A Scottish Adventure
If you’ve been following me on social media at all, you’ll know that Scotland is my favorite country in the whole world, and the Scottish Highlands are my favorite part of Scotland. Breathtaking mountains, mystical lochs, and fluffy Highland “coos” — what’s not to love?
My first time truly experiencing the magic of the Scottish Highlands was on a Haggis Adventures tour with my brother back in 2018. They describe their tours as “an epic road trip with new friends, where laughs are guaranteed, and wild antics are inevitable.” Between that and their apt hashtag, #staywild, we knew it would be the perfect tour for us.
We were meeting the rest of our family in Ireland just a few days later, so we had a tight schedule and wanted to fit in as much as possible. We chose the 3-day Skye High tour, which promised Nessie hunting, hiking on the Isle of Skye, and Scottish castles.
Day One:
We met up with our bus and tour guide at the Haggis Adventures tour office on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. It was super easy to find, and the check in process was quick. We rolled out of Edinburgh to the sounds of traditional Scottish music, our guide’s increasingly unbelievable tales, and much laughter. Then the adventure truly began! We saw the beautiful Dunkeld Cathedral, searched high and low for Nessie on the banks of Loch Ness, and finally made it to the charming village of Portree on the Isle of Skye that evening.
Day Two:
This was my favorite day of the trip. We spent the day exploring the magical Isle of Skye, hiking up to the Old Man of Storr, dunking our faces in freezing streams, and listening to stories of Scotland’s past. While I have no idea what the tourist traffic might look like in summer, in the off-season, we had the island to ourselves, and it was 100% worth the hype. I’ve traveled back to Skye many times since this trip, and it’s always been absolutely incredible.
Day Three:
Our last day was bittersweet. We were sad to go, and the misty skies and dramatic views seemed intent on melancholy too. We visited the breathtaking landscape of Rannoch Moor and learned about the tragic history of Glencoe before arriving back in Edinburgh. Our guide was kind enough to drop us off at the airport to ensure we’d make our flight in time. Onwards to Ireland!
I can’t say enough good things about Scotland. The people are joyful, the landscapes otherworldly, and there’s something new around every corner — bit of magic, perhaps, just out of reach.
