On our visit to Scotland we were able to get in a few of the things that we were interested in seeing and doing, but unfortunately – we ran out of time. There really is so much to do and see in Scotland, from the beautiful cities to the picturesque Highlands – make sure you have your camera!
Our first stop in Scotland was Edinburgh. A visit to this gorgeous city just would not be complete without a stop at Edinburgh Castle. Unfortunately, we missed the world famous “Military Tattoo” by just days – this is something that I definitely would like to include in our next trip. For those of you that have not heard of it, this annual spectacular does not involve needles and ink, this military performance includes a huge variety of entertainment and happens throughout the month of August. People travel from all over the world for this iconic event so be sure to book your tickets well in advance. The tickets range in price (according to where you choose to sit).
While you are there we highly recommend a stop to look at the Crown Jewels (dating all the way back to 1540).
Just outside of Edinburgh Castle is the Royal Mile. This section of Old Town is made up of a few different streets and is basically a one mile street lined with shops, pubs and restaurants that connect Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace (the Queen’s “summer home.”). Great spot for souvenir shopping if that is what you are looking for. We also enjoyed some excellent fish & chips at one of the many pubs along the way.
G.G. Bug and Baby Bug cruising the Loch Ness and giving their eyes a break from searching the water for the Loch Ness Monster (aka Nessie) .
If you’re like us and not lucky enough for a “Nessie” sighting, be sure to make a stop at the Loch Ness Centre, a walk through museum with film clips and exhibits. You don’t need a lot of time here but it’s a bit of fun with some of the Loch Ness theories. Also has a cute souvenir shop that sells every type of “Nessie” you could imagine!
Like most of Europe and the U.K., we found public transportation throughout Scotland very efficient and easy to navigate. The boat ride on Loch Ness was with a great company called Jacobite and it will also get you to the next stop on our list, Urquhart Castle.
Great way to spend a few hours, walking around this medieval fort with so much history.
Also has amazing views of Loch Ness (but still no “Nessie” sightings 🙁 )
