Tentative route for Scotland

These past few weeks I've felt an ever increasing rattling in my old traveling bones, so to speak. It gets worse the closer I get to a departure; sounds, sights and especially smells can suddenly take me thousands of miles away. I get this bubbling feeling inside, and sometimes an actual, physical shudder. That's how much I love to travel.

As previously announced, this summer's trip will go to Scotland; possibly with a slight dip down into northern England for the last weekend, that part isn't fully planned yet. For almost the whole trip I shall be accompanied by my old friend... uhm, chum...uh... acquaintance, Siri. BUT imma drop her in Edinburgh the last Thursday and then spend an oval weekend in the borders, with the strong possibility of a visit to the actual Flodden Field.

The route as of now...

July 29: Flying from Oslo to Edinburgh, landing in the evening. I'll rent a car and drive to Stirling,  panicking over left-hand driving all the way.

July 30: I have hopes of doing Stirling Castle, the Wallace Monument and Bannockburn Visitor Centre this day. The actual Centre doesn't open till next year, but the intermediary one I went to last fall was so interesting I want to go again. If Siri really gets into Stirling Castle, we probably won't have time though. We shall spend the night in quaint little Doune, just up the road from Stirling.

July 31: Planning on seeing Doune Castle in the morning, then drive on up through the Trossachs, possibly with a slight detour south to see Loch Lomond. Then it's over my beloved A-82 and the Rannoch Moor to Glencoe. We'll be passing Bridge of Orchy and Loch Tulla and maybe, just maybe we'll have lunch at the King's House Hotel. We shall spend the night in Fort William.

August 1: In the wee morning we'll have a looksee at the ruins of Inverlochy Castle, and if Siri feels like it, possibly take a quick detour to Treasures of the Earth where she can fill several suitcases with shiny objects and precious gems. I know I wanted to the last time I was there. Then the journey will continue up along Loch Ness to Urquhart Castle, before ending in Inverness for the night.

August 2: This will probably be the longest day of the trip, at least where driving is concerned. I'm thinking about going up from Inverness to Wick the loooong way. Up to Dingwall, then veer sharply northwest and then go around the highlands the whole day before hitting Wick in the evening. If we have time, I hope to see Dunnet's Head.

August 3: We'll spend some time at wonderful old Wick Museum in the morning, then down the coast by way of Badbea and Helmsdale and possibly even Black Isle before spending an hour at Culloden. Staying overnight in Inverness again.

August 4: Do Culloden iffin we didn't have the time yesterday. Onwards to Clava Cairn and Fort George. Maybe even the Dallas Dhu distillery, cuz it's run by Historic Scotland and so it's freeeeee. Spend the night in Elgin.

August 5: This is probably the most expensive day of the trip. We'll start out from Elgin in time to be at the Aberlour distillery for their 10 AM tour. Apparently it takes up to two hours. As you probably know, I don't drink, but distilleries are also an important part of Scotland's cultural and industrial history so I don't see the tour as a waste. Their web page announces that you'll have the "opportunity to hand-fill your own personalised bottle of Aberlour cask strength whisky", which, if I know my parents right, may take the place of an otherwise cheap bottle of tax-free vodka in my luggage. *sigh*

Additionally, we'll be spending the night at the most impressive Dalmunzie Castle, where we got their last room for a stomach churning £265 (much of it prepaid). But that's including a four-course dinner, so in the words of Joey Tribiani, "this is where I get my money back".

August 6-8: Not sure if we'll spend any more time in the wonderful Grampians on the 6th, but we're booked the next two nights in Edinburgh, at some rental apartment Siri found. So the 6th, the 7th and much of the 8th will be spent doing touristy stuff in Edinburgh. Holyrood Palace, Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh Castle, Scott Monument, National Museum, Canton Hill, etc, etc. One very interesting thing is that we've got tickets for the Military Tattoo on the 7th. Siri will fly home (or, if you want to be difficult about it, allow herself to be flown home in an airplane) and I will spend the night of the 8th in Linlithgow, just outside Edinburgh.

August 9-12: Having finally ditched the cow waved goodbye to my dear friend Siri, I'll set course south. I wish to spend a few hours at Linlithgow Palace and possibly also Blackness Castle but the main goal of this last weekend is the Borders area. I've booked a room in Selkirk for three nights, and plan on seeing as much old stuff, castles in ruins and old battlefields as I can cram into an oval weekend. During this part I might just cut into Engerland for a little while.

Imma fly home in the evening of Monday, August 12. Tuesday noon I've arranged for a tour of my new workplace and work will formally start on Wednesday 14, with three days of planning. The bastards pupils will arrive Monday, August 19. My long, wonderful, over two year long holiday will be over for good... unless, of course (and this I pray for with every fiber of my non-believing body) I win the lottery. Then all bets (see what I did there?) are off.