It was the dramatic landscape that got us from the word go. Although we have only spent five days in Scotland, we have come to learn a few things about this land… a place of raw beauty, wild and rugged highlands, a history of passion and loyalty, a mystery that leaves you wanting more… but let me start at the beginning and I apologise in advance, as this may be a long, boring monologue from someone that is besotted!
There were sixteen passengers on our three-day ‘Rabbies‘ tour to the Isle of Skye. Nine countries were represented and we soon all became united in our common goal of adventure in the highlands.
We were lead by our intrepid guide and driver, Duncan. This young bonny Scot regaled us (he swore they were all true) with historical facts, figures and enthralling (and usually gruesome) tales of battles, royalty, beheadings and folklore. Delighting us with his wicked sense of humour and ability to answer most of our questions. To complement his tales, he also played a variety of Scottish music that really helped us immerse ourselves in the Scottish culture, which was exactly what we wanted to do.
Our journey commenced through the rolling green forrests & lowlands, soon reaching the rugged highlands with its high-peaked snow-capped bens(mountains), many lochs (lakes), stunning glens (valleys), moors (boggy, peaty, inhospitable stretches), sheer cliffs, fast-flowing rivers & rapids and literally hundreds of waterfalls… absolutely mesmerising & breathtaking scenery.
I won a prize for guessing the shape of one of the lochs (it was the map of Scotland). It was a bottle of whisky and I nearly drank the whole lot, but decided to donate it instead to Bruce’s bar. See photo…
The three days were jam-packed and the extended daylight hours allowed us to make the most of each day… the sun rose at 5.00am and set at around 9.45pm. Ok, you know us well, we must admit that we never actually took a photo of the sunrise!! It was very easy to lose track of time though, as you always thought it was much earlier than it was.
The B&B in Portree on the Isle of Skye for 2 nights was on the banks of the loch – an exquisite location with amazing views from our bedroom. We explored nearly every part of the Isle of Skye – dramatic beauty at every turn.
My favourite destination (which was an extremely hard choice as we visited many very special and remote places) was the faerie glen. This was a tiny, magical glen literally in the middle of nowhere in the highlands. An ancient faerie spiral made of rocks in the earth where folklore and legends abound regarding its mystical powers and surrounded by many small green mounds (probably 20 metres in height). There was also a tall rock called ‘Ewan’s Castle’ that added a little more mystery. It’s hard to describe, but I found it to be a very spiritual place.
Another highlight was the little ferry which was restored and run by the locals. On our 10 minute crossing to the island, we were delighted to be accompanied by some seals in the crystal clear water.
I have to mention the cute little lambs throughout our trip, especially the little black-faced, black-socked ones… adorable.
Also, we were on the lookout for the hairy highland cows (pronounced ‘heeland coos’) which we managed to find on our last day. They posed like pros for the paparazzi.
I spent my birthday in the usual fashion: On the third and final day of the tour, we visited a spectacular castle (Eilean Donan); had lunch (and a slice of spectacular chocolate cake) at Loch Ness and kept an eye out for Nessie: and had a visit to a whiskey distillery…. just the usual! Somehow (I wonder how?) word got out and Duncan bought a 
birthday card and had everyone on the bus sign it without my knowledge – very sneaky! I was really touched – it was certainly a birthday that I will never forget.
birthday card and had everyone on the bus sign it without my knowledge – very sneaky! I was really touched – it was certainly a birthday that I will never forget. 
Edinburgh is a city with two sides – the old and the new… however, I think it should really be the old and the really old. The imposing Edinburgh Castle dominates the skyline perched on Castle Rock and is well worth a visit for the views alone. According to one local, the city experienced a ‘heat wave’ while we were there – don’t worry, we survived, I think it reached 18 degrees.
Our words and photos cannot adequately describe how wild and dramatic this country is, both in its scenery and history. Scotland has certainly won our hearts. Whenever we hear the Scottish brogue, it will transport us straight back to the wilds of the highlands! You must come and visit if you are in this part of the world. We very highly recommend the ‘Rabbies’ tour. We will certainly be back to do another tour – Bruce would like to do the whiskey tour! Duncan’s incredible knowledge, experience and professionalism made this Scottish experience so special – thanks again Duncan!
PS Thank you Noelene for the recommendation!!
(12-16 May)
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