Our plans for when and where to start our travel life didn’t get finalized until about two weeks before we actually left the US. We we realized we could leave earlier than we previously thought, we decided to squeeze in one more country, the United Kingdom, or more specifically, Scotland! We had fallen in love with Scotland while watching the TV series Outlander. Additionally, one of my Great Grandfathers was from Scotland.
We left San Francisco on June 7, 2017 and flew to London. Caren noted the occasion with a Facebook post:
Until we meet again, America. Thank you for twenty years, six months and seven days of ups and downs, tears and laughter, and most of all, the friendships and opportunities. I love you.
Tower Bridge, London
As Scotland was the real destination, we only spent one night in London. The next morning we boarded a train to Edinburgh.
Edinburgh
The Royal Mile
Caren’s first thoughts in Edinburgh:
It’s so beautiful here. I’m glad we cannot buy ANYTHING that will take up space in the luggage!
As our first stop on an indefinite/infinite voyage, Edinburgh would be a bad place to start collecting souvenirs.
We did get a chance to visit St. Giles Cathedral. I wasn’t taking any photos because we had only purchased one £2 photo permit.
Admiring the stained glass windows of St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh, Scotland
Urquhart Castle
Kenric looking at Grant Tower in Urquhart Castle
Kenric is one-eighth Scottish, of Clan Grant. In 1509, King James IV granted Urquhart Castle to John Grant, and the Grants retained possession of the castle until 1912. We paid full ticket price, and recaptured the castle in beautiful photos.
Grantown-on-Spey
Kenric posing with his Grant tartan scarf.
Each Scottish clan has its own tartan pattern. I got this Grant tartan scarf for Kenric at the Grantown-on-Spey museum. He said that was the highlight of the day. I think it’s because the tartan made him feel closer to his ancestors. As the lady at the museum said, “This is Grant Country!” Then, we stumbled upon The Grant Arms Hotel and I made him wear the scarf and pose. Even then, he still managed to laugh. I think Kenric had a good day.
Some insight from my friend Corey:
The “kilt” was actually the invention of an English industrialist named Thomas Rawlinson in the 1720s for his Scots workers who were at the time wearing long patterned drapes that would get caught in machinery. The “tartans” were reorganized by the British crown after the Battle of Culloden in 1745 and the subsequent “Highland Clearances” a majority of the “officially recognized” tartans are of those clans who remained loyal to the crown and did not side with the Stuarts.
Outside Grantown-on-Spey we visited the Glen Grant Distillery. Whisky is a little strong for me, but adding just a little bit of water, as the tour guide advised, really brightens the flavor.
Map of Places Visited
Scotland
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St Giles Cathedral: 55.949500, -3.190840
Urquhart Castle: 57.324100, -4.442230
Grantown on Spey: 57.329500, -3.610400
Glen Grant Distillery: 57.530141, -3.211012
St Giles Cathedral St Giles Cathedral
St Giles' Cathedral Scotland, United Kingdom
Urquhart Castle Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness
Urquhart Castle Grounds Scotland, United Kingdom
Grantown on Spey Grantown-on-Spey
Grantown-on-Spey Scotland, United Kingdom
Glen Grant Distillery Glen Grant Distillery
Rothes Scotland, United Kingdom
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