On the road again...

Today we headed off on a new adventure - a small road trip of Scotland. Initially we had planned a much larger road trip but the weather this time of year can be unpredictable so we cut a few days off the road trip and spent them in Ireland instead. That means we just have two days of enjoying the Scottish countryside.

First things first - we grabbed our rental car about 9am and Brian set out sitting on the wrong side of the car and driving on the wrong side of the road. My job was to navigate and keep reminding him to choose the lefthand lane. Getting out of Edinburgh was a little tricky - they do love their roundabouts - but before long we were on the A90 heading out.

Our first stop was Pitlochry, a quaint little town with cute storefronts. On the way there we stopped at the Blair Athol distillery. It was absolutely beautiful with its water and rocks buildings. It’s not a brand he can get in the US, so Brian bought a small bottle to enjoy while he’s here in Scotland. I think enjoying whiskeys and then not being able to take any home is the big downside of not checking bags.

After leaving Pitlochry we headed back on our way, through the gorgeous Cairngorms. There was snow on the mountains but the road was clear - just the way we like it. It did flurry for a bit but it was pretty quick to pass by. We saw some wild pheasants but had no luck with the wild stags. Maybe on the way home...

Before long we were nearing Inverness. We were heading for Culloden Battlefield, but first up was a stop to see some real Highland Coos. They are so stinking adorable!

Culloden Battlefield is the site where the British Forces met the Jacobite Army. 50 British forces died while 1,500 Highlanders were killed. It was a bloodbath and the start of the decline of the Highland clans and culture. It was moving to go through the museum and stand in the middle of a battle recreation. It was heartbreaking to see the moss and lichen covered stones standing where many lost their lives. 

At the end, there was a wall where the stones jut out - one for every person who perished. They are split by what army they were fighting for. The British bricks stretch about 15 feet of the wall, the Jacobite bricks stretch hundreds of feet, so far that you can’t even capture it in a photo. It was heartbreaking.

We had wanted to see some standing stones on one of the Scottish isles but that was cut when we reduced our road trip. Instead, we went the Clava Cairns. These ruins are over 4,000 years old and were originally three towers, each surrounded by an impressive set of standing stones. Two of these were burial chambers but the third is a mystery as it has no discernible path in or out. These were an intriguing stop.

By now we were ready to get settled into our lodgings for the night. The bonus of everyone cancelling their vacations because of the storm and the Coronavirus scare is that rooms are easy to find and affordable. We ended up right on high street in a 2-bedroom apartment with a front room bigger than my own at home. Great location, a real king size bed (the biggest we’ve found elsewhere is really a queen) and best of all, it only cost 94 pounds. What a deal!

We headed out for dinner and it was perfect timing because the sun was just starting to set over the River Ness. We got a table at a river view restaurant and enjoyed watching the sky fade for the evening.

Tomorrow we are off to the second half of our road trip and we’re playing it spontaneous. Who knows where the road will lead...