"Alba, Caledonia, "God's Country"; this... " a Scotland Travel Page by JessH

Scotland has done something to me...
I'm not sure what, but it feels like it has reached deep down inside of me and placed something new there. Something that reminds you of who you truly are; reminding you about the things that either make your soul corrode or make it blossom & rejoice. It reminds you that it's important to feel comfortable being alone - all by yourself without distraction - and just spend time with yourself; feeling happy and acknowledging the conscious & sometimes surprising thoughts in your head; having the ability to slow them down and listen.
This new something has reminded me of the wonder in small, every-day things. The sheer amazement and joy that we loose after childhood when the world wrings the true ability to "see" it out of us.
It tugs at my heart and my gut,
I hate to leave and love to go back.
I can't help it,
I'm hooked,
I'm in love.
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"One should absorb the colour of life,
but one should never remember its details. Details are always vulgar.
- Oscar Wilde.
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My very first trip to the mystical island (the United Kingdom) in August 2008 brought me to bonny Scotland. After being with a Scotsman since 1999, a staggering 9 years later I finally managed to visit the country of his roots!
In the first 5 days we drove approx. 600 miles in our little rent-a-car, exploring numerous glens, braes, lochs and monroes.

In the spring of 2009 we returned, exploring more of the Highlands, the coastal areas and the city of Inverness.

Instead of creating a seperate page for each and every loch or tiny village that we visited, I've decided to group the entire road-trip together here on my general "Scotland" page.

I hope you enjoy following the tracks of our journey as much as we did in making them!

For all tips about the capital city, I have created a a seperate Edinburgh page.

And don't forget to have a look at my page on Inverness.

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In 2009 let's celebrate the famous 1 Scottish stereotype - stingyness -
and check-out my list of Deals & Offers for Scotland this year!

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TRIP - SUMMER 2008:

--> DAY 1:
Arrival at Turnhouse, Edinburgh International.
Drive to Inverness.
--> DAY 2:
Forres, Beaches, Findhorn and the Findhorn Foundation & Shamabala Retreat Centre.
--> DAY 3:
Drumnadrochit and the Loch Ness Centre, Loch Cluanie, Eilean Donan Castle, Fort Augustus, St Columba's Well, Invermoriston, Castle Stalker, Appin - Land of the Stewart Clan.
--> DAY 4:
Loch Ness, Fort William, Oban, Sea Life Seal & Otter Sanctuary, Ben Nevis, Falls of Lora, Loch Lochy, Loch Linnhie.
--> DAY 5:
Inverness, the Ness Walk and a fine British curry!
--> DAY 6:
The Trossachs - "McGregor Country", Balquhidder & Rob Roy's Grave,
drive to Edinburgh, the Grassmarket and the Cow Gate.
--> DAY 7 to DAY 12:
General merriment and many hours of hiking in and around Edinburgh!

TRIP - SPRING 2009:

--> Day trips to Glen Affric, Ullapool, Beauly, Culloden, Nairn, etc.
--> Most new tips from this visit can be found on my seperate Inverness page.

TRIP - SUMMER 2009:

--> Inverness, the Highlands, Glen Affric, John O'Groats, Isle of Skye and our Wedding at Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness :-)
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... on this particular day the weather was simply *too Scottish* to wear them, but we still managed to work them into a photo despite the rain!
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A funny little social observation:
"The English are not happy unless they are miserable,
the Irish are not at peace unless they are at war,
and the Scots are not at home unless they are abroad."
- George Orwell.
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