Land of the Scots
Sitting at the tippy top of England is a tiny, mountainous patch of land. An unspoken hero laden in red and green tartan, following the urban legends of fairies and giants, blowing culture through the straws of a bagpipe, and seeking a hint of independence from its big brother, the U.K.
Dear old Scotland, you're an absolute gem.
Edinburgh is a city that can only be described as otherworldly. Built on hill upon hill with cobblestone roads that cross like lattice, the mighty Edinburgh Castle looming up above, and all slightly hidden in a grey and cloudy fog - it's a very magical kind of place. No matter where you are in the city, the sound of the bagpipe rings through the streets and the burr of a thick Scottish accent fills the mouth of each passerby.
It's one of those places you go, and you can feel the culture all around you.
In contrast to the old town of Edinburgh, I spent a week touring the highlands with 12 other backpackers, and Michael (a chap who permanently wore a kilt around his waist and blared traditional Scottish folk music on the radio of our minivan), road tripping all over the northern parts of the country.
We took the plunge into chilly Loch Ness for a swim with Nessie, which honestly, I don’t think my toes have ever forgiven me for. The cold is absolutely biting - a sting that worsens with every second spent in the dark waters (the water rarely gets above 5 degrees all year round!!). But undoubtedly, one of the most amazing experiences of my life - I mean, swimming in Loch Ness?! How cool is that?!?
We explored untouched beaches with stretches of white sand, ate hot chips and chugged pints from the only pub on the Isle of Skye, explored abandoned castles, fed potatoes to the hairy highland “coos”, and hiked up mountains that boasted spectacular views of the highlands. Oh, and all without witnessing a single drop of rain – a true Scottish miracle!
Scotland should sit on the top of every travel bucket list – there isn’t anywhere that quite measures up to the charm of this quirky little country.