The Rest of Scotland July 2019

I'm very behind. I've stopped trying to come up with creative titles because I just can't. All the descriptions are probs going to be short because I'm tired. But here we are. I'll also try to include more photos because there was a complaint (looking at you, Chris 😂). If you've read any or all of my posts, thank you. My writing sucks and these are mainly just for me to remember and my family to see what I'm up to. But thank you anyway 😊

SO. Pod hotels are cool. Like. I'd never thought to stay in one, but in Uig, we did just that. It was pretty tiny, especially with my roommate's luggage 😂 We had a couch, which could turn into a bed, a little table with two chairs, a bed, a tiny, tiny kitchen, and a really small bathroom. The bathroom was a wet room that you just pulled a curtain over the door and showered standing over the toilet. That was an adjustment. We had an amazing view from the front porch and it was just a short walk from the town.

The first morning on Skye, we headed to the Old Man of Storr. I'd driven past before, but we were never able to hike it. It's a pretty steep hike with a lot of loose gravel. I'm always slightly worried I'm going to slip and fall to my death and there were some particularly scary parts for me. I wish I wasn't so clumsy.

We got to the top, and we had hours to wander around. There's a tall bit where you can climb up and you have a view of the main rock and others standing around it. It's beautiful up there. Our group split up and wandered around different areas at different times but I basically ran back to the big tall bit so I could watch Ross pipe. Traveling with a piper is an experience y'all should definitely have. 

We had lunch not too far away and then drove around the island a bit to get back to the hotel. We got to drive past the Quiraing but didn't get to go, which I slightly sad about. The Quiraing is an amazing place and I didn't get enough time there last time. We basically had a quiet night in. They ordered and brought food back for us, which was nice after 4 hours of hiking around. The rest of the night, I worked. That was rough. It kind of put me into a bad mood and then I started to get really anxious. Worse than I've been in a very long time. The mood stuck with me through to the next morning, which was hard. But I survived. So that's all that matters.

The second full day on Skye, we went to the fairy pools. I'd been before, but it is so worth going to multiple times. On the way to the pools, we got to stop and see an adorable highland coo. And it was definitely a highlight (which is basically the entire trip. The entire trip is a highlight). 

Fairy Pools were amazing. I was in my anxious mood so I basically just power walked as far as I could by myself to try to clear my head. I turned around so I wouldn't have to worry about being late (because I HATE being late) back to the van. I met up with the group on the way down, but ended up walking faster and walking alone until Ross and Michael joined me. 

After the fairy pools, we headed to our lunch spot and a tour of the Talisker whisky distillery then to Portree where we had an hour or so to mooch around. I love Portree. It's so cute.

The rest of the night was spent packing up, visiting with the group, and having a mini photoshoot with the bright pink sunset from the front porch of the main lobby part of the pod hotel. 

The next morning, we got up super early and made our way to the Armadale ferry. It's the fastest way to get to Mallaig from the Isle of Skye. 

For the third time, I got to go to the Glenfinnan Viaduct. But this was the first time I was able to watch the train go over it. We went to a different viewpoint, which was like right underneath the viaduct. It was SO COOL. While we were waiting for the train, there was some sort of military fly over, which was really cool. 

After we watched the train, we went to the hotel across the way where we had tea and enjoyed the glorious sunshine.

We made our way to Kinlochleven after our tea break. We had a couple hours to do whatever we wanted and I should have gone to explore, but I really needed time to just chill. I sat in the bed and that was pretty much it until it was time to get ready for our final dinner with the group. I really should have explored Kinlochleven, I didn't get a postcard from there and that is one of the stops on the West Highland Way, which is my big adventure for next year.

I don't know the guy in this 👆 picture, but it turned out really good. Plus he is really nice to look at. Just saying.

We left Kinlochleven, went to Glencoe, where we took a whole bunch of photos. I love the three sisters in Glencoe. It's SO pretty. One day I want to hike around there, I've never had much time any of the three times that I have been. From there, we went to have a snack and I said my goodbyes to the Ross and everyone else in the other car. We headed back to Edinburgh where our car ate lunch together at a really good African restaurant. 

Travis and Ross, the whole of Breacans, put together a trip that was amazing. There were so many personal touches, the tour was well thought out, our group was SO good. There were a lot of laughs, I got to know so many people I never would have met without this tour, made new friends around the world, and stepped out of my comfort zone by going on this all by myself and I don't think there is anything that could have been done to make me feel more welcome. I love you guys so much. Thank you 🙏 for this amazing experience.

The second the tour ended and I said goodbye to everyone in my car, Travis and Michael walked me to the train station so I could meet another Bumble guy for a date in the hour I had before my train. His name was Justin and he was so great I'm thinking there might be another trip to Scotland this year to see him again 😊