Scotland 2024

We flew into Glasgow and then drove directly to Edinburgh as we were attending the Tattoo that evening. The next day was focusing on a family catch-up and then the following day it was a visit to the castle and also to the Vaults under the South Bridge. We drove up to Inverness to visit Culloden Battlefield and then do a couple of coach tours, one to the Isle of Skye and the other to Mallaig to join the Jacobite Express (steam train used in the Harry Potter films) back to Fort William.

After driving back to Glasgow airport to allow the rest of the family to head back home, we continued on to Arrochar for the night and then down to Campbeltown on the Mull of Kintyre where we visited the Springbank Distillery.

We crossed back over to Largs (we had to drive the whole way around as there were no ferries available) and finally we spent a few days with my brother before heading back to Australia.

Thursday 22 August 2024

Up early to catch our flight to Glasgow and on the way to the airport got a message saying that it was going to be delayed one and half hours, so we could slept in. Then on descent into Glasgow the aircraft ahead had a bird strike, so as the runway had to be checked, we circled around for a while. Then we had a wait for the hire car to be ready... Rather than visit Kelvin Grove, Museum that is a beautiful building in Glasgow, we headed straight to Edinburgh. After a couple of hours rest and more medication we caught the bus into the city and walked up to the castle for the Tattoo. Always an excellent production.

Edinburgh - Massed pipes and drums entry

Friday 23 August 2024

We had reserved today for my brother and family to join us for a few hours of chatting. It was a good fun day.

Edinburgh - USA Navy Guard

Saturday 24 August 2024

We were booked into a tour of the castle starting at 10am. We got the bus into Princes Street and then walked up to the castle as we had done the previous evening on the way to the Tattoo. The guide showed us the various places to explore in detail. As always with the castle, there are crowds everywhere, most of whom were very pushy (Europeans!). We finished looking around and had a late coffee and as the grandkids wanted to watch the 1pm gun we hung around for that.

Edinburgh - entry to the castle

Edinburgh - the castle is built on a BIG rock

Edinburgh - the main banquet hall at the castle

Edinburgh - view from the ramparts

Our next tour was through some hidden passages and dwellings hidden under a bridge. Many homeless lived there and the conditions were so bad that life expectancy there was only a few months.

Walking back to the bus the crowds were just crazy, people wall-to-wall. Back at the house it was a quiet evening....

Sunday 25 August 2024

We had a long drive today to Inverness. We thought it would be a bit of fun to have "a wee scone in Scone!", so we took a quick break. We were going to visit Scone Castle, the traditional place were all the Scottish kings were crowned, but it was going to cost around $50 per person, which we thought was a bit of a rip off, so we got back on the road.

We had agreed to meet up with the others at Culloden Battlefield and we all arrived within a few minutes. We walked slowly through the exhibition and then walked around the battle field. This place still has a presence. Just as we finished the rain started, so we timed it well. We then drove to Nairn to settle into our beautiful mansion for a few days.

Culloden Battlefield

Culloden - the exhibition

Culloden - these stones show were the 1,500 Jacobite supporting soldiers lie, clan by clan.

Monday 26 August 2024

We were booked on to a coach tour to the Isle of Skye. As always the coach stopped a regular intervals for toilet/shopping/viewing. The first major stop was to visit Eilean Donan, the most photographed castle in Scotland. The whole of Skye has the most beautiful scenery and we took a few breaks to photograph many. The drive back to Inverness was long and non-stop, with us arriving back about 8pm. All rather tired.

Urquart Castle on Loch Ness

Eilean Donan Castle

Sligachan, Isle of Skye - Glamaig

Sligachan, Isle of Skye - Sgùrr nan Gillean

Portree, Isle of Skye

Portree, Isle of Skye - view from the hill above the town

Staffin, Isle of Skye - Mealt Falls and Kilt Rock

Staffin, Isle of Skye

Tuesday 27 August 2024

Todays tour was based on a train ride (Jacobite Express) from Mallaig across to Fort William. This was used in the Harry Potter films. The bus drive down was via the East coast of Loch Ness and we stopped in Fort Augustus to take a look at the canal. Then on to Glenfinnan and the railway viaduct used in the movies.

It was very cold and windy when we arrived at Mallaig, but the steam engine was ready to go and it was a pleasant 2 hours trip. Again the return trip was long and it was after 9pm when we got home.

Fort Augustus - the Caledonian Canal locks

Glenfinnan - surveying his kingdom

Glenfinnan - the viaduct used in Harry Potter movies

Spean Bridge - Commando World War II Memorial. This ara was their training ground.

Wednesday 28 August 2024

After packing up we drove north to Foulis Castle, the home of the Munros, for a private tour. Our guide was the wife of one of the sons of the chief. Turns out she was from Sydney and moved there 14 years ago.

Foulis Castle - the original kitchen

Foulis Castle - the courtyard

Foulis Castle - the old tower defenses

We had to head off early, after lunch at the Munro Storehouse, to get to the airport for the rest of the family to get their flight from Glasgow to London. The drive took four and a half hours with horrendous traffic coming into Glasgow.

On arrival we said goodbye and we rolled up at the car rental to pick up our car for the rest of the trip.

We had about a one hour drive north to Arrocher in heavy rain (again)!

Thursday 29 August 2024

The next morning we drove down to the Mull of Kintyre, and the town of Campbeltown. And a nice town it is.

Campbeltown, Mull of Kintyre

Campbeltown Cross

Friday 30 August 2024

In the morning we drove down to the Mull of Kintyre Lighthouse, along rather narrow roads. The public road stops at the top before the road drops down to the sea.

On the return drive we got really nice views of Southend.

Mull of Kintyre Lighthouse

Mull of Kintyre - Southend

We had booked in to a Distillery tour in the afternoon. Springbank Distillery does each and every step of the distilling process is completed on site.

This is the best whisky I have ever tasted!

Springbank Distillery - traditional floor malting.

Springbank Distillery - kiln drying

Springbank Distillery - fermentation in large wooden vats

Springbank Distillery - distilling ( two and half times)

Springbank Distillery - from still to casks

Springbank Distillery - Maturation (up to 50 years)

Saturday 31 August 2024

Today we had to drive back round to Glasgow and then on to Largs as there were no ferries available. When we arrived in Large there was a large festival going on with lots of people. We had a quiet afternoon and the next morning we headed to my brother's for a few days before heading back to Australia.

Largs Waterfront

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