All good things must come to an end😩

Final day of the tour. I thought back to the first day where I had felt rather apprehensive as we waited to be taken to the bus because this  was the first organised tour I have done. I had visions of being herded like cattle everywhere, pethaps having a difficult group, an impatient guide and not enough stops to admire the views, stretch legs and take photos. I need never have worried! 👍Everything was totally relaxed and the entire tour absolute enjoyment pure! Even when someone arrived a bit late and apologised, there was always a really pleasant reassuring  response from Alan, with a genuine smile. The tour members were fantastic and we all got on really well despite the mix of ages, nationalities, etc. We stopped a huge amount and Alan woukd have stopped more if we had asked hin. To be honest, we could have stopped at almost every turn of the road on the islands because it was so spectacular, but then we would not have got anywhere. The weather was remarkable almost the entire trip, particularly where it really mattered. As for Alan, I cannot sing his praises enough and I am sure I speak for us all.

I felt very sad to think it would soon be over, especially as I sat outside the B and B before breakfast to once again breathe in the pure air of Plockton and to enjoy the peace and the breathtaking scenery made even more special by the extraordinary light.

 

Although this area of Scotland is trying hard to save the Gaelic language, we didn't hear a lot of It spoken in this area,  but it was great to see most signs in both English and Gaelic. 

 

We left Plockton in very warm , sunny weather and made our first stop at the very romantic Eilann Donan castle. It is a really pretty castle and apparently has been used in a number of films and television series. You can see why🙂

 Guni and I opted to have a stroll along the banks of the loch rather than visit the castle. Good decision as later the weather was not as good as we have become accustomed  to.

Our trip back to Edinburgh took us back along the Great Glen and we had a rather rainy lunch stop at Loch Ness. I have been there before but I had forgotten about the fantastic lock system. Inspite of the teeming rain, I really enjoyed watchung the patient boat owners moving through one lock after the other.It is such a busy area!

Apart from a stop at a pretty little waterfall amidst a very rare patch of beautiful native forest and a couple of other wee villages and lochs, we found ourselves once again at the Forth Bridges, the old, only built in 1964 and the new which will replace it because the old cannot cope with the amount of traffic.

 

if you did not know about the old bridge around the corner,  the approach could be somewhat scary 😁

Although it only rained for part of the journey back, we certainly were able to appreciate even more the fact that we had been so fortunate with the weather. The trip would still have been remarkable, the commentary just as amusing, the clouds possibly even more dramatic, but to have missed seeing some of the spectacular parts of Scotland we so much enjoyed would have really been a big pity. 

 

 We certainly had many such moments. It was just incredible.

It was a very sad farewell to the group and particulaly to Alan, who undoubtedly contributed so much to our enjoyment of the trip . It was amazing how close the group had become in only 5 days. It seemed so much longer because we had packed so much into the days and yet had never seemed in a rush or overloaded. After a lot of hugging , Guni and I returned to our really lovely B and B with friendly manager Lukas seemingly very happy to see us again. It was great to have Guni there still and to raise a glass together as we enjoyed our final dinner in Scotland - for now! I think we will hoth  be back. 

Skye - a breathtakingly beautiful island

Plockton, such a picturesque hamlet on an inner sound. It even has a mini Mitre Peak, just like Milford Sound ( middle of picture). I wish I could sonehow capture the sound of silence here, broken only by the chirping of the oystercatchers.

 

Such a peaceful, sleepy little place, though In a few weeks it will be transformed as schools break up and the main holiday period starts. Our bed and breakfast , overlooking the water ,was perfectly located for brief evening strolls and even a pre-dinner drink in the wee garden by the beach.

 

After a huge, traditional hcooked breakfast, we set off, heading across the bridge we had seen late yesterday. We found ourselves 'on Skye in the sky' as Alan said. Extremely low thick cloud completely  enshrouded Skye and it was at that stage very hard to imagine that such perfect weather lay ahead. Alan took a punt (actually he should try the Lotto based on that) and put off a visit to the Fairy Bridge with its expansive views over the Black Cuillen till later in the day, and instead  simply described the mountains ,which were totally hidden, to us. (Good description, we were later to discover. )

What better way to spend the  next half hour,despite it being early morning,  than to taste some very smokey whisky at Talisker distillery. I am not a whisky lover but found the lingering taste  of the 45 percent whisky very good. It certainly put everyone in good spirits, pardon the pun! The area itself was also very pretty and as one can see, we had left the fog and low cloud behind and it never returned😀

 

We had read and heard a lot about the Fairy Pools . Some great stories as we drove through the fog!

Wow, what a gorgeous valley it was with its tiny waterfalls and crystal clear waters. Once again, i felt a tad homesick for NZ. It was a spectacular region, totally uninhabited as far as the eye could see.

 

It was a fabulous walk up to the pools , which if you looked closely contained millions of beautiful stones, made particularly striking by the purity and clarity of the mountain water.

It has a great name in Gaelic too.

 

With the fairy theme in mind , we headed to the next spectacular point on the packed itinerary, the Fairy Glen - more stories 😂

It was hot and at first the idea of heading off up a hill again did not appeal, but when I thought it might be the only chance to do it, off I went! Actually, it was not so hard and I quickly reached the top and went to the mound next to the rocky outcrop which was supposedly the Fairy Castle. 

 

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The views from the top were absolutely fantastic, over a valley of dozens of glacial cone-shaped mounds( known as drummonds). It would have been fantastic to have explored more, but we had even more spectacular places in store!

So many amazing places in one day, and this next stop certainly appeared to beat them all! The Quirang with its Incredibly dramatic hills and cliffs was formed by a series of landslides. This , on its own, is really phenomenal, but today added to the spectacular landscape were the views as far as the Highlands. Once more NZ was in danger of being knocked off the number one most beautiful country in the world!

 

It was sunny and warm, absolutely fantastic, and we all felt very privileged when we were told that Alan only sees this spot in such weather about half a dozen times a year! 

 

Once again we could all have happily stayed for hours but some had to get back for dinner and it had certainly been a long, but certainly rewarding day of driving for Alan. Many of the roads are very narrow, one lane roads with passing bays, and sheep roam freely everywhere adding an extra hazard. How happy I am not to have to drive , and to leave it to a highly competent person with local knowledge.

The road down from Trotternish was also spectacular

 

With marvelous views from my front seat!

 

From a foggy start to the day to these unbelievably clear views over the Sound of Raasay.

 

Our final stop was the Fairy Bridge with dramatic backdrop of the Black Cuillin. It must be brilliant hiking country, but for today we simply enjoyed the scenery, the lovely bog cotton and orchids in this peaty soil, and the gentle, soft breeze . How much we all appreciated this unforgettable day with all the top attractions. 

North to Plockton towards Skye

Despite the news that Britain is leaving the EU, life appeared to go on as if  nothing much had happened. Of course, nothing much will happen for a while, but certainly the change of prime minister in England and a possible second referendum in Scotland are big news.

Another fabulous day just full of incredible sights. Alan, our brilliant guide has an amazing ability to reach points of interest for photo stops when the sun is shining or there are fantastic cloud formations. We even rolled up at a coffee stop just before the heavens opened to meet up with a local red deer, on the scrounge for food! 

I was so concerned that we would not stop very often, but I needn't have been worried at all as he is very generous with his frequent stops. Marvelous.

 

He looks laid back, doesn't he? In fact , he also resembles David a lot in looks and character. As he has just returned from 2 months in NZ , we have a lot to chat about and plenty of comparisons to make. Needless to say, as a nature lover, he loved his time in my country as much as I am enjoying the wild and wide open spaces here in his.

Once underway, we had changeable weather with a good mix of sun, cloud and absolutely torrential downpours. The clouds add so much to the atmosphere in the glens, as can be seen below.

 

I loved every minute of the drive and was very happy to be able to leave the driving in Alan's capable hands, take in the breathtaking scenery and listen to his amusing stories once again.

We studied about the battle of Glen Coe at school (a few years ago)  so it was great to refresh my memory. I think I would have done better in History if I had been told the details in such an interesting manner.  Here is this fantastic glen!

 

And at the bottom of the pass a gorgeous lake with spectacular views and a name I would never dare to pronounce, even after several wines!

 

 

As we neared Plockton, our absolutely charming home for 2 nights, we went over a pass, at the summit of which were dozens of lovingly made cairns. How magnificent with the backdrop of mountains and lochs.

 

I can't help thinking that life would suit me here, but then again we have been remarkably lucky with the weather. Apparently last year they rarely saw the sun or the mountain peaks. We even managed to see the peak of Ben Nevis, Britain's highest mountain, before a band of fast- moving black cloud totally engulfed it and then shed its watery load on us - luckily not far to run to the bus!

Tomorrow, the Isle of Skye. Here a glorious preview showing the highly contentious  bridge linking it to the mainland.

 

It looks a breathtaking area, so we will hope our run of luck with the weather continues. If not, I am sure it will still be a brilliant day , full of new and fascinating places, with a great group of 15 people from America, Australia, Romania, and Ireland, not to mention Guni from Norway/Switzerland, Alan from Scotland and me ( England/NZ).

Golden sands and turqoise seas together with perfect weather - where could this be ?

 

Voting day on staying in or leaving the E U. Good day to get away from television coverage and head to the islands, like the gull who hitched a ride most of the way to Mull.

This entire June trip has changed my mind about Britain. Wales, England and now Scotland - all brilliant destinations. Ireland too, but I haven't been there this time. I now consider myself really spoilt to have lived and worked in 3 of the most beautiful countries in the world - Great Britain, New Zealand and Switzerland.

We were not sure how we would spend our half day on Iona, but as soon as we arrived there was no doubt that it was a day for walking and the outdoors rather than a visit to the famous abbey and museum. The brilliantly colourful fields were the first of many fantastic attractions.

 

And then we turned a corner at the end of a farm track to see this absolutely unforgettable sight.

  A tropical island  one might think perhaps? No, it is probably one of the most spectacular beaches I have ever seen, and it is on the 4 miles by 4 miles island of Iona, Gaelic for island od God. What breathtaking views, unbelievably good weather, anazing colours of both rocks and sea, plus such a feeling of tranquility that time seemed to stand still. It was stunning.

 

Look at those rocks glistening under the incoming tide. At one end of the beach the yellow and green tones were prevalent as you can see above and at the other the blues and reds. Sadly the photos don't really do the rich colours justice.

 

 

On the other side of the island, the views and beaches were equally breathtaking!

 

Definitely another place to add to my bucket list as a return trip, especially as you have to pass through the magnificent island of Mull to get there and we Sadly had no real time to explore there. I was lucky again , however, to be at the front of the van so had fantastic views.

 

but next time I will hire a car, though the roads are incredibly narrow and one lane. Mull has a wild and rugged landscape with lots of fresh and sea water lochs surrounded by many 1000 metre plus peaks. Pretty awesome, in fact.

 

Unfortunately all good things have to come to an end, but not without a bit of a laugh, at an ancient nunnery, and, of course, a language lesson.

 

I am not sure how often I will need the above expressions. The next may be more useful

 

Homeward bound - weary yet very contented, with the silvery evening skies to finish the day , absolutely perfectly once again .

 

The real WOW factor

Wow, wow and more! I had really forgotten how breathtakingly beautiful Scotland is. It has risen to the top of my 2017 bucket list. I will have to come back!

I was lucky enough to be in the front of our minibus today. It was simply incredible scenery!

 

Actually I even  started getting quite homesick for New Zealand. There are really striking similarities, particularly regarding landscape and the lack of villages and towns along the way. Kilometres of the most dramatic scenery imagineable and wide open spaces. More traffic for sure, but no stress. The people seem very laid back too, service always with a smile,  and changeable but luckily generally very pleasant weather.

Thankfully it was cloudy because the ominous dark clouds over the lochs and castles added to the mystical atmosphere.

 

Lunch stop at Luss, Loch Lomond. The depth of colour was spectacular, as it was later at this castle near Inverarry.

 

Talk about sinister! However, the surrounding area was stunningly beautiful, particularly when the sun peeped through the cloud lighting up the lush, green pastures 

 

Arrival into Oban was fabulous. We have been exceedingky lucky with the weather, for sure! 

 

The group of 15 in our mini van seem very friendly and the driver and guide, Alan, is brilliant. He does his best to carry out all requests, is very laid back if we want longer somewhere, is highly knowledgeable about the many historic events and royal families and is also hilariously funny, with some great tales. I think it will be a super trip. 

Tomorrow we are leaving really early for Mull and Iona. I am hoping that the old wives' tale of 'red sky at night shepherds' delight' will be correct.

 

 

Good night 😀

Edinburgh

Another fantastic day in this truly spectacular city. Even as a teenager, I never ceased to marvel at the sight of the castle perched on top of the hill , overlooking the city and its magnificent surroundings.

 

I have often thought that Edinburgh's location is similar to that of Christchurch, surrounded by hills and also very close to the sea. It is such a brilliant combination. Views from the Castle were really stunning, thanks to the very non-Scottish weather.

 

We, Guni and I, made the most of the day. Whilst she took a free city tour, I headed up to the top of the hill you can see in the middle of the photo above, Calton Hill. I must  have been there before when I worked here, but I just didn't remember it. How one could have firgotten such magnificent sights, I don't know.

To the north  the view of the Firth of Forth

 

And to the south the extinct volcano, Arthur's Seat, which looms over Holyrood Palace. 

 

Just in case you are missing the language lessons, I was delighted to find some really fantastic proverbs on the wall of the brand new parliament buildings.

 

How very true - hence the short texts and lots of photos.

I also loved the play on words here!

And to finish off, the sign for the toilets at the fantastic restaurant where we ate lunch made me chuckle. 

 

 

We finished off the day in the Castle, making the most of the breathtaking views all around us. What a special place this is.

Tomorrow we hit the road 😀

Edinburgh

After just over a week in Wales, a week in England, I am now in Scotland, where campaigning to remain in the EU seems to be very strong! Will be an interesting week for sure!

Home again, in the third major home in my life, Edinburgh. I spent two crazy years here from the age of 19 being taught all I know about drinking 😳

It was a crazy time, enjoying the first years away from home and very strict father, and working my first serious working years as hotel receptionist at the then Grosvenor Hotel , now the Hilton. I can't say it looked much different in the reception area, though I would hope the rooms do. It was great to be back at reception, on the other side, just chatting to girls the same age I had been when I was there. I hope I was as pleasant as they were !

 

One great memory I have of my time there was of sending a regular travelling sales rep to his room, only to be phoned minutes later to be thanked for the very attractive red-head he had found sitting in his bath 😊 seems housekeeping had forgotten to lock the connecting bathroom!

The sun is shining here and forecast looks quite good. It would be great to tour in good weather, but Guni and I will take it as it comes. Day in this beautiful city of Edinburgh tomorrow.