Trip to Scotland

[Chaps]

My wife and I are celebrating our 25th anniversary next summer. To celebrate, we are planning a trip to the UK and plan on spending 7-10 days in Scotland. I know that we will just scratch the surface, but I have two great interests that I want to explore in Scotland, single malt Scotch and church history. I will probably be driving throughout the country. I am very open to suggestions. Thanks.

[Rick Y]

If you're going to explore single malt Scotch in any depth, let your wife do the driving! Have a great time; I envy you the experiences you will have and the sights you will see. (Happy anniversary a bit early.)

[David]

For whisky, follow the trail http://www.visitscotland.com/see-do/...t-whisky-trail

There are many, many more distilleries to visit not on this trail, just use the www to fnd them. If you can fit it in and there is space on a tour for you, visit the Macallan. I went years ago and loved it, a very different tour to any other I have done.

As for church history, that's a big subject, more detail is needed first and its not my strong point. you could start at the National Museum of Scotland http://www.nms.ac.uk/our_museums/nat...ed_church.aspx

[denmcdough]

My wife, son, and I traveled to Scotland last July. Too much to see and never enough time, or money. But, I'd suggest seeing the Dunfermline Abbey, about 20 minutes north of Edinburgh. It houses the grave of Robert the Bruce, and it's a wonderful little town. It's, also, the birth place of Andrew Carnegie....see his house and museum. Across from the newer Abbey are the gardens which Carnegie played in as a boy, and then bought later in life, which was returned to the town. It's a wonderful place to hang out and eat lunch. When we took the train there last year, it was 80*..... I loved it, but the locals were dying.
http://www.visitscotland.com/en-us/i...rmline-p239021

Also, if you make it to Skye, stop by Taliskers Whiskey, which is near the Dunvegan Castle. http://www.scotlandwhisky.com/distil...lands/Talisker

Work your way to Portree for a stop, and and bite to eat.
http://www.visitscotland.com/en-us/i...ortree-p236431

Have a blast, and prepare to return. The first trip is the learning curve!

[MacRobert's Reply]

On church history, Chaps, you could consider visiting Whithorn in Galloway where Ninian built his White House (Canada Casa) and evangelised the Southern Picts; Iona, where Columba (Com Cille) established his base for evangelising among the Northern Picts; Glasgow where Kentegern had his mission in the Kingdom of Strathclyde; Queensferry where Queen Margaret instituted her ferry for pilgrims traveling to Dunfermline and St Andrews; and nearby Inchcolm (the Iona of the East).

In the North of England you could visit Hilda's Whitby of Synod of Whitby fame; and Lindisfarne (Holy Island) where Aidan and Cuthbert evangelised among the Northumbrians and Mercians.

If you are passing through South Queensferry and I am around, I would be happy to be your free guide. PM me as and when.

[Chaps]

Thanks all for the information. And "MacRobert's Reply" thank you for the great leads with regard to church history and I will be in touch as I continue to plan the trip.