Scotland: Castles and Whiskey

We start at dawn from Malpensa. Stopover in Amsterdam and then finally arriving in Edinburgh. There waiting for our car, rented in the months before travel, as air travel. For the rest, we did everything ourselves: my boyfriend has made a flawless itinerary, after studying for months tourist guides, magazines and photographic books that I, instead, I visited the home pages of many bed & breakfast, choosing the most pleasant and made reservations at the points set dall'itinerario. The work of research and reservations began in the month of February as well, given the advance, we have not had any difficulty in booking and choice of housing at the best price.

 

Edinburgh, 1st day

The tourist-historic Edinburgh winds all along a major street, the Royal Mile. There are the historic houses, typical shops and most characteristic pubs.

Hungry, we enter into a pub well furnished and we order something just to understand the menu (even for us who know well the English language, the choice of foods is always a surprise!). Here I realize now that I will struggle to "digest" the food of Scotland, to which my boyfriend does not want to give up entirely (must inevitably adapt to the local food! Although fa 'schifo ... add me!) And quality and price. Little beneficial exchange between the Euro and Pound and the high local cost of living, can drive our budget spending, especially for meals and entrance tickets to various museums.

Let soon to visit Holyrood house: a royal palace with major furniture and gardens.

While we walk the Royal Mile, we stop to observe the street artists. Captain fact in the midst of the "Edinburgh Festival", an important event that characterizes the month of August in Scotland, during which it plays the "Fringe Festival" or better Festival of street artists, so, every few meters, we meet more strange people who does things more strange, dressed in the most bizarre possible.

Visiting the many souvenir shops in Scotland, we realize that the "souvenir" more classical and more tasty is the famous cookies "Walkers" made with butter.

They buy a pack and arrived at our Bed & breakfast in town, we are dedicated to the "rite" of the which will become a pleasant habit evening. You must know that all the rooms of each b & b are equipped with electric kettle and sachets of tea. Our cookies Walkers complete the ritual, to supplement the meager and unsatisfactory Scottish dinners.
Oh I forgot! In the evening, we find our car the first of a series of fines: no parking. The Scots are very strict and inflexible in terms of traffic: take a ticket is easy. It will take another the next day. Who knows if we will find in our mail in Italy? In any case, we advise everyone to not pay at the time: who will live

Edinburgh, 2nd day

We begin with the visit of the castle. I personally do not like: It is certainly the classic residential castle in Scotland that I love so much, but a set of austere military buildings surrounded by walls.

Soon after we visit the National Gallery of Scotland, with some elegant and important paintings. Step Gardens Edinburgh facing Princess Street. Princess Street is the main artery of the city: a large modern vialone, where shops are located more new (and the inevitable street artists).

Dinner in a characteristic called Grass Market, and after dinner, step into one of the most famous pubs in the city: the Finnegan's Wake, where we have to listen to live music. Originally our intention was to attend the Military Tattoo (Military Parade) in Edinburgh Castle. But making that tickets must be purchased in advance and not at the moment, we opt for a change of program.

Inveraray, Oban

We leave Edinburgh and we head to Inveraray where we visit the castle and the tiny village overlooking the lake.

Way, we see the case for St. Conans Kirk, a particular ancient church Lochawe (Loch = lake) and make a small pause.

Oban welcomes us to the first rain in Scotland, to which we have used. Fortunately, the rains in Scotland last for very little: it is a continuous succession of weather moving in a few minutes by rain in the sun, and vice versa.

Oban to visit the first in a long line of whiskey distilleries, each with visitors center and guided tour with a tasting.

Dinner at a cafeteria and then overnight in a nice B & B.

Eilean Donan, Dunvegan Castle, Portree (SKYE island)

Today's my birthday! The day started well with a full Scottish Breakfast in a very nice breakfast room. The scottish breakfast which, with some small variation found in all B & B in which housed, consists essentially of: eggs, bacon, bread, sausages. Take the habit of rimpinzarci good in the morning so as to reduce the cost of lunch.

Then we start to turn the island of Skye. The landscapes that we are experiencing the most scenic in absolute lakes as the eye could see, so green and pretty low white house, with blacks roofs typical of the island.

We stop at Eilean Donan Castle, famous for the film Highlander. Here we welcome with a traditional Scottish kilt and bagpipes. The castle is surrounded by water suggestively, the interiors are recent but typical.

Then we reach the island of Skye crossing a long bridge with a toll payment.

The first visit Dunvegan Castle, a typical residential Scottish castle, with rich furnishings. Afterwards try the desert Talisker distillery. Here is a product of the best ever Scottish Whiskey's visit to the places of production is a must.

We arrive finally at Portree, the main town of the island of Skye, a gracious town with colorful sea port.

After dinner we do the traditional "tour of the pubs." 5 are well-pubs with live Celtic music: there is the choice is yours!.

Night in a small B & B, by the family.

Fort Augusts, Lochness, Cawdor Castle, Inverness

The first stop of the day is Fort Augusts where the Caledonian Canal, a particular system of locks with huge quantities of water and bridges for the crossing.

Then we come to the famous lake Lochness. We think it clear that Lochness should not be the most beautiful lake in Scotland, but only one of many, if not for the famous legend of the monster "Nessie." On Lochness Lake are the ruins of the castle of Urqhart. Being only just ruins, we decide not to purchase tickets and take pictures in the distance. We arrive then at the visitors center of Lochness: an exhibition space dedicated all'improbabile uninteresting story of Nessie. However, the only monster that we aimed at, is the reconstruction of paper outside it, better to visit the many shops and photograph the house overlooking the lake. In one of these pleasant outdoor lunch with Garlic bread (tasty spiced bread) and Scones (Scottish sweets, a cross between cookies and croissants that taste sprinkle with butter and jam).

Then visit Cawdor Castle, where I remember, in particular, a bed canopy in orange fabric and cured gardens outside.

Finally we come to Inverness, a town between the ancient and modern, not particularly interesting. Dinner in a pub and tried for the first time the Haggis: typical Scottish dish made of sheep intestines and something else. I of course, choose something else from the menu but my boyfriend appreciates very haggis, the purchase of a portion in the jar to take to Italy. The haggis can be found in almost all the shops of local products in Scotland.

Stay in a well-kept B & B run by a pair of elderly spouses. Here we are almost invited to respect the family, so is the familiar environment. Perhaps we are the only paying guests of the house and the room is treated with a cream-colored furniture with extreme care of details. In addition to the teapot are even binoculars to observe the lake in the distance!

Elgin, Castle Fraser, Crathes Castle, Drum Castle, Aberdeen

Breakfast at home of two well-kept old is: we have a big table, placed in a porch full of flowers and a wide choice of foods. The cost of B & B, more pound, pound less, it is equivalent in every place where lodging. The cost is about EUR 60.00 per night for a double room and breakfast for 2 scottish.

We come to Elgin, and from there, starting on Whiskey Trail (travel from Whiskey distillery distilleries). The tourist, in the various places we visit, abounds. So we choose the most typical distilleries: Cardhu with lovely pond and Aberlour, built on the River. The most aesthetically beautiful, however, is the Strathisla distillery (although the quality of the whiskey is not the best). The distillery is, like all, with a set of gray brick buildings with typical pagoda roofs blacks. The Strathisla also possesses a charming watermill and pleasant environment for visitors furnished with care.

All distilleries are visited by guided tour. The admission ticket includes tasting. E 'possible to buy directly nell'immancabile whiskey distillery shop. But beware! The prices, the distilleries are not inferior to those of other shops, but in Italy we can find the same brands of Scotch whiskey at prices significantly lower.

In addition to the "Whiskey Trail" in the same region is also the 'Castels Trail "(journey through the castles), since it is precisely in this area which are located the best castles ever.

We start with the Castle and the Fraser Crathes Castle, beautiful both externally and internally. Then at Drum Castle, castle tower and then begin the search for a B & B. In fact, for this one night, we have not made any reservation from home.

Of course we have chosen the area less rich in B & B go to the adventure!. To find accommodation we must go to Aberdeen. We can a pleasant house, run by a strange old man inquietante apparent, with a garden full of construction "eclectic" of his invention. We decide to back room, because Aberdeen was a rather bleak place.

Sad gray stone city, where all churches are desecrated and used and pubs and nightclubs. The people we meet has a little reassurance and is Saturday night, and from experience, you know, the British are unleashed on Saturday evening and often lose control.

Dunnottar Castle, Braemar, Glamis, Blair Castle, Pitlochry

Aberdeen leave without regret and we go on reporting of the old B & B, at the time of Dunnottar Castle. This is an evocative ruins of the castle situated on a spur of rock overlooking the sea.

We pass to the event in front of the castle of Braemar we decide to visit. This is, to be precise, a Tower-house (home to the tower), characterized from having a room for each ramp of the central spiral staircase. The furniture is really comfortable, although less luxurious castles we've visited so far.

Then we visit the castle with the most sumptuous furnishings ever: Glamis. E 'known as the Castle of the Queen Mother and attended by the royal family.

If Glamis Castle is the most sumptuous, Blair Castle is the most majestic. It differs from all other white exterior and huge gardens of which it is surrounded. In the village of Blair visit a typical water mill.

Finally we come to Pitlochry, a charming and well-appointed village with brick houses and lots of flowers to the window sills. We visit along the river, a curious plant for ascending salmon, consisting of tanks communicating.

Our B & B is beautiful: it seems a castle and consume the rite of the in a pretty glass veranda in our own room.

Scone Palace, Falkland castle, St. Andrews, Crail, St. Monans, Edinburgh

At breakfast we offer the Black Pudding. Although my boyfriend the tastings, we can not tell you what it is .... Boh!

The day begins with the visit of Scone Palace: palace interior with prominent and attractive kitchen used to Tea Room.

You must know that every single castle or museum that we visited, is equipped with a visitors center with a Tea Room (where you can have a quick snack with tea, sandwiches and delicious cakes in Scotland) and curati Gift Shops where you can find souvenirs more refined than those commonly found in tourist shops.

Second stop is the Falkland palace which is located in nice and flowery village of Falkland. The castle, unlike previous ones, has special gardens and interior and an austere chapel.

We arrive in St. Andrews, home of golf, where the ruins of a castle and a church in a particular area of archaeological interest.

Finally, returning to Edinburgh through a series of cheerful villages on the sea (Crail - Anstruther, Pittemweem - St. Monans). Let us pause a little in each one of them, thus collecting a series of colorful photos.

So we return to the B & B in Edinburgh where we spent the first 2 nights and buy souvenirs in the Royal Mile.

We suggest the "Royal Mile Whiskes" where you can find the whiskey more rare (and expensive) unavailable in Italy, but also other traditional Scottish foods.

Edimburgh and back home

At awakening we head immediately to the airport in Edinburgh. Again at Amsterdam and, unfortunately, return to Milan. We retrieve our car in a parking lot filed, linked to Malpensa shuttle with comfortable and at home, with eyes full of unforgettable images.

Unfortunately, in 8 days, we visited only a small part of Scotland. For a more complete, you must schedule at least another of the same holiday period. The territory is quite large: the South of Edinburgh is rich in castles and islands of the archipelagos offer the best natural landscapes. We simply must plan a second vacation in Scotland, but not now! In a few years certainly, to complete the wonderful experience just ended.

DANI AND MAX
to learn more, visit our website:
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texts by Daniela
Photos of Max