On a mild Friday at the end of March last year, I spent a day in Scotland’s Cairngorms…
Times visited: 4 (1 week in 2004, 1 week in 2019, 2,5 months in 2020, 13 months in 2023-24 and 1 week in 2024)
Cities visited: Inverness, Edinburgh, Stirling, Aberdeen and Dundee
Towns and villages visited: South Queensferry, Portobello, Portree, Camustianavaig, Uig, Sligachan, Dunvegan, Carbost, Inverarish, Brochel, Arnish, Kyleakin, Kyle of Lochalsh, Dornie, Stornoway, North Tolsta, Leverburgh, Rushgarry, Lochmaddy, Creagorry, Ardmhór, Castlebay, Vatersay, Eriskay, Lochboisdale, Lochportain, Tarbert, Seilebost, Rodel, Port of Ness, Eoropaidh, Shawbost, Carloway, Callanish, Mangersta, Ballater, Tullich, Dinnet, Crathie, Oban, Craignure, Salen, Balliemore, Lower Gylen, Ardmore, Achnacroish, Port Ramsay, Kirkwall, St Margaret’s Hope, Birsay, Twatt (Orkney), Stromness, Brinian, Lyness, Rackwick, Longhope, Stove, Lady Village, Kettletoft, Newburgh, Ellon, Cruden Bay, Collieston, Crawton, Stonehaven, Balmedie, Braemar, St Andrews, Gardenstown, Crovie, Pennan, Bullers of Buchan and Boddam
Islands visited: Skye, Raasay, Eilean Fladday, Eilean Bán, Lewis and Harris, Berneray, North Uist, Benbecula, South Uist, Eriskay, Barra, Vatersay, Grimsay, Mull, Kerrera, Lismore, Mainland (Orkney), Brough of Birsay, Lambs Holm, Glims Holm, Burray, South Ronaldsay, Rousay, Hoy, South Walls, Sanday
UNESCO sites visited: 7/35 (UK)
Back in 2004 when I was nine, I travelled through Scotland with my family. I don’t remember much from that trip, other than the nature being amazing – and the disappointment of not seeing the Loch Ness monster. Since then, I’ve wanted to come back to explore more, but somehow, it took 15 years for that to finally happen.
That was in February 2019, a month after my brother Brandon had moved to Edinburgh. It was the perfect excuse to go. We spent a week together, exploring his favourite parts of the city, going on a day trip through the Highlands and spending a day on the penny machines at the seaside village of Portobello.
Months went by where we didn’t see each other until I decided to look for a job on the Isle of Skye where he was now living. I found a job at the Isles Inn in Portree and the same day as I arrived, Brandon was offered the same job. So we spent the next two months together, working side-by-side and spending our free time out and about on Skye and the neighbouring island of Raasay (my favourite!). We saw a lot in those two months and made a bunch of wonderful friends even though I couldn’t understand what anyone said for the first month or so 😂
At the end of our time in Scotland, we sailed to the Outer Hebrides for a week-long roadtrip through the dramatic landscapes of Harris and Lewis, the Uists and Barra, chasing sandy beaches, ancient monuments and barren hills.
In January 2023, I moved back to Scotland, this time to Aberdeen on the east coast, to study my Master’s in Archaeology of the North. I ended up staying for 13 months and had a blast getting to know a different side to Scotland. When I wasn’t full in study mode, I spent weekends exploring the Aberdeenshire coast and Cairngorms National Park. I also spent a day in Dundee and St Andrews, took a long weekend trip to Oban and the islands of Mull, Kerrera and Lismore on the west coast, and spent a week gallivanting around on the Orkney Islands.
Although I have moved from Scotland once again, I know I’m not done with the country. There is still so much I want to see. It is one of my favourite countries, after all!
