Away We Go: Scotland




And, we're off.

While journeys across islands would sound warm & exotic,
our journey brings us to shrinking temperatures
& windy hills sat in the grey backdrop of Northern Scotland



First stop, a night in Edinburgh.

Where we will stay at The Fraser Suites
right off the Royal Mile,
and relax in the festive city before our real journey begins.

When we are in Edinburgh, I like to...

Have coffee & dessert at The Elephant House- where JK Rowling penned Harry Potter on napkins.

Dream of staying at the Hotel Missoni. The doorman even has a Missoni striped kilt. It's amazing.

Grab soup on a cold day at Chocolate Soup. The hot drinks & desserts are fantastic.

Maybe visit the Edinburgh Castle (at the top of the Royal Mile)
or stop by the Queen's Scottish home, Holyrood House (at the bottom of the Royal Mile).

Shop along George Street in New Town. Can't wait to visit the new Anthropologie.




I couldn't get this close to St. Andrews and not stop by...

We have a day there feeling chilly along the sea.

We probably will warm up at Greyfriar's Pub...

Shop the endless rows of charity shops...

Grab a cone of sticky toffee pudding from B. Jannetta's famous ice cream shop...

Take pictures at the seaside cathedral ruins...

Watch golfers finish up at the famous 18th hole on the Old Course...

and go on a tour of Will & Kate's meeting place,
The University of St. Andrews.




From there, we head to Inverness for the night.

After a couple hours on a train,
we will arrive in Inverness...
way towards the top of Scotland.

When we arrive-
the biggest challenge awaits us:
a rental car.

We've never driven in the UK...
but we will tomorrow!

Off to the country to stay in a country manor, Coul House.

We will spend the evening siting by the fire, eating Scottish winter fare,
and cozying up like our Anglo-Saxon ancestors before us would have.



The next morning,
we continue up to the Isle of Skye.

A gorgeous place that seems like Tolkien's setting for a certain trilogy.

It's a quiet world of waterfalls, craggy cliffs & roaming sheep...
and while it's (obviously) difficult to get to-
it's one of the most amazing places I've ever seen.

{I posted some pictures here from this summer. Amazing!}

We will be staying at the Bosville Hotel 
in the quaint seaside port town of Portree...
wearing chunky sweaters & boots,
eating bowlfuls of Cullen Skink till we can't fit any more in our bellies.

After a night there and a following day roaming the island
(this is all to tour potential hotels for summer programs)...
it's back to Inverness for a BA flight home to London.

And if I'm not a little bit cooler after a trip like this,
there's no hope for me.

I'll do my best to keep you a part of our journey
and blog & tweet along the way...
when wi-fi & 3G allows.





27 comments:

  1. Have a lovely time up in the land o the Celts!
    Skye is magnificent at any time of the year. The weather is awful, hope it improves for you. Go the German market in Edinburgh, that's what I'm doing on Saturday.

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  2. Have a great trip! You'll gave to tell us all about it - Jon and I are going to do a long weekend in the highlands in Feb and I'm a bit nervous :/

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  3. Im so jealous, HONESTLY and not even kidding you! have a super fantastic time! Cant wait to see you with the New year, I have booked a spot in your calendar remember ;)
    Safe travels! xoxo

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  4. Have a wonderful time! I love living vicariously through your posts!!

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  5. You must go to Below the Stairs in Edinburgh. It is the coziest pub/eatery in the city and the carrot cake is literally made every day by a little old lady and would probably be my last meal pick. Have fun!

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  6. Sounds like a great trip! Can't wait to see pics.

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  7. If you have time, climb Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh. It's a great walk and you get an unbelievable view of the city!

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  8. YOU'RE GOING TO INVERNESS! Eek! Why is it that you do everything I do- but ten times better? Sigh....

    Now I want to go back. I didn't go to Isle of Skye and I am still so mad about that!

    Good luck with the driving. I could barely walk on the right side of the street when I was there.

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  9. Hey lovey.
    Love Love Love this post and your blog... I came across it via my blog friend Jacquelyn from Lark & Linen.
    I just wanted to stop by and say hi and also tell you about a post I did last week that I think you'll love... I hope. Please let me know what you think hun.
    http://whatwilsonwants.blogspot.com/2011/12/my-adventures-in-pictures-scottish.html
    Stu xx
    http://whatwilsonwants.blogspot.com/

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  10. have fun! I'm so jealous. I've always wanted to go to Scotland!

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  11. this trip sounds amazing! have fun!

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  12. What a fab trip! Have a wonderful time!

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  13. I love The Elephant House! When I was in Scotland I spent every evening there writing and sipping coffee and watching the rain fall on the city all lit up!

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  14. Have you ever read the Outlander by Diana Gabaldon? It's a whole series but it's set in that area. I can't wait to see all the amazing pictures you're going to take!

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  15. Sounds absolutely amazing!!! Enjoy every minute. I can't wait to see your pics!

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  16. Ooh, also, ditto what Anna said. You should read Outlander. It's addicting!

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  17. ahhhh Isle of Skye..thats where i want to take stephen for his b day...its only a 4 hour drive north of where we live in scotland..girl u and i are just oing to be passin each other all over the place..maybe ONE of these days we will be in the same place at the same time..for the love of god it better happen soon.

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  18. I love Inverness and all of Moray- it's easily in the top three places I would live if I could live anywhere in the world. There's a book store/print shop there, Leakey's, that also has amazing lunches. They have stacks and stacks of old prints for really cheap- check it out if you've got time!! Have a great time, I haven't been to Scotland in a couple of months and I'm missing the magic of the Highlands!!

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  19. You will share what you dine upon, will you not?
    Hope you get to meet Ronda from All the best blog.
    She is a delight and a Texan so you gals would have lots in common.
    pve

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  20. Sounds like a dream, enjoy every second of it! I can't wait to read the recap.

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  21. Sounds amazing. Have a lovely time!!

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  22. sounds like you have an amazing trip lined up. Can't wait to see photos :)

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  23. I am so jealous! Your trip sounds so wonderful! Have a great time and share your photos!

    Cheers (or should I say Sláinte!), Elise
    http://www.thechampagnewishes.com/

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  24. Wow! You must have had an amazing time! Especially St Andrews and Isle of Skye (BEAUTIFUL VIEWS)! Have a wonderful Christmas!

    Barbara

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  25. I think my eyes rolled into the back of my head-- I am SO JEALOUS! What an amazing trip. I can't wait to go on a UK adventure sometime soon. I may take some ideas from your itinerary ;)

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  26. This trip sounds amazing! I love reading your blog!

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