Scotland Highlands 2004

In summer 2004 I was for ten days in Scotland - in the beginning in the capital Edinburgh and later at many places in the Highlands. We had typical British weather only in the first days.

My 34 pictures with comments in the large picture gallery ->

In the end of June 2004 we went by airplane from Germany to Edinburgh. The welcome was typical british: 24 hours a day just all kinds of rain and a strong wind. The reward for accepting this weather were some clear next days.

The city centre of Edinburgh is marked by the typical grey stones. And during the rain they are getting greyer. But these stones give a special atmosphere to the streets. The colored wooden entries to the shops and pubs at the base floor let the city be more colorfull. The pubs appear mostly in a really beautiful and comfortable style - and you will find many.

We drove by a hire car for eight days counterclockwise round through all parts of Scotland. The first highlight near the road were the Firth of Forth Bridges: the modern road bridge and the old red railway bridge.

Later we visited again and again old stone buildings: bridges, castles, towers and ruins. During the first miles they were situated in wood and hill regions with many lakes and rivers.

You can sleep well in many of the Scottish Youth Hostels. They have good kitchens for cooking own meal. Moreover it is possible to book (and pay for) the next Youth Hostel.

Because of the northerly position of Scotland it is not getting really dark during a night in June. While we came more to the North we have seen large meadows, mountains and many sheeps instead of trees and woods.

After reaching the north coast (Atlantic Ocean) we had a fantastic view from the steep rock down to the white sand beach, which was situated between two red rock walls. Turquoise water.

The small Youth Hostel in Achmelvich Beach is a very good accomodation possibility.

Our trip back into the south guided us on single track roads along the Atlantic Ocean. The western wind was the reason for big growing clouds over the continent. We saw also some trees in valleys or on little wood islands like Loch Maree. The Falls of Measach have cut their own gorge.

We slept for two nights on the Isle of Skye: one night in Glenbrittle at the ground of the hiking paradise Cuillin Hills. The island Skye is famous for its mostly foggy weather. We experienced it. Most of the sights are placed in the northeastern part of Skye: the mountain plateau Quiraing, the steep coast called Kilt Rock and the rock formation "Old Man of Storr" which was behind the clouds.

After leaving Skye by ferry (about 10 EUR, bridge also 10 EUR, 2004), we visited the Eilean Donan Castle from a distance from the opposite shore. The castle was built on a small rock island and is connected by an old stone bridge.

On the way to Glasgow we stopped in the Glencoe valley and at some more castles. In Loch Lomond we slept again inside a beautiful old castle (Youth Hostel).

We visited Glasgow just for a few hours because the architecture is not so interesting as in Edinburgh. But I can recommend you a visit of the St. Mungo Cathedral. For the last night we were in Edinburgh again.

During this round trip through Scotland by car I got a good overview over the country. But sometimes the wide landscape flew to fast along the window.

If you want you can correct my English because it is not my native language.
Just send me an e-mail: webmaster@nordpaul.de

• Information      for planning your trip in Scotland
• Youth Hostels      in Scotland
• Castles      in Scotland, a collection
• Scottish Castles      Photo Library
• Highlands      at Wikipedia
• Link collection Northern Europe     with more links to the world wide web

... more Atlantic countries: Faroe Islands     2x Iceland        and 2x Spitsbergen