Scotland

We spent two and a half weeks in Scotland in the month of July. We started by driving from Manchester, England to Edinburgh (a nearly 4-hour drive). This was our travel path: Edinburgh - Carnoustie - Inverness - Portree (Isle of Skye) - Fort William - Oban - Glasgow.

I felt like we were visiting another planet. There are endless green hills, lush trees, and unique geologic formations. The locals are friendly (as we've found all over the U.K.) and they are great to talk to. I found most museums in Scotland offer free admission. This is not something I'm accustomed to as an American. What a treat!

I have some random travel tips if you visit Scotland in the summer:

• I would spend a number of days in Edinburgh. We had 4 nights here and I would've been disappointed with less (in fact, I hope to visit again someday)

• The hikes & viewpoints on Isle of Skye are unmatched. We stayed in Portree - which was perfect. There doesn't seem to be a lot of choices in accommodations here so book as much in advance as possible or you probably won't find anything. And... be prepared for midge season. We didn't see 1 midge the first couple of days we were there but on our third day, we had to wear our repellant and nets on our faces. In Portree, I need to recommend Caberfeidh Bar & Restaurant for dinner (pizza is good!) and Mackenzie's Bakery for a breakfast pastry or a decadent donut (or both!!)

• Highland cows - we visited a couple of working farms that allow you to see the cows up close. It's a quick, fun activity to break up your day of driving, hiking, or visiting castles

• Fort William - we only spent one night here and didn't do any hiking but if you are a hiker, you need to spend more time here for Ben Nevis Mountain (the town is full of hikers and you'll feel their energy in the air!)

• We only took one distillery tour (Oban) - it was great! There are so many distilleries in Scotland so surely you can find one that fits your itinerary or that suits your taste if you are a Scotch enthusiast

• Glasgow - we decided to book our accommodation outside of the city and were so happy with how this turned out (sometimes you just want to stretch out in a bigger space and not have to worry about car parks and crowds). Lanark is a cozy, small town that has a train station with several trains going to and from Glasgow Central all day long (less than 1 hour away)

If you are reading this, I hope it means you are planning a summer Scotland trip! I am so thankful for the time we spent there