May 2024
HIGHLANDS
01
Upon arrival, we hit the ground running... well okay, walking, with a tour of the city of Inverness. The first Gaelic word we learned from our incredible & knowledgable tour guide, Charlie, was "dreich"- meaning dull/gloomy/dreary. And that it was! But that didn't dampen our spirits- we knew we were getting the true Scottish experience!
Day 2 started with a visit to one of Scotland's most iconic sites- Loch Ness. While there were no Nessie sightings for us, we did get to explore the ruins of Urquhart Castle. Our modern sensibilities had to grapple with how life was lived here in an earlier time. The mist created an almost otherworldly feel; a realm where spirits and Nessie could come alive.
A stop and tour of Cawdor Castle helped us envision how one family has witnessed centuries of change take place in this area of the Highlands. Following this, we visited the Culloden Battlefield. The torrential downpour coupled with a passionate re-telling of the events that took place gave us an unparalleled insight to this momentous event in Scotland's history.
Day 3 combined two iconic Scottish staples- whiskey and sheep! A tour of Glen Moray distillery gave us a backstage look into the intensive process of making, bottling, and exporting whiskey. Next, a personal highlight of the tour- visiting a farm to watch sheepdogs at work! And almost just as cool- getting the chance to meet all the animals up close.
The evening concluded at our gorgeous hotel on Loch Rannoch, with an informative and lively bagpiping demonstration.
