Scotland

Both my husband and I have been to Scotland in the past (almost 30 years ago), but we weren't together at the time, and we saw different things. Coming back was a great experience to share the experience as a family.

We've spent a few days on the eastern side of Loch Lomond, drove through Glen Coe to Inverness, where we spent another couple of days before heading back to Gare Loch on the western side of Loch Lomond for a few more days. A lot of driving, but totally worth it! 

Carbeth Loch (the view from our accommodation)

With the most beautiful views of the small Carbeth Loch, we stayed at Easter Carbeth, surrounded by nature, walking trails, and close to Loch Lomond and other interesting places to visit.

 LOCH LOMOND & THE TROSSACHS NATIONAL PARK

Luss

 

Established as a National Park in 2002, Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park is Scotland's first national park. It stretches 1,865 sq km and has a boundary rate of 350 km.

The stunning centrepiece of the park is Loch Lomond, home to 22 islands and 27 islets.

Loch Lomond

The banks of Loch Lomond are surrounded by charming villages, rolling countryside, hills, and lots of activities and walking trails.

BALMAHA

Inchailloch island (Loch Lomond)

Balmaha is a small village on the eastern shore of Loch Lomond, a great base for climbing Conic Hill and admiring the fantastic views across Loch Lomond.
We skipped the strenuous walking and opted for an easy-level water edge trail and a cruise on the lake.  

BALLOCH 

Located at the southern tip of Loch Lomond is the pretty village of Balloch. A great place to visit, with plenty to get you entertained.
A must-see is the beautiful Balloch Castle & Country Park, one of the finest public spaces in the West of Scotland.

Balloch Castle

The park comprises 200 acres of semi-natural and ornamental woodland, open parkland, formal gardens, meadow, play parks, and shoreline. And at the top of the hill, there is the beautiful Tudor gothic Balloch Castle with fantastic views over the park and Loch Lomond. Unfortunately, it is closed to the public due to renovations (I presume).

  Balloch Castle Walled Garden

MUGDOCK COUNTRY PARK 

Just 10 minutes north of Glasgow is the stunning 500-acre Mugdock Country Park, a mix of breathtaking landscapes and lakes, scenic walking trails, a walled garden and garden centre, and the ruins of two grand castles: Mugdock and Craigend.

 

 

Mugdock Castle built by the Graham family, dates back to the 14th century, eventually falling into abandonment and ruins. Today, it's a nice spot to visit, but also available for special events. 

Craigend Castle, once a country house, today a haven for a diverse range of wildlife. From small birds and brightly coloured fungi to nocturnal acrobatic bats and great trees, the enclosed site with its skeletal walls and tumbled masonary has been a relatively undisturbed refuge for nature to colonise.

 Mugdock Country Park Woods

GLENGOYNE DISTILLERY

Scotland is renowned for its whisky distilleries, so we couldn't miss the opportunity to visit Glengoyne Distillery, often described as Scotland's most beautiful distillery, and just at "our doorstep".

Set in a hidden glen, next to a beautiful waterfall, it's a great distillery to visit and get some knowledge about the Single Malt Whiskey's making process, fine details of the craft and its history, followed by a tasting session.

GLEN COE

Driving on A82

Driving along the A82 from Loch Lomond to Glen Coe is the most scenic route, with magnificent views. 

Located within Lochaber Geopark in the Highlands, the deep valley and towering mountains of Glen Coe were formed over millennia of shifting glaciers and volcanic eruptions.

Probably one of the finest sceneries the Highlands has to offer. We decided to do it both ways, to and from Inverness.

FORT AUGUSTUS 

The drive from Glen Coe to Fort Augustus is very impressive. Still on the A82, we drove along Loch Leven, Loch Linnhe, Fort William, Loch Lochy, Loch Oich, Caledonian Canal, and finally Fort Augustus. 

Fort Augustus locks

Fort Augustus is a picturesque village where the Caledonian Canal joins Loch Ness. A great place to watch the boats go through the locks. 

 INVERNESS AREA

East side of Loch Ness

For us, Inverness is only a "reference" point or a passing-through route.
We stayed at the idyllic Cantray Cottage in Brae of Cantray, only 20 minutes from Inverness.
We didn't have much time in this area, but we still managed to pack in a lot.

A morning walk at Nairn Beach and feel the northern sea breeze. Located on the Scottish Highlands, Nairn beach offers a nice and expansive sandy stretch with views across the Moray Firth.

Nairn beach 

CULLODEN BATTLEFIELD

We stood on the very same ground where, on 16 April 1746, the Jacobite army of Bonnie Prince Charlie met Duke of Cumberland's government forces in a battle that changed Scottish history forever. 

At the Battlefield site

DORES 

Nessie Hunter

Dores, or "dark woods" in Gaelic, is a tiny village on the shores of Loch Ness.
The long pebble beach stretches away from the only pub in the village, giving spectacular views down Loch Ness and the Great Glen... and perhaps get a glimpse of Nessie :)  

 FALLS OF FOYERS 

Following the narrow road down from Dores, we found the popular natural beauty spot of the Falls of Foyers. A spectacular waterfall with a 42 m drop into a gorge that winds its way through tall trees until it eventually meets Loch Ness. 

The pathway through the stunning woodland takes you down steep steps to two viewpoints. Apparently, a good place to spot red squirrels, but we weren't lucky enough to see them. 

 URQUHART CASTLE

 

With 1,000 years and panoramic views overlooking Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle's ruins offer a glimpse of medieval life and the most dramatic chapters in Scotland's history.
Urquhart Castle's ruins are iconic and unlike anything else.

HIGHLAND COOS & EWES

Highland cows are gorgeous, and I'm so happy we stumbled upon them by chance when leaving the Highlands.
Highland Coos are the friendliest and oldest cattle breeds in the world, appearing around the 6th century.
With their long, shaggy coats and massive horns, they are as much part of the Scottish landscape as the rolling hills and lochs. They are hardy and resilient, true symbols of the Scottish spirit. And damn cute!

 

Scotland is a country where you never have to look far to see sheep. In fact, there are more sheep than people in Scotland.
The country's rugged hills, cool climate, and strong farming tradition make it ideal for sheep, as the Scottish landscape isn´t suitable for farming but is perfect for grazing.
Scottish sheep have helped shape national identity through wool. Their fleece has long been used to produce tartan, the patterned cloth worn in kilts and other traditional garments.

GARE LOCH 

Loch Gare

Some unexpected delays and setbacks due to a couple of accidents on our way to Gare Loch, ended up in a 12-hour drive (mostly sitting in the car) instead of the predicted 5 or 6 hours.

But we finally reached our accommodation in Rosneath Peninsula, An Calladh, with the most beautiful view of Gare Loch. And we were ready to rest for a few days before heading back to England.

The view from our accommodation

Gare Loch ("short loch" in Gaelic) is an open sea loch in Argyll and Bute in the west of Scotland. Around 9 km long and just over 2 km wide, the loch seems popular with recreational boats, water sports, and fishing. Apparently, seals, porpoises, and even bottlenose whales are often seen here. We weren't that lucky to see any. 

The Clachan Glen in Rosneath

Rosneath Peninsula is perfect for getting away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, enjoying a walk on the pebbly beaches, searching for seashells and sea glass, or driving the scenic coastal routes.

Taking the A814, you can enjoy the coastal route to Rhu and Helensburgh. For a more picturesque drive, follow the B833 through Rosneath all the way to Kilcreggan.

We had a fabulous time discovering Scotland's beautiful landmarks and history, and were immersed in its iconic scenery and dramatic landscapes.
Next time (yes, there will be a next time!), we'll focus on the cities.

Luckily, midges weren't an issue. We were well-prepared with insect repellent, but probably due to the weather, or maybe they didn't like us, we could count half a dozen bites between the 3 of us.

Mar sin leibh!