June travels to Scotland

[brewerpaul]

Paul,
It would be good to start spelling our capital city with its terminal "h" before you arrive!
Alan

Thank you Alan, I will make sure to practice the correct spelling. I think my morning started a bit early so my typing and mental spelling were not too in sync. I also appreciate the info on driving. We have biked the A and B roads along with some beautiful single track roads and found people were very kind to us. Even had a Bellhaven beer truck slow down behind us untill we could reach a pullout. Once I get a few miles under my belt the driving will be fine though I will be starting in Edinburg... h ;)

Thanks also to JockScot about the maps and fuel stations. I remember the last time in the highlands seeing fuel stations closed by 6pm. Having had a few close calls with gas in Kansas,,, miles and miles of nowhere, I never let a tank get below half full.

We really look forward to our visit. Just the wonderful people alone will refreshen us. Add the scenery and history and we know our time will be fantastic.

[Alan H]

Here's another vote for http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/

Best general hiking and walking website EVER.

My single most highly recommended hike is Glen Affric. You'll probably have to drive to the trailhead, as it's several miles from the highway at Loch Ness. If you love the natural world, this hike is THE BEST, because the forest is actual Scottish mixed hardwood/softwood forest. There isn't a lot of it left. Hike the seven mile loop around the Loch and you actually get a look at what most of Scotland probably looked like in 1700. If you can't do Glen Affric, then look at Walk Highlands and do anything else in the area.

BTW, we never had a problem with the midges but the horseflies at Glen Affric were absolutely brutal. I was still bleeding a week later.... I kid you not. WEAR LONG PANTS, and leave your lovely kilt in the car.

In our trip last summer I saw about six people in kilts, outside of Holyrood palace staff, the four Highland Games I competed at, and a couple of pipers busking for change in Edinburgh. Every single one of them was an American with two exceptions...

--Jock Scot and Cessna152towser!!!!

BTW, the Borders were gorgeous. There's a LOT of history down there...Hadrians Wall, Jedburgh and Dryburgh abbeys, Abbotsford (Sir Walter Scotts home)... Smailhome Tower (restored Pele tower), Hermitage Castle and so on. You can do a river rafting trip on the tweed and drop in on the Locharron factory for a tour, and drop a mint in their gift store.

[neloon]

Don't forget the Northeast for next time!
Castles- http://www.visitscotland.com/see-do/...s-castle-trail
Whiskey - http://www.whisky.dufftown.co.uk/whisky_trail.php
Hillwalking/biking - http://www.stevenfallon.co.uk/routeseast.html

Alan

[figheadair]

And a third vote for http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/ - excellent for Munro ticking .

This weather forecast site is useful. Although Norwegian it seems to be pretty accurate for anywhere in rural Europe and far better than the BBC - just type in a reasonable size place: Ullapool, Crianlarich etc.

For hill conditions the MWIS site is a good place to check when planning anything serious.

[neloon]

Paul,
Another small point when you're driving. In Scotland the legal alcohol limit has recently been reduced to 50 milligrams of alcohol in every 100 millilitres of blood (as it is in most of Europe but not England and Wales). Most people simply don't drink and drive.
Alan

[Alan H]

When we stayed in Braemar, we did this hike...

http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/cairn...callater.shtml

It's an old ordnance road, I think. It's an easy climb to Loch Callater, which is quite pretty. It poured rain while we were there, and the mist came and went above us in the peaks. In the valley behind the loch there's a nice waterfall. I wish we'd had more time to go see it!

Loch Callater

This is what it looked like on the day we were there:



On a sunny day, at the head of the loch...

[Alan H]

Glen Affric...

[brewerpaul]

Paul,
Another small point when you're driving. In Scotland the legal alcohol limit has recently been reduced to 50 milligrams of alcohol in every 100 millilitres of blood (as it is in most of Europe but not England and Wales). Most people simply don't drink and drive.
Alan

Many thanks Alan for this point. If we drink while in the car it will be perhaps a pint at a pub while we eat a bite of lunch and visit some castles or such. Otherwise our drinking is reserved to finding an evening pub for a pint or two, withing walking distance from our B&B, and then a nightcap of some good whisky back in the safety of the B&B. We did that last visit and it was quite a nice way to end each evening.

Many thanks for all the links and photos posted. I know the next few weeks will be spent researching and narrowing down places and hikes we want to do. That will keep us from spinning in circles with to much to see and no plan of action. I know we will visit Knockando Wool Mill when we are staying in Inverness. I donate to the wool mill historic fun yearly and want to see the place after all the restoration.

As far as the flying/biting critters, we will manage. Having hiked with net hats before and spent time with ducktape pulling seed ticks off Im sure we will do ok. The deer/horse flys are a bit of a pain but also kinda slow so good targets to swat.

Everyone has been great here, as is always the case on Xmarks, and I know our trip will be a quality visit using this information. many many Thanks
Paul

[neloon]

Paul,
The views on drink/driving have changed since your last visit so here is yet another link
http://www.dontriskit.info/
Alan

[brewerpaul]

Paul,
The views on drink/driving have changed since your last visit so here is yet another link
http://www.dontriskit.info/
Alan

Im sure it will be obvious as a bright red beacon on my car that Im a tourist so I plan to play it very safe. Drinking is something we enjoy and explore, especially local brewed ales, so I dont plan to see the other side of iron bars unless it is in one of the castle dungeons. Most of our days will be spent hiking or biking so the rare occasion we tourist to some castles will be the only chance we might share an ale with lunch. Otherwise we prefer our pints after dinner and an evening walk back to our B&B. Ive even entertained the thought of a large sign in the back window stating "Yes I am an American tourist, Ill try to stay on the correct side of the lane".