Day One –
Our tour departed from the Royal Mile in old town Edinburgh at 9AM sharp on a Saturday morning. Our guide looked a wee but dissheleved and we were debating whether he looked more like Gene Simmons or Slash, both in their 80’s hay day!
With our group all loaded on the bus we were away on our Scottish 3 day adventure. We were driving from Edinburgh to Portree on the Isle of Skye and it was going to be an eventful but long day on the bus.
It was quite a drive to the island but just amazing scenery, something I have never seen before, the mountains were incredible! We had a break at the famous Loch Ness, and stopped many places along the way for breaks and photo ops. I actually got goose bumps a few times!
Our last stop before heading onto the Isle of Skye was Eilean Donan Castle, it’s quite famous as movies have been made here, the one I remember is Maid of Honour.
We travelled to the Isle of Skye via bridge, it took about an hour from where we crossed at the bridge to Portree, our destination for the next 2 nights. We stayed and a lovely bed and breakfast the Rosebank Guest House, a short walk to the town square. Family run and the nicest people!
We walked into the square for supper and some entertainment as it was Saturaday night, we didn’t need to go far. First place we stopped was hopping and we stayed until closing, although I think we were the entertainment for some guys from Glasgow. One of them says, you’re Canadian? Are you a lumberjack? …seriously buddy that will really win the ladies over!
Day 2 –
After a late night at the pub the 9AM start time was a little rough for us 2 Canadian girls, but we didn’t let the others see us sweat! We toured the island and I really can’t discribe the beauty we saw, I will add pictures but unfortunately they do not do it justice. We did see where they are filming the next Star Wars, pretty neat.
Everyone on the tour was loosened up from most of us hanging out at the pub from the night before, we had some great people on the tour with us along with a few duds but that’s to be expected I guess!
We visited the MacLeod Castle and were able to go inside and tour around but no pictures allowed, MacLeod’s have lived in the castle for over 800 years, they have beautiful grounds as well.
The evening was not a late one, we had dinner and into the pub for a drink. We met a young guy from NYC, he was starting a solo hiking tour around Skye.
Day Three –
Another 9AM start time with and new tour guide, our rock star had a family emergency and we were left with a real keener, now this would have been great the first day but we kind of got use to Keith’s grunts and took a liking to his crankiness and YES for independence for Scotland signs all over our bus and his rockstar hair! Scot was our tour guide for the last day and he shows up in a kilt and lots of wee stories to tell along with music. I make fun but he was great, very different from Keith but we enjoyed all his music knowledge and he played it along with the stories he told.
We stopped at the Clan Donald Castle and museum, they had reference to Pictou County and the Ship Hector so I found that pretty cool.
Found out all these MacDonald’s and MacLeod’s have fought for centuries, not sure what over but maybe that’s why you’re hard pressed to go to a Pictou County beer garden without seeing a good scrap!
We sailed from the Isle of Skye by ferry to the mainland and caught the steam train to Fort William. Took about 2 hours by train, apparently this is the Harry Potter train, people were pretty fired up for it but I have know idea about Harry Potter but really enjoyed the experience! The bus picked us up in Fort William and we made out way back to Edinburgh.
I really enjoyed my first organized tour but I think I’d max out between 3-5 days at this stage of my life. But it was easy and no worrying about driving and directions. Met lots of fun people, Canada was represented well, a father and son from Victoria, B.C. And a couple from Saskatewan.
Great experience and one I will never forget, I love Scotland and it’s been a dream come true.
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