Visit Scotland

Appears to have scads of videos, of various types on Scotland. I have watched documentaries & home videos. Mary Queen of Scots, Culloden, William Wallace & how to speak like a Highlander are all there if you search.

i was 4 or 5 when i visited Scotland. Somehow, i still feel a emotional attraction. may be it’s the “modesty” of the place.

I am reading a lot of novels, adult, YA – I am not choosy as long as they deal with story lines that relate to Scottish history or culture. I then read up and check some of the facts covered in novels that pique my interest.

I may hafta eventually figure out what to do with the list I have been developing of books. I have easily spent 40 hours just researching novels. I have used lots of other lists to compile my list. I would like to be able to share it with others who like reading historical novels.

Single travelor never been oversees. Want to visit places related to my family roots – Cunningham, MacGregor, and Wallace clans. I am excited but hardly know where to begin to plan.

One of the real negatives about this trip is that we dress to dine almost every night. Sheesh, apparently they do not expect jammies either. I like natural fabrics, however I decided to break norm & buy some manmade tops that I can squish into the suitcase for all these formal dinners. I got 4 tops on Winter clearances today while hunting my swimsuit.
I also found a pair of pants designed to mimic tuxedo pants. I simply tried to find tolerable “Mom” clothes for the evening wear.

Mom of course. was happy with my choices. I am hoping that by giving in here if I can’t find another pair of more “fashionable” boots – she will not freak if I wear my army combat boots.

Our sense of style is so different, lol. I won’t even wear them with a skirt in Scotland – just my jeans…Summer weight combat boots are sooo comfy! Just meant for marching around in over various terrains. Wonder how combat boots look like with pseudo tuxedo pants. :D

I am planning a visit to Scotland which is only 3 months away now. I haven’t finalised many details yet, but I want this more than any of my other short-term goals. I will be spending most of my time with conservation work in the Caledonian Forest, and some time afterwards visiting a dear friend in another country, if all goes to plan.

This will be a great opportunity for me to accomplish a lot of little goals along the way too, such as:
*Travelling to another country
*Travelling (for the most part) on my own
*Visiting my dear friend for the first time in real life
*Attending a particular festival I’ve always wanted to
*Broadening my photography style
*And (it would be nice) to join a Dancing group for my time there. I’m a Scottish Country Dance group member where I live, and it would be nice to experience that in its homeland. :]

Scotland Tour

Tuesday, July 21
Depart USA for Glasglow, Scotland

Wenesday, July 22
Arrive Glasgow Int’l Airport
Afternoon site-seeing or resting; fee time – Hotel & dinner

Thursday, July 23
Visit Bonshaw Tower – Kirtlebridge

Friday, July 24
Free day – Edinburgh

Saturday, July 25
Highland Gathering – Holyrood Park – Edinburgh
Late afternoon march the Royal Mile in clan dress

Sunday, July 26
Highland Gathering – HRH Prince Charles will be in attendance

Monday, July 27
Head to Oban, Seaport to the Western Isles
Past Loch Lomond
Journeying to Long Loch.
Shopping break & lunch at Inverart
Ferry to Isle of Mull

Tuesday, July 28
Ferry to Isle of Iona & St. Coulmba’s Abbey – MacBeth buried here
Tobermory – Capitol of Mull

Wednesday, July 9
Leave Mull & ferry back to Oban
Travel through Glenbogle & Newtonmore (Monarch of the Glen territory)
Visit the Clam Macphreson Museum in Newtonmore
Time permitting a stop at Highland Folk Museum
Aviemore

Thursday, July 10
Early start to Inverness, Capitol of the Highlands
Culloden Visitor Centre & Battlefield
Clava Cairns
Old Fort George
Drive past Loch Ness
Uruquhart Castle ruins

Friday, July 31
Travel to Dufftown
Glenfiddich Distillery Tour
Time permitting – Huntley Castle
Clan Ceilidh – starring Clan Irvine, Clan Hay, and Clan Burnett

Saturday, August 1
Aboyne Highland Games in Royal Deeside
Dinner with our Chief & Lady Drum

Sunday, August 2
Drum Castle & Drum Chapel
Irvine Caput
Lunch at Irvine Arms
Tour of Drum Stone and Harlaw Battlefield
Banquet

Monday, August 3
Aberdeen City tour, including Irvine Aisle at St. Nicholas Church
Wallace Monument in downtown Aberdeen

Tuesday, August 4
Journey past Balmoral Castle – no visit HRH Queen Elizabeth is in residence
Blairgowrie Stop – a Highland town
Stirling Castle
National Wallace Monument – climb stairs to see Bruce’s sword

Wednesday, August 5
Fly back to USA

on the history of Scotland. Started reading right away!

have already been here before, but I was young, like 3 years old and therefore I can’t remember it.

So i would like to go again.

Yes, it is always my first step preparing for anything big. I got several on Robert Burns that I would like to have read soon. Mom & I are going to celebrate Robert Burns Day. (I told her, Mom we are celebrating Robert Burns Day & she just asked when, and does she really need to eat haggis, there will be plenty in Scotland).