Enchanting Highlands

“I remembered that the real world was wide, and that a varied field of hopes and fears, of sensations and excitements, awaited those who had the courage to go forth into its expanse, to seek real knowledge of life amidst it’s perils.”

~ Jane Eyre

This remains an extraordinary trip to me; one because this very trip inspires the name of this blog - a soothing Hindi song of the same name kept playing in my head all the time when I was visiting the Highlands. And a year later when I finally decided to pen my travel stories, I just knew the perfect name.

Second, because I have never yet experienced such a beautiful landscape which makes me realise that the world is a beautiful place with so much to see, motivating me to keep travelling no matter what.

First Stop - Edinburgh!

I owe my first visit to Edinburgh to this trip. I had opted for a travel coach service to go to the Isle of Skye and Edinburgh was our meeting point. My love story with Edinburgh continues ever since.

The best way to see the Highlands is via the road if you can rent a car, even better. At the time, a tour coach service was the most affordable option available to me & it was pretty fantastic since I don't think I would have learned so much about Scottish history otherwise.

My first look of the majestic Edinburgh Castle

All aboard to the Highlands….

It was a 2-3 day trip and we took a halt at various places before reaching our destination. Our day one breakfast stop was at the Dunkled Cathedral. ‘Dun’ means fort and ‘Keld’ refers to Caledonians. Thus, meaning the fort of the Caledonians.

What interested me more than the cathedral was the river Tay behind it. It was a first glimpse of the many wondrous sights I was to set my eyes upon, in this foggy yet dreamy, cold yet beautiful journey.

With a yum cranberry & cheese toastie and some coffee, we’re off to our next stop - Tomatin Distillery.

It’s unfair to be in Scotland and not have a wee dram of the good stuff.

Tomatin Distillery is one of the largest distilleries in Highlands, producing single malt scotch whisky in a village of the same name. The distillery provides a tour of how their whisky is produced along with some tastings.

Did you know, the original spelling of Whisky is without the ‘e’? That is how the Scotts prefer it. So if you’re referring to the drink made in Scotland, you call it ‘whisky’ & if you are referring to the drink made in Ireland, then ‘whiskey’ can be considered correct.

A whisky is called a single malt when it is produced in one distillery, even though it may contain whisky from different casks.

My favourite was the rustic barrel room which had whisky stored for years & I found one as old as me!

There is also a little shop to bring some of the ‘water of life’ (acqua vitae) back home!

Reaching Inverness, the Capital of Highlands

Moving further towards the Isle, the second morning of the trip was no less admirable than the previous one as we stopped at the ever famous Eilean Donan Castle.

Eilean means ‘Island’ in Scottish Gaelic & Donan is after the 6th century Irish Saint, Bishop Donan. True to its name, the castle stands in the water, just like a little island. It is situated at a point where the three Lochs (Lake) meet: Loch Duich, Loch Long & Loch Alsh.

A footbridge to the castle was constructed after its restoration in the 20th century.

One of the most important castles in Scotland, Eilean Donan Castle has witnessed Scottish history unfold over several centuries while enduring four restorations. Now, the castle is open for the public to let them cultivate their knowledge of its rich history.

One of my favourite pictures from this trip!

History lessons don't just stop here as next, we visited the most significant battlefield in Scottish history - Culloden Moor.

The battlefield witnessed the legendary final encounter between the Scottish Jacobite Rising and the troops of the British government, bringing a tragic end to the former’s attempts at winning the British throne for the House of Stuart, the royal house of Scotland.

Culloden moor is a massive field & a true testament of the valour of the armies who fought there. A walk on the field will lead you to the gravestones in the honour of those soldiers who lost their lives in the battle. There are also two red flags situated to show the marching point of both the armies. If you’re interested in delving more into its history, you can visit the exhibition situated there.

The Picturesque Isle of Skye

Have you ever had experiences which are just difficult to explain? Do you feel you cannot do enough justice when narrating that alluring affair? I feel just the same! But I will certainly give it a fair attempt.

The largest island in the Inner Hebrides, Isle of Skye is nearly a 2-hour hike up to The Old Man of Storr (more or less depending on your hiking capabilities). The scenic view that awaits you atop is magical!

A lil bit of rough terrain with rainy/snowy weather makes it a slippery & a challenging trek so be mindful of wearing appropriate footwear. I am not much of a hiker, there were times when I wanted to give up. This experience has taught me good things await those who march towards their goals diligently even in the face of hurdles. And I was rewarded with light snow on my way back down to the coach which made the entire experience even more magical!

This experience has made me open for more hikes as I have realised a good trek offers more than just good views...it extends some mindfulness & tranquillity to the soul!

Plan your hike in the earlier hours of daylight & do check the weather forecasts for the day. And remember to click loads of pictures!!

On the way back home

It is said a journey is more beautiful than the end destination, in my case, both were good competition. The Highlands is charming & full of surprises at every turn.

The road towards home was juxtaposed between snowy mountains and picturesque views of the lake..so clear & pure that it reflected a mirror-view of the spectacular beauty it surrounded.

We drove along the hillside where Skyfall, the famous James Bond movie, was shot.

We bid goodbye to the Highlands at the Commando Memorial in Spean Bridge. The memorial is built in the honour of the soldiers who fought in World War II, & was also one of the training centres for them.

The place also hosts a stunning view of Scotland’s highest peak, Ben Nevis.

With that, a couple of breathtaking stops, witnessing hiding spots of Scottish armies & cheering to the Scottish post-war victory song sung by our tour guide, I headed back to my University, with a much-deserved break & a promise to always keep exploring!

The trip was a first of many - travelling to a faraway, exotic location without family, staying in hostels & sharing rooms with strangers, finding vegetarian food in a land of Haggis, hiking for 2 hours; halfway on my own & witnessing first-hand the beautiful Mother Nature which I usually would see only in the movies or on the geographic channels. This Highlands experience will always be special.

Follow me on Instagram, @l__safarnama__l