Scotland - May, 2023
Scotland is stunningly beautiful & wild. I came here 5 years ago (Scotland 2018) & vowed to return. It did not disappoint, even though the weather was chillier & less sunny. (See Scotland 2018 for glorious sunsets - none this trip!) Diane & I had a wonderful time experiencing all that Scotland has to offer including lots of gorgeous scenery, challenging hiking trails (mostly uphill!), fun places to explore, great food, lively traditional Scottish music & of course, tasting wee drams of scotch in quaint pubs. There are 5 separate galleries to view below.
Edinburgh & Outlander Day Tour
We started our journey in beautiful Edinburgh with its gorgeous Georgian architecture. Since we use public transportation to get around Scotland, we relied on day trips to see the countryside. From Dublin, we took the Outlander Adventure, a journey to see various Outlander sights experienced by Jamie & Claire , while hearing about the history that inspired this famous show.
Inverness - Day Tour in North Highlands
We took a day tour out of Inverness to Torridon, Applecross & Eilean Donan Castle. This tour takes a journey through the twists and turns of an exceptionally mountainous part of the North Coast.
On the Bus
These images were taken with my cell while sitting on the bus on route from Inverness to Portree, Isle of Skye. It was like watching a huge HD TV screen of Scottish scenery. It has to be the most scenic route ever!
Isle of Skye - Portree & Day Tour of Trotterish Peninsula
The Isle of Skye is spectacular. The town of Portree is a charming little fishing village , with a main square and just a few streets off it. We took the most amazing day tour around the Trotternish peninsula that included the Fairy Glen (a magical landscape); the breathtaking drive over Quiraing pass; Neist Point; and Fairy Pools. We also did a 2 hour boat tour in the Sound of Raasay where we saw a white-tailed eagle & some lounging pregnant seals.
Oban - Day Boat Tour of Treshnish Isles & Staffa Island
The highlight of our 3 day Oban stay was a boat tour of Staffa Island and the Treshnish Islands (Lunga, Mull & Iona). The tour started at island of Staffa known for its magnificent basalt columns. Lunga Island, surrounded by wildflowers and gorgeous scenery, was a 2 hour stop. This island, also uninhabited, is home to a colony of over 3,000 puffins nesting in burrows in the grassy cliff tops. I had to restrain myself in the number of puffin pics I included ... I have a lot more! Our last stop was on the tiny island of Iona.
