On our last day on the boat, we would like to see the Urquart Castle. Unfortunately, the bus didn’t stopped. So, we decided to go directly to our wharf from Caley Cruisers in Inverness. So, we had the whole day time to visit the city. We went up to the tower of the castle and walked around the city center. Inverness is a nice city and has a lot to offer inside and outside the center.

The return of the boat was quick and uncomplicated. After the breakfast we pick up our rental car for this week and drive directly to the Culloden Battlefield. The battel of Culloden was at the April 16th 1746 between the english troops and the Jacobite’s at the Culloden Moor. Next, we drove to Tomatin distillery. This distillery is nice and small with really good Whiskey. The adventurous streets went to the Eilean Donan Castle. This castle is a famous attraction. I can understand that. The castle in the ocean with the bridge from the land is really pictures. Eilean Donan Castle is until know owned by the Clan McRae. At the evening we arrived at the nice BnB Ceol-Na-Mara in Kyleakin at the Isle of Skye.

After a full Scottish breakfast, we drove on the Isle of Skye to the Fairy Pools. On the way we visited the Bridge in Sligachan and had some tea and coffee to warm up. At the Fairy Pools we weren’t alone. Plenty of tourists visited the mystic pools and waterfalls. The short hike at the Pools trough small streams was worth it. The landscape is just stunning here at Skye. After delicious Fish and Chips, for me the best here in Scotland at the harbor of Portree, we drove to the Kilt Rocks. Because of the storm we drove soon back to Portree with a short break at a funny decorated coffee. In Portree we checked in for our Apartment. It is fully recommanded to book accommodations for Isle of Skye in advanced. I had called view days before around 20 BnB’s before we found something for 4 people. The apartment which we had was nice in the center of the beautyful city of Portree. After a short break we had a delicious dinner in the Granary Restaurant. It was stormy with heavy rain. So, the short way back at our stay wasn’t pleasant. That’s what Scottish people mean with “not bad weather today”.

In the morning we visited a tower and a field for highland games in Portree before we went to the ferry from Armadale to Maillaig. The waves where high and many cars raised an alarm. In Mallaig we had a lunch break and I ate some Scone. At the train station we saw how the Jacobite Steam train drive in. Further we went over the beautyful Road to the Isles to the Glenfinnan Viaduct. We walked up to a view point where we admire the stunning Viaduct which is also famous from the Harry Potter movies. The picture up there was so beautiful. The Viaduct with the mountains, the rainbow and the Loch Shiel in the background is not to describe. This in 1897 build railway viaduct is one of the important buildings in Scotland. With a short stopover in Fort Williams we reached our nice BnB Highland Croft in Onich. One of the best meals here in Scotland we hat in the close Argyll at the Hollytree Hotel with a view to Loch Linnhe.

After a good breakfast we drove through Glen Coe which is in the heard of old volcanos. This beautiful landscape is also known for scenes in the movies Skyfall and Harry Potter. We went through small streets in the forest in the Loch Lommond & The Trossachs National Park to Callandar. There we had a delicious Fish and Chips with truffle. The town is worth it for a short stop. In the afternoon we arrived at the Safari Park in Stirling. To drive with the own car in Scotland through Monkeys, rhino, dear, zebra and lion cages is a really strange and special feeling. After our arrival in our BnB in Stirling, we walked around the town before we had dinner in a pub inside the old town wall. Stirling is a nice city with old buildings and architecture. But for me it looks like a really quiet place with nearly no one walking around in the evening.

In the morning we went up to Stirling Castle. This castle where Mary Stuart was crowned is worth a visit. Here you can see a lot. On the way back to Glasgow we visited the Wallace Monument. The walk up to the monument was good and soon we arrived and had a beautyful view over Stirling and the wide of Scotland’s landscape. Drive through Glasgow with the car to reach the delivery location which is inside a tall car park is an adventure which I don’t have to repeat again. Our Hotel was insight the city center and close to the central station. We walked up the pedestrian and shopping area called Buchanan Street. At the tourist information we liked to buy tickets for the Waverly steamship for the next day. In case of the bad weather the ship was still in London and didn’t drive on this day. So, we gone for a good dinner to a Chinese restaurant. Me and my brother went afterwards to a Pub with live Rock music at Bell Street.

Our last full day in Scotland we had a Hop-on Hop-of sightseeing trip in Glasgow. First, we went to the Tall Ship and riverside Museum. All public museum is for free. The Tall Ship museum is on an old sailing ship at the river Clyde. Next to them is the Riverside Museum, which remembers me to the Museum of Transport in Switzerland. In this museum I’ve watched an interesting short movie about Glasgow in its 50ties. In this time was the dancing and dancing clubs really imported for the youth. A lady which work in this museum spoke to me, that this was her time. We discussed about the youths, dancing and dresses from this time as well as about traveling in Scotland and Iceland. Both countries have the problem with quit to many tourists. Further we went with the bus to the University of Glasgow and the botanic garden. From the botanic garden we were going to a church. Not to pray. There is a pub, restaurant and theater inside where we had delicious salmon. We went to the St. Mungo’s abbey with the Cathedral and the huge grave yard Necropolis. Me and my brother went to the Hard Rock Café for a drink. In the evening it was a challenge to find a free dinner place at Saturday evening. We had luck and after a view tries we found the City Merchant where I had a really good Haggis and tender beef stake. The evening ended with some Whiskey and Gin in a pub.

The first time I visited Glasgow it was a dark and dirty city like a typical industry city. Four years later the city surprised in a new light which is definitely worth to visit.

I love Scotland. Although it had not too many to offer for culinary and I can’t see potato’s anymore, the country and the people give you so much more. Also, if the weather is changeful but you can enjoy every day the sun. The unique landscape with the mountains, glens, the red from the turf, the green of the fields and trees and the spectacular light play from the sun and black clouds and the rainbows form the magic of this country. In this country with the warmth and courteous of the Scots and the glens, lochs, moors and forest strengthen my love to this country.