Scottish Highlands

I just got back from a wonderful trip to the Scottish Highlands.  It is unspeakably beautiful and serene there.  I could just stay there forever, hiking around those giant mountains, playing in the lochs, and wading in the streams.   The trip was offered for all of Dalkeith House and most of us decided to go.  I am so glad that I did, it was by far my favorite trip of the semester.

First on Thursday, April 26th, we traveled to Doune Castle just outside of Stirling.  This castle was built in the late 14th.  I enjoyed running around the castle, climbing on the roof (shh....) and just learning the history.   After Doune Castle, I went to Glencoe and hiked all around that area in the huge mountains, filled with streams and sheep.  That night we stayed right outside Fort William, at the base of the tallest mountain in Great Britain, Ben Nevis.  The summit, at 1,344 metres (4,409 ft) above sea level, features the ruins of an observatory, which was permanently staffed between 1883 and 1904.  It takes 8 hours to hike up and down this mountain, so I didn't get the chance to do it, but someday I will go back and do it.  

Doune Castle

Hiking around 

Ben Nevis Beer, at Ben Nevis

Ben Nevis

On Friday, April 27th I saw Neptune's Staircase, but do to traffic I didn't get to stop and walk around the area, but Neptune's Staircase was still pretty neat.  After Neptune's staircase I visited Glenfinnan Viaduct.  Glenfinnan Viaduct is a railway bridge on the West Highland Line in Glenfinnan, Lochaber Highland, Scotland. It was built between 1897 and 1901. The viaduct overlooks the Glenfinnan Monument and the waters of Loch Shiel.  The main reason I am noting this amazing bridge is because it was used in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.  Next was a tour of Loch Ness and a search for Nessie, on a cruise around the loch.  After the boat ride, me and a few other brave souls decided to go swimming in Loch Ness.  It was around 40F outside and the water was even colder, seeing as Loch Ness is about 30 miles long, and around 1000 feet deep.  Then we had a visit to a Urquhart Castle, which was a pretty cool castle, but I have seen so many castles they all start to fade together.  

Loch Shiel

Glenfinnian Viaduct

Preparing to swim in Loch Ness

Swimming in Loch Ness

Snowing right after swimming! 

Saturday, April 28th, I visited Culloden Battlefield, which many of you will know from the film, Braveheart.  This was actually not a battle field used for what the movie portrays as a battle between Scotland and England, but rather the Jacobrites and the government.  Then that Afternoon, I went on a walk down the River Ness.  The River Ness has some very cute little islands in the middle of it that you can cross to by a footbridge.  It was a pleasant walk.  

The River Ness

The last day I spent in the highlands was Sunday, April 29th.  I visited For George, which is an amazing artillery fort that has a low profile and an amazing view of sea life.  Then I visited a small town called Pitlochery where I visited a huge dam and got chocolate ice cream!   After that I went to the Aberfeldy Distillery where they distill Aberfeldy 12 and Aberfeldy 21 single malt Scotch Whisky. The distillery is located where Perthshire's highest mountain, deepest loch, and longest glen meet, and is historically and geographically the 'Heart of Scotland'.  Many of you may know their whiskey in the states as Dewar's Whiskey, which they are also famous for in the states.  After that the last stop of the weekend was at the Hermitage in Dunkeld where there was a magnificent waterfall and beautiful scenery.    

Fort George

Aberfeldy Distillery

Aberfeldy Distillery

Hermitage Waterfall

  

Host Family Bonding

First I had a pretty good birthday, had to do a presentation for class, but got 100% way to go group! and then I went out to dinner for my birthday!  Yesterday (April 24th) I hung out with my host family all day! We went to the Borders and saw Dryburgh Abbey and Smailholm Tower.  These were pretty cool places to see.  Hannah and I had a lot of fun!  They also took us out to lunch and then made dinner for us! It was a wonderful day.  

Me at Dryburgh Abbey

 Dryburgh Abbey

Host Family Photo

Smailholm Tower

Great Britain Round Trip!

I know it's been a while since I have posted, but after you read this post you will surely know why!  It has been a whirlwind of activity these past couple of weeks.  First my parents came to visit me.  They arrived in Edinburgh on April 12th.  First I got them settled in their hotel, then took them to the Royal Mile for the tourist scene.  We went up and saw the Edinburgh castle.  After that we went to a the Scottish Weaving Co. where they had their first chance at seeing how the lambs wool products were made.  Then we went to a Scotch Whiskey tasting, followed by some dinner, and a drink at a local pub.

On Friday, April 13th we hopped on a train and headed down to Salisbury.  While in Salisbury, England, we visited Stonehenge and the surrounding area.  We stayed at a wonderful Bed & Breakfast called the Wheatsheaf in Wilton.  Here I learned that Wilton was the old capitol during the time Stonehenge was in use.  This was pretty neat!

Stonehenge

It was a beautiful day on April 14th and we spend the day in London.  I showed them Big Ben, Parliament, and every bridge.  We saw every single bridge because we walked the entire river walk of the River Thames.  It was a day well spend in London.  That night we headed to our hotel in Leicester (pronounces LESTER).

Tower Bridge, London

April 15th we spend the day in Leicester with Gary and Joyce, friends whom Mom and Kurt had met on their Alaska trip.  This was really nice, and relaxing. That afternoon we took a train back to Edinburgh. However the hotel didn't have a good breakfast, and since we were visiting Gary and Joyce, we didn't have time to eat.  This was HORRIBLE! We didn't end up eating until around 11pm that night, we were all hungry and a bit grumpy from that.

Leicester Squre

April 16th and 17th was relaxing.  We spent time on the Royal Mile.  We went shopping and I gave them a tour of Edinburgh and the surrounding area.  We visited the beautiful and magnificent Royal Botanic Gardens.  These were exquisite and highly enjoyable, that is if you don't get too lost!

Royal Botanic Gardens

April 18th was an eventful day! First, Kurt learned to drive on the wrong side of the road.  This was a little crazy and slightly terrifying, but by the end of his trip he was doing quite well!  We drove to the Isle of Skye.  This was beautiful, it is by far my favorite place in the world.  It has incredibly beautiful mountains, volcanoes, trees, wildlife, and sea water.  We took a glass bottom boat tour, which was well worth it.  I had the opportunity to see seals and all sorts of underwater creatures!

Lighthouse at Isle of Skye

Newest Mountains, Isle of Skye

On April 19th we visited Ferry Glen in Uig, on the Isle of Skye and saw most of the Island.  Then we went to the opposite side of the Scotland Highlands, and visited Dunrobin Castle (the Castle of Clan Sutherland).  We also took a tour of an organic micro brewery called "Black Isle Organic Brewery."  This was pretty neat and interesting.

Dunrobin Castle 

Sutherland County Sign 

Ferry Pool, Isle of Skye

April 20th we headed back to Edinburgh and spent time there before Mom and Kurt left the next morning at 5:30am.











 

Hunger Games...then...Dunbar followed by a... fair...in my front yard

First I would begin with my wonderful viewing of the Hunger Games, it was so much fun! I went with the ginger twins, Hannah and Gabby.  We got giant ice-cream dishes (they can eat ice-cream in the theatre)!  It was amazing!  Next, Dunbar...but the story of my weekend begins on Thursday, when I was kicked by an evil pony.  It was so bad that walking was almost impossible which made my required visit to the National Museum of Scotland for class on Friday very difficult.  Then I rested that night so that I would be ready for Dunbar on Saturday.  On Saturday the 7th, I went with Erin and her brother, Kevin, to Dunbar.  This had to much hype from other people in the house, however it was still beautiful and fun.  John Muir is very famous here, they have a park, a sea-walk, roads, and everything for him! That part was neat.  I also saw a sea lion!!  Then there was the Dalkeith Country Fayre, located on the front lawn of the palace;  Yep the title says it all.  It was pretty cool, it had a ferris wheel, jousting, archery, sheep, hounds, delicious food, and a craft fair.  I enjoyed spending time here.  Overall it was a pretty decent Scottish weekend.  

Hunger Games!

My bruise on my leg

Sea Lion!

Dunbar

Dunbar Fishing 

Railway Station

Edinburgh 

Lambs at the Fayre

Edinburgh International Science Festival

Yesterday I went to an event at Edinburgh's International Science Festival.  I went to a talk called "Feeding 7 billion."  While I was there I learned some interesting facts and thought you too might be interested.  The panelists talked about an advance in husbandry, crop improvement, and pest, disease & waste control all contribute to food supply keeping it's pace.  They talked about cultural issues and not wasting resources.  Some developed crops could have duel uses such as the rice crop with vitamin A genetically modified to be in it.  I learned that not all big farms are bad, meaning that yes super-farms are not sustainable but they are necessary in some parts of the world to feed the large population, however there should not be any more super-farms established else where.  There are limits to large systems, the UK theoretically could become self-sufficiant, but Scotland has a huge export market.  People need to start thinking by this motto: Think local, act local.  Farmers markets have gone into a decline, because good food is expensive food.  This makes me sad, because in Madison it has always been such a treat to go to the farmers market.  I remember working it for Carandale Farm, the hustle and bustle of morning walkers picking the best fruits and veggies.  I hope that I never see it go on the decline, because it is a wonderful farmers market.  It was an interesting discussion, the fact that our planet is going to need to go from supporting 7 billion people to 9 billion by 2050 is terrifying.  I hope to get to some more discussions as the festival continues over the next 2 weeks!      


www.sciencefestival.co.uk

Hollyrood Park

As I had mentioned earlier in my blog, my favorite place in Edinburgh lies just beyond the city.  It is Hollyrood Park.  This park has the beautiful hills and lochs that Scotland is famous for.  I love going here and just sitting and thinking.  I also love to take a sandwich and having a picnic on the slope of the hill, just hidden enough from the wind, but still in the sunshine.  It is wonderful.  Here are a few of my more recent pictures to visits to Hollyrood Park.