Briefly
Getting there
We flew with British Airways, premium economy, return Glasgow connecting through Heathrow. I reserved wheelchair assistance for DH and it was wonderful! The assistance people were so good with him and did slow down a bit as I hurried along behind them. Flights and connections were all on time!
Staying there
Stirling: Lime Grove cottage where we have stayed previously. Really enjoy Stirling and surrounding area. Washer came in handy.
Ullapool: No27 flat. It was very clean, quiet, responsive host.
Lewis: Westview Terrace. Another lovely flat with friendly hosts and an amazing chocolate biscuit tin. lol
Inverness: The Annexe a Rauldon where we like to stay when in Inverness. Lovely little cottage.
Weather & wearing what there
Temps were in the 40s to low 50s. There was always wind from a breeze to gusty tip us off balance gusts. We had sun, lots of mizzle and bit of sideways showers, rainbows but only on our final day did it pour buckets. Packed pullover rain trousers but we did not need them.
Belonging to 'club carry-on only' we traveled with Eagle Creek's international rollaboards and Sherpani's Sojourn for under seat bags. My everyday out and about bag is Tom Bihn's everyday cubelet. We had an assortment of TB travel trays and the newly discovered mystery grab bags that were used also as packing cubes. I packed for 6 days for an 18 day trip. DH was cold and often wore 5 layers: mid-weight base layer, grid fleece, mid- weight fleece, puffer and rain jacket, a fleece hat and gloves. I wore a light weight base layer, wool pullover and rain jacket, no hat. I took merino glove liners but wore only once and then I really need something a bit warmer.
Highlights
Honestly, we are always so happy to be back in Scotland that the visit itself is its own highlight.
Battle of Dunbar site marker and memorial stone. Several ancestors were captured by Cromwall who sold them as slaves and shipped them to the States. I wanted to document this site for our family genealogy.
Library of Innerpeffray Scotland's first free public lending library. What a special place! The volunteers are outstanding and clearly love this place. We were a couple hours there but truthfully I could go back and spend a month as the old books may be read on site in their cozy reading room.
Calanais Stones Isle on Lewis when we were the only people there! We had blue sky, a brief sideways shower, very gusty winds, the full complement of Scottish weather. It was wonderful. What a very special place to visit, spend time in contemplating past lives and the significance this place was to them.
The Weaving Shed Isle of Lewis is a small crofter holding with an amazingly talented woman weaving from wool from their own sheep. The loom was down for a repair the day we visited but we were given an outstanding explanation of its workings and the opportunity to ask our many questions. There is a small shop on site where we happily purchased a couple things.
Castle Lachlan ruins on the Cowal Peninsula was another stop for genealogy purposes. Lovely place for a walk. Have to say the Cowal Peninsula is beautiful! I'd love to return to spend a few days exploring.
Love Scotland! It's not Nirvana but for us it's a close second. I'm already planning a return visit for next fall!