Day 1: Papworth Everard (home) to Edinburgh
We abandoned the main highways and took the smaller roads and crossed the border on the Pennine Mountains.
We passed through the small town of Jedburgh which is beaut, and famed for its now-roofless abbey (back left). Gaylene inspects the ice-covered bridge wall....
... while others inspect the partially frozen rivers.
After arriving in Edinburgh, and eventually finding a place to stay (the place I had booked on the internet seemed to be closed!!), we hit the German market in the centre of town, which came with Ferris Wheel, outdoor ice skating...
... beaut views of the lights on Edinburgh Castle,
.... and mulled wine.Day 2: Edinburgh to Isle of Skye
We left our hostel (an old cathedral can you believe it) and tried to take in as much of Edinburgh as we could in about 3 hours.... an impossible task (you need about 3 days).
We managed to see Edinburgh Castle, and a little of Princes Street before heading for Isle of Skye.
On the way we found a little bridge crossing this frozen river. Amazing.. you could hear the ice slowly cracking, presumably caused by the tide going out of the loch which this river flowed into.
With it being winter, daylight hours were limited. This pick of the Eilean Donan Castle was taken late afternoon. We eventually reached Skye and checked into our backpackers in the village of Kyleakin, before making our way to the dodgy local pub for some grub. That night the wind howled like you wouldn't believe.
Day 3: Skye to Isle of Harris
As with most places, because we arrived in the dark, its only in the morning that you get to see where you actually are. Above are some houses in the town (probably too small to qualify as a town) of Kyleakin. Backpackers on the right.
We pottered around the little harbour in Kyleakin, soaking up some of the sea views, something we haven't really had much of at all in the last 7 months.
This is Skye Bridge, photographed from just outside the backpackers. It's the bridge which links mainland Scotland (on the right) to the Isle of Skye (left). In strong wind (like the previous night), road authorities close the bridge for anything bigger than a car (side winds apparently wreck havoc with larger vehicles).
We eventually made our away across Skye to the town of Uig where we were scheduled to catch the 14:00 ferry to Harris. On our way there it rained on and of but because of the permanently low winter sun, the landscape was constantly bathed in a beautiful golden hue. A photographers heaven... permanent golden hour! The rain came and went, so we had constantly alternating sun, rain, sun, rain. We were amazed by the scene photographed above....a rain cloud approaching (from the left) with a double rainbow at its leading edge, and the cloudless, clear landscape to the right (excuse the rain drops on the lens). One of those "you had to see it for yourself" moments because the photo doesn't really do it justice.
We arrived at Uig, parked the car and waited with great anticipation for the ferry to arrive. We weren't quite sure what to expect so were pleasantly surprised when the big Caledonian MacBryane above came powering in.
G takes a moment to watch the setting sun. We arrived that evening (Christmas Eve) at East Tarbert on Harris where we spent the next two nights with friends Dan and Karen Hill, and Dan's family.
Christmas eve was spent at a party which Dan's parents, Charlie and Sue Hill, had arranged for friends and family. We were honoured to be there. Haggies, tatties and neeps (Haggis, potatoes, and turnips) was the menu for the night, and G and I had our first taste of Haggis. I expected a big stuffed sheep's stomach to arrive on my place, so was pleasantly surprise when the Haggis looked rather like a pile of normal mince meat. It was good!
Father Christmas put in an appearance and there were Christmas carols sung with guitar and fiddle.
Day 4: Christmas Day on Harris
The weather on Harris was a little miserable, and so most of the time was spent indoors opening presents, eating and drinking. But they say in Scotland that there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing, so we decided to go on a little exploration drive. The view of the sea and surrounding islands was amazing.
There was a distinct lack of bikinis on the beach .....
... or speedos for that matter! Dan shows how the locals do it... hoodie free!!
That evening we had another Christmas dinner with the family, this time a smaller family affair. More haggis was had. I was really starting to get the hang it it.
Day 5: Harris to Lewiston
We waved goodbye to the Hills (some of the many hills on Harris) and caught the ferry back to the mainland. Because it was boxing day and only one ferry was running that day, it took a long route via Loch Maddy, all in all a 3 hour trip and the winds and the waves.... they were beeg, very beeg!!
The best thing to do in rough seas.. just bunk down for the trip, unless you prefer albatross spotting on the top deck of course.
We returned to Uig on Skye to find that our car had leaked and the passenger side was an inch deep in water. Nothing that some bailing mugs, toilet paper, newspapers, tissues, and the car heater on max couldn't take care of.
We passed the Eilean Donnan Castle (above) again on our way back across Skye heading for Loch Ness. We pulled into the little town of Lewiston that night and stayed at the Loch Ness Backpackers, a very good spot with friendly and informative hosts. The top night time activity in Lewiston... night visit to Urquhart Castle (where the majority of the Nessie sightings have been made), which was rad.
Day 6: Day trip to Inverness and Loch Ness
We were quite impressed with Inverness, a pretty little place on the bank of the River Ness.
On the banks of Loch Ness. Nessy was no where to be seen, but then again it was holiday season and I suppose everyone deserves a little time off.
That night we were upgraded to the B&B also owned by the owners of the the backpackers. No complaints from us!!
Day 7: Lewiston to Glen Coe
We started the morning off with a stroll (in the rain of course) through the Urquhart Woodland, an eerie flooded poplar woodland on the shores of Loch Ness. I have to admit, my main motive for the walk was to see the little Dipper bird which lives in fast-flowing mountain streams.
And, bonus, we saw one in this beautiful stretch of water.
Then we headed off on the next leg of our trip. The drive down to Glen Coe is stunning, passing Urquhart Castle (in the daylight this time),
and Highland Cows (pronounced "highland coos" if you're local).
A quick stop at Inverlochy Castle (built in 1270) as we passed through Fort William, and eventually pulled into An Darag B&B in Glen Coe.
Day 8: Day trip to Loch Leven and Glen Nevis
A landscape photographer's paradise. Stunning views looking down Loch Leven.
We drove to the end of Glen Nevis and then did a short hike up the to the top of the valley where we were met by this stunning scene. No wonder this is where the movie Braveheart was shot.... its a majestic landscape.
Day 9: Glen Coe to Kinross
We bid Glen Coe farewell, but not before a full Scottish breakfast with haggis (on the right).
Someone got very excited about the ice crystals on the car !! 
The drive out of Glen Coe is famed for its spectacular landscapes.
And some of the wildlife even put in an appearance, like this tame deer at the side of the road.
And some of the wildlife even put in an appearance, like this tame deer at the side of the road.We passed through Stirling and made a quick stop off at Stirling Castle, before heading for the Wallace Monument (in the distance, bottom left in photo above).
The Wallace Momument could be more accuarately called the Wallece Tower..... its huge.
G makes her way down the narrow stairs inside the monument after a visit to the top.
Raising Claymores with Wallace himself.. although I heard he was 2 m tall!!! That evening we stayed with the O Connel family in Kinross, Gerry and Joana, and the kids Carissa, Glen, Annalise and Daniel. We had a great time with some great chats.
Day 10: Kinross to home
We headed home the next morning and arrived late afternoon, crashed early and ushered in the new year fast asleep. It was a brilliant trip... almost 3000 km later, many laughs, many gigs of photos, many new sights, and many new places, and even new friends. Thanks to the Hills and the O Connels for adding a lovely personal touch to our first experience of Scotland.
We have to go back.....but maybe in Summer!
