Ahh I remember it well, I Do! Twas the royal wedding weekend (yes I am a little un-updated with this blogging) At last minute I was informed of the bank holiday creating a 4 day weekend for us Londoners. I had no real interest in the Royal Wedding with… whats their names? So I decided to do what I came here to do and travel. 2 days notice on a bank holiday makes for some very, very expensive flights! Most trips outside the UK were booked out or expensive so I decided on Scotland.

This decision was basically made on the Thursday evening and I would be leaving on the Friday morning. A new way of travel for me, that’s for sure! My travel normally consist of plans, spreadsheets, research and much ahead of time booking. The only way available to Scotland was by coach… a 13 bus trip to Inverness where I had only Friday nights accommodation when I arrived. Everything else was booked out. I had a trip to Edinburgh on my way back to London to break up the trip back. So no accommodation in Edinburgh either mind you. I wont lie, I was scared, I didn’t want to be sleeping on park benches, or go all the way to Scotland with no itinerary. but I pressed confirm on the bus booking and made the leap!

It was a very pretty drive, from the window of the bus, I watched the rolling green hills that seem to pleasantly go on forever, all the different shades of green. Is there anything more appealing to the eye then natures colour pallet. I love how smiles will slowly creep on my face when im traveling to a new destination, and I start seeing stereotypical, picturesque images, sheep, dark, dirty brick houses with chimneys and charming wooden fences.

Inverness is NOT, by far NOT a scary place to be, specially after staying in the likes of downtown Romania, Athens and Naples. At 10pm however, getting off the bus by myself and being as unplanned as I was, I was a little scared, now being much more experienced of a traveler I would laugh at myself for being scared. The first hostel I stayed at was absolutely fantastic!!! Inverness Student Hotel felt so “homely” a real image of scotland for me. The receptionist knew I was expected to arrive, made sure I was okay since I was late mentioning she was getting worried, greeted me by name and made me feel like an individual, the common room was warm and cosy and the place had an overall friendly, great feel. I really do believe staying at this hostel made my trip so exceptional. I told the receptionist of my fears for not having a place to sleep tomorrow and whilst unfortunately they were booked out and it was too late to do anything at that time, she reassured me that everything would be fine and she would find somewhere for me to sleep tomorrow night.

So it was 10pm on a Friday night and I just arrived in Inverness after a 13 hour bus ride… what to do?! hit a local pub! and that I did. This was my first experience of the locals and by golly they are friendly! I was trying to find a certain local pub I had been recommended by “the bible” and the hostel, strolling around at 10pm at night with a map… (so geeky!) a local passer byer had helped me and by help I mean literally take me to the pub, rather then taking his groceries home as planned, completely going out of his way. The locals were ultra friendly. The culture of live music and packed pubs is just a lot of fun. Everyone talking to everyone shouting and cheersing pints of beer and glasses of whiskey.

The next day I had no real itinerary and didn’t know what there was to do around Inverness having not done my research, fortunately the friendly staff were good enough to help me out. Inverness in situated around the famous lochness river, So hey, why not take a cruise down the river and visit Mr Nessy! The friendly staff at the hostel even found me a bed in the hostel next door, all my worries were over and I was free to enjoy Inverness and take a look around before my cruise.

View from Castle Road

One of the best parts about traveling, I find to this very day is the random people you meet and how two complete strangers can bond as best freinds just from the love of travel and the place your in. I met another solo traveler and together we enjoyed a boat trip on the loch river and to the castle, taking touristy photos of the beautiful scenery and sipping whisky that we knew was just way to strong for us. It was a beautiful boat cruise with some fantastic views from the Urquhart castle and a lot of fun playing my tin whistle with my Scottish hat, sipping whiskey and chatting to fun, friendly locals.

Enjoying the cruise to my mate Nessy, the Scottish way!

The castle was basically old ruins up the top of a hill causing a very “highlands” feel. This was where I saw my first real drawbridge, well where one would of been anyway. whilst the castle was destroyed years and years ago, much of the castle still gives an image of how it used to be, not to mention spectacular views!

Inervess is known as the capital of the highlands, they even have a fascinating museum, which is free all about the history of the highlands, I recomend going to take a look, it gives you more of an insight to where you are and what you should see next. The highlands is a beautiful place that is stereotypically Scottish looking, Green everywhere! blue lakes and yellow flowers over hanging the river, not the same blue as in the Mediterranean of course, but still a nice blue, like an icy cold mysterious lake (one that Nessy lives in) I wish I could find a way to bring you the beautiful colours and feel of the highlands other then photos…

My flat mate had said Scotland is freezing and to take jackets… I just happened to be there on the hottest day of the year (with nothing but jackets! thanks flat mate.) The weather being how it was this called for some beers at a pub outdoors, the pubs were packed and not a seat in sight, we got creative, bought some cidar, beer and pringles from the local and headed to the beautiful Inverness castle!

Nothing like a picnic with pringles and cidar at a castle… doesnt happen everyday! especially when the police stop you and simply ask where your from and to have a nice day…. nothing like I expected! Again, very friendly locals! Couple of cidars at the castle and the next thing I know its more cidars with a huge group back at the hostel and before I know it we are all dancing to live scottish music, passing around the Scottish hat, stalking the locals in traditional gear for photos and drinking beers followed by tequila. Be sure to check out the review of Inverness Student Hotel for the juicy ending of that night!

A couple of my new travel mates were taking a drive the next day to some other parts of Scotland I really wanted to see and with the invitation there to join it was very tempting but unfortunately at that time I had not quite mastered the art of spare of the moment travel and though I started up in Inverness unplanned I was quick to accumulate some return plans and a return trip, so I was booked and paid for and wallowing my way back to London via Edinburgh. Had I of not been planned (apparently not being such a bad thing after all) I would of had the option to stay in Inverness another day or head to another awesome part of Scotland… I curse plans! Instead I miserably dragged my hung over body onto a long bus ride to Edinburgh, I was in no state to be traveling that morning!

Edinburgh

My return trip to Edinburgh was such a shame! I only had 2 half days to explore and basically have a rest before returning on a 10 hour bus ride. It was a shame because Edinburgh was beautiful city, by far one of the top cities I have been to, if only I had of explored it more. A return trip is needed! The sad unfortunet fact was the first half day was very much spent recovering from Invernesse’s big night, not to mention the usual find the hostel hassle that takes up way to much explore time. Though in saying that, everybody knows recovering means FOOD!!! and I recommend one place, without a doubt! Oink! Its a pork sandwich place, its cheap, quick and nasty but OMG it leaves you hanging for more! and of course try the traditional Haggis, personally I love it!

Haggis Pie!.. DO IT!

The much talked about Edinburgh castle I didnt go into but wish I had of, an amazing sight to be seen and apparently the one castle in europe that is worth paying to see, I dont know as yet but I do plan to return to see it.

Now I didnt want my entire experience in Edinbugh to be about recovery so I decide to climb Arthurs hill for some spectucular views! I did this and underestimated the toughnes of it. Silly me climbs this very steep hill in primark flats, hung over… It did make for some spectaulcar views and a beutiful sunset.

The next half day was spent walking around and taking in sights and simply getting ready to leave this wonderful part of the world. Oh and buying shortbread! it had to be done!…

The things I missed out on for not being planned such as climbing Ben Nevis in Fort Williams or doing the much anticipated Isle of Syke I was upset about…. but did I miss out?? looking back, I dont believe I did. Had I of planned I would not of met the people I did or done a loch ness river cruise, which would of been a total miss out, or have cidar on castle grounds, or learnt a little bit more about not planning… I probably would not of been hang over and there for missing out on Haggis and oink…. Total miss out! Had I of taken a plane instead of the bus I would of not seen the beautiful country side or read the most amazing book I have ever read “The invisible bridge” which started my interest in European history and understanding of the world war II. No Regrets!

In the end Scotland was a trip that took me out of my comfort zone and started to change the way I travel. I look back on my fears when I was traveling Scotland; having traveled a lot more now I realise those fears were.. well I wont say silly, but, the youth stage of my travel life ahead. I was scared to not have my next 5 chess moves planned but I see now they don’t need to be. Travel is about the things you see and do, the experiences you have (and any traveler will say good or bad) and the people you meet, it is the memories that stick in your head, (the nights you dont remember) and the things you learn.