I tend to plan exhausting trips, which isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. We travel very light, always have a car, and enjoy wildlife and historical stuff far more than snazzy castles or art galleries. Lodging is always walking distance from live music. A detailed 22 page trip report with pictures is available if you message me. It is more personal in nature, so I’d rather not broadcast it.
Flew long haul from US west coast to Edinburgh, then on to Stornoway. Long travel day!
Day 1, we explored northern Lewis, including Butt of Lewis, two Blackhouse villages, Dun Carloway and all three Calanais Stones.
Day 2 to Harris for Luskentyre Beach, St. Clements Church with it’s racy carvings, and the Golden Road loop.
Day 3 flight to Shetland, then stopping for Dunrossness Cemetery, Broch Clickimin, followed by a midnight boat trip to Mousa to see the Storm Petrels, which was fabulous. The Queens Jubilee made mincemeat of our planned schedule.
Day 4 to the north of Lerwick, visiting Stanydale, Eshaness, Moder-dye, Frankie’s Fish & Chips, and the famous knitted fence at the Textile Museum, followed by great Scottish trad at the Douglas Arms.
Day 5 walking around Lerwick, exploring St. Ninian’s Isle, and a long visit to the excellent Shetland Museum, ending with piano music on the wharf.
Day 6 after visiting Scalloway Castle, Jarlshof Village and Sumburgh Lighthouse, which was teeming with puffins, we flew to Glasgow visiting Kelvingrove Museum, then Irish food and trad at Kitty O’shea’s.
Day 7 picked up friends and rental car at Paisley, visited Finnich Glen, then poked around Loch Lomond on the way to Oban.
Day 8 included Kilmartin valley with it’s castles, standing stones, and tombs, and Mhor Moine.
Day 9 we took the Three Island Tour of Lunga, Staffa, and Iona, seeing lots of puffins along the way in hot and sunny weather. Simply fabulous.
Day 10 moved us on to Fort William, via Dunstaffnage Castle, Falls of Lara, Glencoe Lochan trail, and Steall Falls.
Day 11 included visiting the Jacobite Steam train in the station, driving up to Glenfinnan to view the train crossing, then to Mallaig for the ferry, a stop at Fairy Pools, then on to Portree.
Day 12 toured the west side of the Trotternish, including Lealt Falls, Kilt Rock, Storr, and Quiraing, all in somewhat wet and windy conditions.
Day 13 took us up te east side of Trotternish to RHA Falls, Fairy Glen, Flora Macdonald’s grave, and ClachArd.
Day 14 saw us made stops at Eilean Donan and Urquart castles on the way to Inverness, where we had great trad at MacGregor’s Bar.
Day 15 included Culloden Battlefield, Clava Cairns, Ossian’s Well, leaving us in Dunkeld.
Day 16 saw us visit Wallace Monument, Doune Castle, Stirling Castle, a drive-by of The Kelpies, on the way to EDI to dump the car and fly to Orkney.
Day 17 was the Neolithic loop including Maeshowe, Unstan, Stennis, Ring of Brodgar, Marwick Head, and Earl’s Palace. Time and tide was wrong for Birsay Brough.
Day 18 saw us take the ferry to Rousay to visit Traversoe Tuick, Blackhammer, and Yarso tombs.
Day 19 included stops at the Grain Earth House, Rennibister, Cuween Hill, and Broch of Gurness on the way to the flight to Edinburgh.
Day 20 included Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Gardens, and fabulous afternoon session at Sandy Bell’s
Day 21 was an early departure back home.
Everyday included Guinness, whisky, and usually some sort of trad music.