Discovering Scotland in 10 days

On our first trip through Scotland, we decided to start from its capital, Edinburgh, which we told you about in our previous article. From here, with map in hand and days at our disposal, we have built a route in stages tailored to Enea, with several stops to avoid making the journeys too heavy.

We decided to organize this article by theme: Cities, Castles, Distilleries and Unusual Places.  In this way, based on your interests and the time available, you can build a tour suited to your needs, taking inspiration from the places we visited.

The Isle of Skye, due to its particularity, deserves a separate chapter and we will talk about it in a dedicated article.

Cities

The first place we stopped in, less than 30 minutes from Edinburgh, was South Queensferry. Famous for its bridge, visible even from the landing plane, it is a picturesque and colorful village. Don't expect much, but a stop near the bridge is undoubtedly worth it.

From here we continued to St. Andrews, where we wanted to visit the remains of the cathedral of the same name. Built on the remains of the ancient church dedicated to San Regolo, it is said to house the relics of Sant'Andrea.

The remains can be visited independently, among the best preserved portions are the eastern tower, the tower of San Regolo and the foundations of the Cathedral, as well as various ancient tombs. The few information signs will make you appreciate and better understand what you are visiting.

We then made a sweet stop at Janetta Gelateria, a mega pastry shop with a large veranda. Among the various proposals, we decided on a classic tea and scones, before resuming our tour.

We continued north towards Stonehaven, a pleasant seaside town, with a charming marina that made us think back to Cabot Cove and Jessica Fletcher from The Lady in Yellow (do you remember her?).

From here, walk along the beautiful and windy promenade along the sea, decorated with several very original steel models of boats and planes. Beautifully waved, we arrived at the end of the walk where the best fish & chips we've ever eaten at The Bay awaited us. Crispy at the right point, tasty and full of tender cod: despite the wind, we settled down on a bench to enjoy it and Enea liked it a lot too.

Continuing north, we arrived in Elgin: an area known for its distilleries and the remains of the town's Catholic Cathedral.

As a base for visiting the area and the surroundings of Loch Ness, we stayed overnight in Nairn, a typical Highland town, with a beautiful beach on the North Sea. Enea appreciated the various green spaces and the playground, also equipped with water games, frequented by local children despite the freezing wind and not particularly mild temperatures.

The last stop of our tour, after the Isle of Skye to which we will dedicate a separate chapter, was the port city of Oban. Unfortunately the weather here was not as kind as on the rest of our trip, but we still enjoyed the bay and the fish dinner in the port area.

Castles

Castles are a constant feature of Scottish landscapes, very often positioned in suggestive places, close to the sea or on small islets. They have been filmed in various films and therefore, like us, you will be impressed by being able to see them live and retrace the paths that have been the backdrop to often epic stories.

Glamis Castle was the first one we encountered. Known to have been the childhood home of Queen Elizabeth II, it is possible to visit its richly decorated interiors.

Then we stopped to admire Dunnottar Castle, whose ruins stand imposingly on a rocky promontory surrounded by the sea. Unfortunately only a few ruins remain of the castle and therefore we did not visit the interior.

From here we move a little further north, where we visited Cawdor Castle and Gardens. One of the main attractions is the Minotaur labyrinth which unfortunately was under renovation.

The next castle was Urquhart, on the shores of the mysterious and iconic Loch Ness. Like many other Scottish castles, it was the scene of battles and was blown up to prevent it from falling into enemy hands. Even in this case therefore, only a little rubble remains, but the internal path allows you to have a general view that would otherwise not be possible.

Se vi dico Highlander, sono certa che avrete subito in mente un'immagine suggestiva del castello che vi stiamo per presentare. Eilean Donan sorge su un piccolo isolotto all’interno di un lago, questa insolita posizione lo rende unico nel suo genere, a partire dalla struttura in pietra del lungo ponte che lo collega alla terraferma.

If I tell you Highlander, I am sure that you will immediately have in mind a suggestive image of the castle that we are about to present to you. Eilean Donan stands on a small islet inside a lake, this unusual position makes it unique, starting from the stone structure of the long bridge that connects it to the mainland.

After crossing the bridge and walking around the castle, be prepared for some mud to get a further perspective of the structure from the bank to the right of the bridge. The overall view will undoubtedly pay off for you, go slowly as the ground is very slippery.

Distelleries

You can't say you've been to Scotland if you haven't visited at least one distillery. Whiskey here is a real tradition, which over time has become increasingly refined to obtain products of the highest quality and strong character. For us who had little knowledge on the subject, it was really interesting to start the discovery from the Whiskey Experience in Edinburgh. A sort of museum in which to discover the history of Scottish whiskey and its peculiarities depending on the area in which it is produced, and then conclude everything with a whiskey tasting, to be chosen at this point with greater awareness of what the types are you prefer.

If you are traveling with a child like us, consider that there are several restrictions, in fact most of the distilleries do not allow access to the production parts to the little ones and in other cases, the restrictions are even more important and also limit the access to the simple tasting room. At this link a list of distilleries that allow access to children, also divided by age groups.

After careful research among the distilleries that most interested us and which allowed us access with Enea, we chose Glen Moray in Elgin (one of the very few alternatives was Glenfiddich).

It was interesting to understand the different production steps that follow one another from the raw material, the malt, according to procedures refined over time, to create a product worthy of being able to rest for a long time in the barrels.

The visit then concluded with the tasting of two whiskies. For those who have to drive, there are always kits available to take home the tastings included and also a small bistro where you can eat something before setting off again.

A short distance away is Macallan, one of the most strict distilleries towards children, but as it is on the street it is worth a stop to observe its architecture and visit the small museum dedicated to the history of the brand.

We conclude our tour with a final stop at GlenAllachie (along with Balvenie, the best for our tastes). The structure is very particular, surrounded by lakes, green meadows and many, many sheep. We only stopped at the shop, but if you want it is possible to do visits and tastings.

Unusual places

After so many distilleries, a moment of sweetness could not be missing: the scent of butter can be felt from a distance, it is that of Walkers biscuits, iconic Scottish and buttery, perfect for a tea break.

This company's shop will allow you not only to get to know their entire range of products, but also to stock up on biscuits at truly competitive prices. Among the second choice ones, many are slightly damaged, but equally tasty. It is located a short distance from the Macallan distillery.

One of the most unusual stops on this journey is linked to a series that has made history: it is the Glenfinnan bridge, which has become famous for having been immortalized in several scenes from Harry Potter.

Before organizing your visit, find out the timetables when the train is expected to pass, because they vary according to the season. The best observation point can be reached with a short 10-15 minute walk, the path is clear and like us you will find yourself in the middle of a river of people to reach the point for the best shots.

Keep in mind to arrive at least 40 minutes before the schedule to find where to settle and then wait patiently for the suggestive chugging of the train. The passage will be visible for less than a minute, but it is unmissable for the surrounding setting and for those who have already seen it, like us, at the cinema or on TV.

Before your trip

• Where to stay? From Edinburgh we left early and after the stops you have seen we stopped in Nairn where we chose the Stephen's house, an entire house that is a little lived in and particular, but in an excellent position
  As our last stop in Oban we opted for a simple room at Argyll and Bute a small B&B a stone's throw from center, ideal for no more than one night


• Where to eat? Absolutely unmissable in Oban is the fish restaurantThe Waterfront Fishouse Restaurant. It is located on the first floor of one of the prefabricated buildings of the port, but despite external appearances it has an excellent view of the bay and offers very fresh fish
  
  
• Which excursions? The first two stages of our journey to discover the castles of Scotland can also be done comfortably by coach, taking part in a Excursion to the castles of Glamis and Dunnottar in day from Edinburgh.
  Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle can also be reached with a Loch Ness and the Highlands day trip