Helen's Home World: Home from the Highlands

Friday, September 6, 2024

Home from the Highlands

Two days ago, I got home from a 15-day self-driving vacation in Scotland. I went with two of my sisters, and a brother-in-law. We started and ended the vacation in Edinburgh.

Edinburgh Castle from Princes Garden

We had two nights in Edinburgh before we picked up the rental car. We arrived in Edinburgh while the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo was on; we decided that we couldn't miss that opportunity. It's an hour and half show that only starts at 9:30 pm and we had a rental car to pick up the next morning but it was a once in a lifetime thing.

Massed Pipes and Drums

We picked up the rental car. It was a black Suburu Boxer SUV. It was a nice vehicle with GPS, back up and forward cameras. The car was also a hybrid so it switched to an electric motor when we were going slow enough.

It was a little difficult to get out of Edinburgh. I took a wrong turn and ended up having to make an illegal right turn to get back on track. We were heading to see the Falkirk Kelpies, Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument. Then it would be off to our first B&B in a little town called Bridge of Cally.

Falkirk Kelpies

Stirling Castle Great Hall

Wallace Monument

The driving in Scotland was intense to say the least. People drive really fast on little twisty turning roads. I had driven in England and Scotland before but I don't remember the roads being so narrow and, for the most part, without a decent shoulder. I certainly wasn't driving fast enough for the locals and got honked at quite a few times that first day. The GPS in the car got us to our destination but it chose a rather strange route going off on the smaller roads rather than staying on one of the more main routes. We did get to our destination eventually but just as we arrived, I hit a traffic cone that was in a pot hole. We had a rubbed spot on the front corner of the car and quite a scratch on the back passenger door.

Bridge of Cally Hotel

The next day's journey was to Scone Palace about 1/2 hour away and then on to Inverness for a two night stay. This time the GPS did take us to Scone on the road I thought it would the day before. The driving was getting somewhat easier although I still hated seeing large trucks coming around a curve at me.

Scone Palace

Cavell Guest House

The following day was only a short drive to Culloden and to the Clava Cairns. The only driving issue on this day was that to get to the Clava Cairns there was about a 500m road that was single lane with only one small pull out. You had to watch for oncoming traffic.

Culloden

Clava Cairns

The following day was a longer drive along Loch Ness to Urquhart Castle, then past the town where the next B&B was located and onto the Glenfinnian Monument and Glenfinnian Viaduct, made famous by the Harry Potter films. After we saw the Glenfinnian attractions, we back tracked about half an hour to Spean Bridge where the Distant Hills Guest House was located.

Urquhart Castle

Glensfinnian Monument

Glenfinnian Viaduct

I think the Distant Hills Guest House was the nicest of the B&B's that we stayed at. I wished we had at least two nights there as we would have had time to enjoy the hot tub in the back garden.

Pergola and hot tub

Guest Lounge

The next day was the drive to Glencoe and on down to Glasgow. This is a spectacular drive when the weather is nice but as luck would have it, we had our first really rainy day. In Glasgow, we were staying two nights at the Holiday Inn. There was no parking at the hotel but the hotel subsidizes the parking at the car park across the street. We left the car in the parking garage and used the Hop On Hop Off bus.

Glencoe Visitor Centre

I drove that!

Three Sisters

Holiday Inn bar area

We left Glasgow early so as not to miss the check in time for the ferry to the Isle of Arran. Thankfully we had the use of Google maps in addition to the car's GPS. A bridge was closed and, of course, that's the way the GPS directions wanted us to go. Once out of Glasgow the drive was fairly easy and we made it to Ardrossan in plenty of time for our ferry. There was an Asda located close to the ferry terminal and we walked back to see if we could buy some T-Cut to buff out the scratches on the car.

Ardrossan Ferry Terminal

On the way to the Isle of Arran

Isle of Arran - Scotland in Miniature

We arrived on the Isle of Arran too early to check in to our B&B so we first went to Brodick Castle, home of the Dukes of Hamilton. After visiting the castle, we then went to the Belvedere Guest House to find our host had popped out, he had left us notes with the keys to our rooms but when checking out the place, we set off the security alarm.

Brodick Castle

View of Goat Fell from our room

Belvedere Guest House

The following day was a drive around the island. The principal stop for me was at the Clachaig Farm where my grandmother, one of her brothers and one of her sisters were born. The current owner invited us to walk around and take pictures and showed us the bothy and the original farm kitchen. We also visited Lochranza Castle. Little did we know that we would see it again the very next day.

Clachaig Farm

Lochranza Castle

When we went out to dinner at the local pub that night, one of the men at the bar said the ferry had broken down and that the service between Brodick and Ardrossan had been cancelled. Sure enough about 40 minutes later I got an email about the service disruption. We had not been rebooked on the other ferry service from Brodick so the only option left was to book on the ferry that was first come, first serve. We bought a ticket for the Lochranza to Claonaig ferry. The issue with that route was we would have a four to five hour drive to Edinburgh rather than about a two hour drive. The next day was a gorgeous sunny day, we headed up to Lochranza, arriving at about 9:20 am and then proceeded to wait, we made it on to the 1:15 pm ferry crossing.

Lochranza Ferry

Good Bye to the Isle of Arran

It was beautiful drive and the scenery was wonderful but I didn't have much time to enjoy it as I was focused on driving. We got back to Edinburgh around 6pm and returned the car without incident. In a dark car park the Enterprise agent didn't notice the scratches, that really were barely noticeable, as they had been buffed with the T-Cut. I was really mentally exhausted from being so focused on driving that I couldn't back up in the parking garage to park the car into one of the free spaces.

We now had three more night in Edinburgh before our flights home. I'll do some other posts on the sites and places we saw on our travels.

"My heart's in the Highlands

My heart is not here,

my heart's in the Highlands

a chasin the deer.

A chasin the wild deer and following the roe,

my heart's in the Highlands wherever I go."

1 comment:

DukeSeptember 7, 2024 at 5:37 AM
What a wonderful trip you had with so many gorgeous castles and sites to see but I would not have liked the driving part!
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Agility Blessing

May the tunnels not have too much suction,
May the course be fun and fast.
May your dog not stop to say "hello" to the photographers they pass!
May the table not be too slippery,
May the chute house no scary beasts,
May all the yellow parts be touched with one little toe, at least
May the wind be always at your back,
May no bars fall on the ground,
May the A-frame have no stop sign on the top,
May the judge's whistle never sound.
May your dog obey all correct commands,
And ignore the ones that are wrong.
May your heart be light, your feet be sure, and the bond with your dog grow strong.
At the finish line, may great joy abound, regardless of your score,
You have your dog, your dog has you, and who could ask for more?

Written by: PJ Hughes

What is a Title!

Not just a brag, not just a stepping stone to a higher title, not just an adjunct to competitive scores. A Title is a tribute to the dog that bears it, a way to honor that dog, an ultimate memorial. It will remain in the record and in the memory for about as long as anything in this world can remain. Few humans will do as well or better in that regard, and though the dog himself doesn't know or care that his achievements have been noted, a Title says many things in the world of humans, where such things count.

A Title says your dog was intelligent, and adaptable, and good natured. It says that your dog loved you enough to do the things that please you, however crazy they may have sometimes seemed. And a Title says that you loved your dog, that you loved to spend time with him because he was a good dog, and that you believed in him enough to give him yet another chance when he failed, and that in the end your faith was justified.

A Title proves that your dog inspired you to have the special relationship enjoyed by so few, that in the world of disposable creatures, this dog with a Title was greatly loved, and loved greatly in return. And when that dear short life is over, the Title remains as a memorial of the finest kind, the best you can give to a deserving friend, volumes of praise in one small set of initials before or after the name.

A Title is nothing less than love and respect, given and received, permanently recorded.

Written by Sandy Mowery, Wisconsin

The Last Battle

If it should be that I grow frail and weak
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then will you do what must be done,
For this -- the last battle -- can't be won.

You will be sad I understand,
But don't let grief then stay your hand,
For on this day, more than the rest,
Your love and friendship must stand the test.

We have had so many happy years,
You wouldn't want me to suffer so.
When the time comes, please, let me go.
Take me to where to my needs they'll tend,
Only, stay with me till the end

And hold me firm and speak to me
Until my eyes no longer see.
I know in time you will agree
It is a kindness you do to me.

Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering I have been saved.
Don't grieve that it must be you
Who has to decide this thing to do;

We've been so close -- we two -- these years,
Don't let your heart hold any tears.

Author Unknown

Beyond the Rainbow

As much as I loved the life we had and all the times we played,

I was so very tired and knew my time on earth would fade.

I saw a wondrous image then of a place that’s trouble-free,

Where all of us can meet again to spend eternity.

I saw the most beautiful Rainbow, and on the other side

Were animals of every sort as healthy as could be!

My own tired, failing body was fresh and healed and new

I wanted to run with them, but I had something left to do.

I needed to reach out to you, and tell you I’m alright

That this place is truly wonderful,

Then a bright Glow pierced the night.

Twas the Glow of many candles shining bright, strong and bold

I knew then that it held your love in its brilliant shades of gold.

For although we may not be together in the way we used to be,

We are still connected by a cord no eye can see.

So, whenever you need to find me, we’re never far apart,

If you look beyond the Rainbow and listen with your heart.

Do you think the time is right?

May I say goodbye to pain filled days and endless lonely nights?
I've lived my life and done my best, an example tried to be.
So can I take that step beyond, and set my spirit free?
I didn't want to go at first, I fought with all my might.
But something seems to draw me now to a warm and living light.
I want to go, I really do; it's difficult to stay.
But I will try as best I can to live just one more day.
To give you time to care for me and share your love and fears.
I know you're sad and afraid, because I see your tears.
I'll not be far, I promise that, and hope you'll always know,
That my spirit will be close to you wherever you may go.
Thank you so for loving me. You know I love you too,
And that's why it's so hard to say goodbye and end this life with you.
So hold me now just one more time and let me hear you say,
Because you care so much for me, you'll let me go today.

I Loved You Best

So this is where we part, My Friend,

And you'll run on, around the bend.

Gone from sight, but not from mind,

new pleasures there you'll surely find.

I will go on; I'll find the strength,

Life measures quality, not its length.

One long embrace before you leave,

Share one last look, before I grieve.

There are others, that much is true,

But they be they, and they aren't you.

And I, fair, impartial, or so I thought,

Will remember well all you've taught.

Your place I'll hold, you will be missed,

The fur I stroked, the nose I kissed.

And as you journey to your final rest,

Take with you this...I loved you best.

-Jim Willis

The Price We Pay

There is a cycle of love and death that shapes the lives of those who choose to travel in the company of animals.

It is a cycle unlike any other.

To those who have never lived through it's turnings and walked it's rocky path, our willingness to give our hearts with the full knowledge it will be broken seems incomprehensible.

Only we know how small price we pay for what we receive; our grief, no matter how powerful it may be, is an insufficient measure of the joy we have been given.

Suzanne Clother