We have now officially been in Edinburgh for just over a month, and the speed at which time has flown is frightening. Needless to say we have all thoroughly enjoyed exploring the rich history and culture of Scotland and Edinburgh. This past weekend our group trekked northwards to the breathtaking Highlands. While the Lowlands of Scotland have a history rooted in government and culture, the Highlands have played host to much of the romanticized history of the Scottish and provided many of the elements associated with the great country today. A big tourist attraction, the Highlands are covered in beautiful rolling hills and mountains whose view is as remarkable as the history which occurred on its very grounds.
We set off Friday morning around 9 AM, and spent the day stopping at various picturesque locations on our way. One of these stops was historic Eilean Donan castle
Our ability to actually enter the castle was hindered by the weather due to the age of the building, and so we carried on until we reached our hostel in the quiet town of Kyleakin.
On Saturday we departed our hostel bright and early and began a day that would be filled with rain, wind, and the majesty of Scotland. Much of our day and weekend featured the large but gentle creatures known as highland cattle. They have large horns and wavy thick fur which helps them to stay warm, especially during the brutal winters here in Scotland.
Although the weather tried to keep down our spirits on Saturday, the Furman crew trudged through and had another day filled with history and beautiful sights. We boarded the bus once again and got to take in even more breath-taking views. Our first two stops were at the beautiful cliffs of Culnacnoc and the large hill named the Old Man of Storr, which can be seen in the blog’s feature image. Luckily for us, these two remarkable locations have truly been untouched by mankind and left open to display their own natural beauty. While standing on top of the Old Man of Storr it really felt like being transported back in time to when highlander culture dominated the lands.
Afterwards, we travelled to the small city of Portree, named after James V of Scotland, who visited in 1540. Here, we re-fuelled with some lunch, and had our days brightened by the brightly coloured houses that lined the bay in the city. Although the rain was still falling heavily our spirits were heightened by the radiant aesthetics.
Then to wrap up the day, we headed to the Armadale Castle and museum. The castle is now mainly ruins, but it was once home to Clan Donald, one of the more powerful and influential clans in Highland history. The clan ruled the western seaboards of Scotland for almost four hundred years and have more than forty tartans associated with their name. Moreover, in the museum, our Furman group listened to our audio guides as we learned about the Jacobite uprising against the Scottish government. Here we got to see some of the actual weaponry used by the soldiers during the time and the tartans they wore in battle. After our stop there we headed back to our hostel and prepared for another day of great experiences.
Sunday began early once more, and what a day we had in store. We began at the world famous Loch Ness. Expectations were obviously high due to all the mystery and legend surrounding the location, and yet still they were exceeded. With an absolutely astounding sunny day to compliment the majesty of the black waters and rolling green and gray mountain and hillsides, the morning was a perfect combination of nature and folklore as our guide told us the facts behind the Loch Ness Monster legend. The loch holds enough water to fit the world population 3 times over! With that much water, and low enough temperatures to kill a person after only a few minutes, the blackness of the waters have kept Nessie a mystery to this day. Only echolocation can reveal what lies beneath, and many large unidentified creatures have been spotted in the depths, but none confirmed to be the mysterious and famed creature.
After lunch we headed to the famed battlefield of Culloden where the Jacobite army took their final stand against the Duke of Cumberland. Their defeat is memorialized on the historic battlefield.
After Culloden, our group made the long trip back to Edinburgh where we parted ways and concluded a fantastic weekend.
Here’s to the many mysteries we have yet to uncover in our time here.
Cheers,
Murphy and Drew,
