jlcct said:
I have always wanted to go to Scotland. Just hearing someone talk about being there makes me want to go.
jlcct said:
...if I were to go what would you recommend I see?
Given that most folk who visit Scotland have (I believe)
scenery foremost in their minds, I'd say that it's not
what specifically to see so much as
where generally to go that I'd recommend, and that's easy to answer; the west coast. Stick to the west coast and you'll not go far wrong.
First head west from Edinburgh (where you're bound to be at this point); one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, to Glasgow; Scotland's largest, and best (controvertial comment
) city but
not one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.
Heading north, you pass along the shore of Loch Lomond; Scotland's largest loch in terms of
plan area. Keep going and you pass through Glen Coe, made famous by the massacre of (some of) Clan MacDonald by Clan Campbell but today more famous for its scenery as an area of outstanding natural beauty. Onward we go to Fort William, the wettest place in Britain maybe, but home of Ben Nevis, Britains highest 'mountain' at 1344m.
To the north of Fort William there's Glen Finnin at the head of Loch Shiel where Bonnie Prince Charlie came ashore and began what eventually turned out to be the last (failed, upon Culloden battlefield near Inverness) attempt to regain the Crown of Scotland. To the north-east, after passing along the shore of Loch Lochy you arrive at the southern end of Loch Ness, Scotlands largest loch in terms of
volume and home of Nessie (bless her heart
).
From there, having deviated a little eastwards, take the
road to the isles that leads you west through Glen Shiel, another area of outstanding natural beauty, past Eilean Donnan Castle and on to the aptly named Eilean a' cheo;
island of mist, better known in English as the Isle of Skye (not strictly an island anymore since it was connected to mainland Scotland via a bridge).
Once on Skye, assuming you can see through the horizontal rain,
D) take the very minor road to Elgol, past Bla Bheinn (climbing it if possible), a Munro with, from its summit, one of the most spectacular views of The Black Cuillin; 11 Munros that combined, form a ridge the traverse of which is without a doubt the most technically difficult of all 284 Munros.
After driving back onto the mainland, take the road north to Loch Carron then on to Kishorn. Upon reaching Kishorn, take the
Bealach Na Ba; the
pass of the cattle and Britain's highest road with steep gradients and hairpin bends (nobody said it'd be easy
) up and over to Applecross. From there, as you continue north you'll have the Inner Sound on the left separating you from Skye and eventually you'll reach Torridon, yet
another area of outstanding natural beauty.
By now you're bound to be feeling quite tired,
so instead of heading further north, head east to Inverness (visiting Colloden battlefield if you wish), known locally as the capital of the Highlands, before turning south, past the Cairngorms and ultimately back to Edinburgh.
Fly home if you're sure you want to leave.
jlcct said:
I don't care if it's something a little off the walk for a tourist, I want to see the inside not what is made for the outsider.
The best way to see Scotland is from
on up high. If you're into walking/scrambling/climbing then I can point you to those hills with the best views to be had, and if you're into whisky, I can tell you which distillerys give better tours than others.
