On a cloudy Sunday in early April last year, I set off on a ferry journey to the…
Times visited: 5
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, my family took a trip through Scotland. I don’t remember much from that journey except the stunning nature – and the disappointment of not spotting the Loch Ness Monster. Ever since, I’d wanted to return to see more. But somehow, it took 15 years for that to finally happen.
That long-awaited return came in February 2019, just a month after my younger brother had moved to Edinburgh. We spent a week together exploring his favourite corners of the city, taking a day trip to the Highlands, and spending a fun afternoon on the penny machines in the seaside village of Portobello.
Months later, I decided to look for a job on the Isle of Skye, where my brother had relocated. As luck would have it, I landed a job at the Isles Inn in Portree – and on the very day I arrived, my brother was offered the same position. We ended up working side-by-side for the next two months, spending our free time roaming the dramatic landscapes of Skye and the neighbouring island of Raasay. To round off our time in Scotland, we embarked on a roadtrip across the Outer Hebrides, island-hopping through Harris and Lewis, the Uists, and Barra. We chased white-sand beaches, explored ancient ruins, and drove through beautifully barren hills.
In January 2023, I returned once again – this time for my Master’s in Archaeology of the North at the University of Aberdeen. I ended up staying 13 months, getting to know a very different side of Scotland. When I wasn’t buried in books, I spent weekends exploring the Aberdeenshire coast and the Cairngorms, took day trips to Dundee and St Andrews, and went on a longer journey to Oban and the islands of Mull, Kerrera, and Lismore. But my favourite trip was a week-long adventure on the Orkney Islands. It was also during my time in Aberdeen that I adopted my first child – my beloved little dog, Minnie.
In November 2024, it was time to return once more – this time for graduation. Naturally, Minnie and I had to be there! We roadtripped all the way from Denmark since I still had a lot of belongings stored in Aberdeen. We spent a week reconnecting with the city: taking our old morning dog walks, revisiting favourite spots (including the local pub, of course), catching up with friends, and, of course, celebrating graduation day. We also made time for a coastal hike at the Bullers of Buchan with a friend. On our drive back to Denmark, we made a quick stop to see the Ba Green – a tiny slice of field in England that actually belongs to Scotland!