Category: Scotland

North Berwick, Scotland

Just a 33 minute train ride outside of Edinburgh, is a wonderful town called North Berwick
(Pronounced: burr ik, or ber ik depending upon who you ask).

We arrived at low tide and spent about an hour exploring the beach.  The rocks are covered in different types of sea weed and some sea life (snails, etc).  They are on different areas of the beach and extend quite a way.  During high tide, they are completely covered by water.

We could see the Firth of Forth, Bass Rock and other islands in the distance.  Continue reading North Berwick, Scotland

Arthur’s Seat – Edinburgh, Scotland

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Just behind Hoolyrood Palace is a nice park and a series of “mountains” and cliffs.  The highest of these is called Authur’s Seat.  We set out from our hotel, walked 1/2 mile down the Royal Mile (downhill) to the park.

If you are smart, you would stop at the information center and get a map of the trails to the top.  We stopped here after we descended so we could see where we had gone.

Continue reading Arthur’s Seat – Edinburgh, Scotland

United Airlines

We flew United Airlines to Scotland because their route and timing worked best for us.  We boarded in Jacksonville Florida, had a 4 hour layover in Newark NJ and arrived in Glasgow Scotland at 7 am.  When returning home, we flew from Edinburgh to Jacksonville with a 4 hour layover in Chicago.

Jacksonville Check-In: Although we completed the on-line pre-check-in, we were required to check-in at the airport because it was an international flight.  The check-in process was not intuitive and not easy for people who are not familiar with the machines and for people who have a visual impairment.  One person at the United counter was very nice and helped us to complete check-in at the kiosk, her name was Charmika.  I am not sure why there are kiosks when every person checking in required assistance with the kiosks.  Perhaps the kiosks need to be re-worked so they are easier to use.

Continue reading United Airlines

Royal Botanical Gardens – Edinburgh, Scotland

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

We walked downhill all the way from the city center to the Royal Botanical Gardens.  For some reason we went to the main gate instead of the East Gate, which means we walked the entire length of the garden on the outside of the fence.  We did get to see part of the park beside it as we walked by,  it looked like a flat area.

They sell garden maps for 1 pound.  The garden has many signs but if you don’t Continue reading Royal Botanical Gardens – Edinburgh, Scotland

Taste of Scotland Dinner – Edinburgh

This show was offered as an optional excursion on our tour.

When we disembarked the coach, we walked around a bit and looked at the grounds and the peacock.  After the piper played for us (he reminded us of a friend from church – Gene), we entered the building and found our seat.  We had 2 bottles of red wine, 2 bottles of white wine and tap water on the table.

Continue reading Taste of Scotland Dinner – Edinburgh

Scotland’s Sheep Farm & Sheep Dogs

We got to visit a sheep farm today. The farm has over 3000 sheep and has quite a bit of land.  We only saw the hillside and the area where they did the demonstration.

It was chilly and raining a little bit so we were all in our jackets with umbrellas.  Just as our tour guide, April, predicted – the sheep didn’t care, the dogs didn’t care and the shepherd ignored it.

The dogs are so anxious to round up the sheep!  They are low to the ground and look like they are going to attack but they don’t.  They run so fast! Continue reading Scotland’s Sheep Farm & Sheep Dogs

Loch Ness

The sun rises about 5 am.  Mom likes to wake up with natural light so we kept the curtain open a little bit – woke me right up, not her.

Today we drove through some beautiful country.  Ft. Augustus has 5 locks that look like stairs for boats, it takes them about 60 minutes to traverse the locks.  We saw some small canoe type boats and some larger boats as well. Continue reading Loch Ness

Ballachulish, Isle of Skye, Armadale Castle, Glenfinnan

I admit it, I am cold.  No, I am freezing cold.  But only when the wind blows and it is raining.  The weather changes here pretty quickly so when I am wishing I brought my ski jacket and gloves, I know I will be ok in an hour or so.  But, overall I underestimated how cold this Florida girl would be in Scotland’s May weather. Continue reading Ballachulish, Isle of Skye, Armadale Castle, Glenfinnan