of Stora geographic formation. That was a good days worth of sites.
Thursday we reluctantly left the Isle of Skye via the bridge. Heading east, we visited the Eilean Donan Castle. This is an extremely well kept castle.
Then on to Loch Ness, to visit Urqahart castle. It was extensive in its day, visited (in anger) by McDonalds, and eventually blown up. We checked the Lochness, but saw nothing exceptional.
We were starting to run out of energy, and spent the rest of the day doing easy things like shopping and eating.
Friday took us to the northern-most parts of Scotland. We drove north. The GPS map system was great. We'd thrown away all the paper maps, because we could enter our desired destination, set off, and have the map tell us where to turn! We used it to take us to Lord Jim's 1-square foot of Scotland land. We visited the Clan Gunn heritage center. A Gunn married a McDonald, so we have their heritage, too.
Continuing north, we ended at the village of John O-Groat. We walked out to the Duncansby point and saw a seal. We lunched in Thurso and finally ended visiting Dingwall castle. All that's left is a Dove-hutch made from stone of the original castle.
That evening, we visited the pub Hootin Nanny, where we heard traditional fiddling.
Saturday was too short. We stopped by the Culloden and Bannockburn battlefields before turning in the rental car. Culloden was the infamous battlefield where the Clan system and Bonnie Prince Charles were defeated and the Clan way of life began to die. We all said our goodbyes.
Lynn and I flew to Dublin via Heathrow. Unfortunately it was only two days after the Heathrow terrorist plot was thwarted. We had to check everything. Of course it made boarding and deplaning quick and simple. When we came to the terminal, everyone stood up and walked off. There was no fetching and lifting of carryon luggage. Just get up and get off.
We took a taxi to our hotel. We were quite tired. But we were in Ireland!