Well the long awaited 18 day Scotland Road Trip has now begun; first stop Edinburgh. But before I begin with the post about the best of Edinburgh I want to frame this and subsequent posts in the larger context of Scotland. Its a magical land with a history several millennia old and half the size of Oklahoma; but a thousand times more interesting. It has castles and cathedrals, monuments and mountains, and hiking and biking. You’ll see lochs (lakes) and rocks, spires and shires, and highways and mostly byways. A visitor will walk through ancient cemeteries and long silent battlefields which remind us of struggles past; a past that set into motion a series of events that would give eventual rise of a new nation, the United States.
Before embarking on an endeavor such as this, you want to research, plan, and gather informative resources. For Scotland, some resources you may consider getting an Explorer Pass from Historic Environment Scotland and/or the National Trust for Scotland; both memberships provide free admission to a variety of historical locations; you will want to check out each of theirs lists of sites. Another thing to consider is doing either a Bed and Breakfast driving tour (this is essentially what we planned) or even better, rent a “caravan” and have your greatest freedom exploring the country; this is what we plan next time. BTW get full coverage insurance on your vehicle rental; its well worth it.
Now lets get started with our journey beginning with Edinburgh. After connecting flight issues at Heathrow in London, we finally arrived in Edinburg late evening and checked in at the Princess Street Suites. For the price, I give high marks to this hotel for service and cleanliness; we usually spend more on activities than lodging so no Five-Star accommodations for us. Furthermore, it is close to the train station and a short walking distance to the Princess Street Gardens, National Galleries of Scotland, cafes, and shopping.
Compared to Glasgow, Edinburgh is far from metropolitan, but if your desire is to explore genuine Scottish heritage and history…..Edinburgh is your place.
Gardens, Palaces, Cathedrals, Kirks, Museums, Universities, pipers, architecture, and the world famous Royal Scottish Military Tattoo. We got in country just after the Tattoo event closed.
Unnamed piper
The Grave of……TOM RIDDLE!!!
No, seriously. Of all attractions that Edinburgh offers, the crown jewel of the city is the Edinburgh Castle. We visited twice and I still wanted to spend another two days in just the castle, not to mention another five days in this wonderous city…..but time ran out. Many of the city’s highlights such as the Palace of Holyrood House, Scottish Parlament, and Calton Hill, among many others.
The space we are standing, just in front of the castle’s main entry, is where the Royal Scottish Military Tattoo annual event takes place. Surrounding this area are gigantic portable spectator stands with a capacity of approx. 8000 seats. It takes weeks to setup and take down for the event. If you attend you will want to schedule way in advance.
The castle is filled with exhibits of arms, armor, royal banners, and chamber after chamber of items pointing back to a proud Scottish history, yet to be forgotten by the centuries.
The tour will walk you through a high security vault containing the Royal Scottish Crown Jewels; no photos are allowed to be taken by visitors.
You will trod hallways that lead to the Great Hall where kings and queens administered kingdom business. You can’t help but leave with a sense of awe at
One last thing before we move on to the Glasgow/Perth leg of our expedition. Of course we had to try on our ancestral Scottish tartans; the McKennzies and the Mclarens.
Edinburgh Castle
Next stop…..Glasgow!!!!