Scotland-Prior to SAS

Day 1: Arriving in Edinburgh and Settling In

After a long day of travel, we finally touched down in Edinburgh, and thankfully, everything went off without a hitch. But, as if on cue, the moment we stepped off the bus, it started raining. Classic Scotland, right? We trekked through the drizzle for about 15 minutes to our accommodation—a cozy room in an apartment right on the Royal Mile! Once we dropped our bags, we headed out for dinner at Dishoom, an Indian restaurant that came highly recommended. The food was divine! Later, we strolled along the Royal Mile, soaking in the evening vibes, and even popped into a chapel that was hosting an event for the Fringe Festival. The chapel is celebrating its 900th anniversary with an event called "900 Voices," where locals share their stories. It was a perfect introduction to the city. We finally made it back and, despite the time difference, I had the best sleep—11 PM here, but 3 PM back in Colorado!

Day 2: Exploring Edinburgh’s Sights

We started our day with a visit to a donut shop that had the most amazing gluten-free tea cakes, followed by a protein-packed omelet at a place next door. Then, we wandered up a colorful street and found ourselves in a Harry Potter store! It’s said that J.K. Rowling got some of her inspiration here, which was so cool to see. Next, we walked to Edinburgh Castle, but unfortunately, it was sold out, so we admired it from the outside. The same thing happened at the Palace of Holyroodhouse—sold out tickets—but it was still great to see. The highlight of the day was hiking up to Arthur’s Seat. It was a challenging climb (I definitely wasn’t ready for that!), but the views at the top made it all worthwhile. After descending the hill, we enjoyed a meal at the historic Sheep Heid Inn before heading back. We wrapped up the day with some souvenir shopping and a delicious dinner at Kabab Mahal, followed by a comedy show at the Fringe Festival.

 

  

Day 3: On the Road to Dumbarton Castle

We picked up our rental car today and successfully navigated our way out of the city—victory! The first part of the drive was dry, but by the time we reached Dumbarton Castle, the weather had turned miserable. Cold, windy, and rainy—but we still toured the castle! Afterward, we stopped at a local supermarket (one of our favorite things to do when traveling) for lunch and snacks before continuing to Kinlochleven. Our home for the night was a cozy camping pod, perfect for resting up before our big hike tomorrow. Dinner was low-key, and we turned in early.

  

Day 4: Hiking and Discovering New Flavors

Today started early—really early. I woke up at 4 AM, overheating, then again at 6 AM to stretch out my aching back. Finally, at 10 AM, we set off on a stunning hike. The scenery was breathtaking, and we even encountered some sheep along the trail– and if I am being honest I was scared to get too close as they all had horns. After a delicious lunch in the great outdoors, we returned to our pod for showers and a nap before heading out for dinner at Lochleven Seafood Café. This was the night I discovered that I actually like clams and mussels—who knew?

   

Day 5: Castles and Carbost

We hit the road again today, making our first stop in Fort William for breakfast. I finally found the sweatshirt I’d been searching for! Then, we drove to Eilean Donan Castle and had a great time touring it. Our next stop was Carbost, where we’d be spending the night in a tent on the side of a mountain. It was chilly and totally reminded us of our A-frame cabin back home. That evening, we ventured into Carbost and had the best gluten-free burger at the town’s only pub. The sunset was gorgeous, and I went to bed bundled up in layers, feeling cozy and content.

 

Day 6: A Day Full of Adventures

Today is a big day! We started with a visit to the Fairy Pools, just a short drive from Carbost. The hour-long walk alongside the pools was magical. Back in Carbost, we stopped at the Oyster Shed, which was bustling with activity. My mom had a bit of a slip in the mud, but luckily, disaster was averted, and all our lunch was saved! I tried my first oyster—let’s just say I prefer my seafood warm and drenched in garlic butter. Afterward, we drove to Portree, the capital of the Isle of Skye, for some coffee and a stroll. Our next stop was the Fairy Glen, a stunning landscape that looked like something out of a storybook. Dinner was in Dunvegan at The Old School restaurant, which was delicious. We debated whether to head back to our tent or visit the Neist Point Lighthouse—we chose the lighthouse, and it was absolutely worth it. The wind was fierce, but thankfully, the rain held off!

Day 7: Highland Cows and the Road to Inverness

As we left Carbost and made our way to Inverness, we had to stop to admire some Highland cows—they’re so adorable! We also paused at Loch Ness for a quick look before heading to Tomatin Distillery for a whiskey tour. Unfortunately, we mixed up the dates, so no tour today, but we did buy some mini bottles to sample later. We then visited Cawdor Castle, exploring both the interior and the beautiful gardens. Finally, we arrived in Inverness and checked into our room above a pub. Dinner was gluten-free pizza downstairs, followed by gelato as we strolled around the city. The weather was beautiful, with the sun shining brightly. We were all a bit worn out, though, and while I wish we’d had more energy to explore, we showered and readied for bed. I think we all agreed that we wish we had an extra night in Inverness.

Now, as I sit in the airport waiting for our flight to Bristol, I’m reflecting on how lucky we’ve been with our travels so far. The weather hasn’t always been ideal, but we’ve had great timing and managed to dodge the worst of it. I’m so grateful for this incredible opportunity to explore Scotland with my parents—it’s been an adventure I’ll never forget!

It has also been a hassle with figuring out an international plan for my phone! If anyone has suggestions please reach out! Here are the details of it. I have the Airalo app where I can buy data to use in many countries but it does not work for text and call of my US number on iMessages and calling. I was thinking I would switch to only using WhatsApp with my international number but am wondering if there's a specific way to use my AT&T phone number without triggering the international plan. I think I have something figured out but not positive. I want my home phone number in case of emergencies. But to contact me through my international number on WhatsApp here it is: +43 678 46085910 and you can email me liviahoskin@gmail.com