Scotland - Edinburgh, St. Andrews, Aberdeen, Inverness, Fort William

We arrived in Edinburgh and got a shuttle to our car rental provided by Arnold Clark. We walked to the car park 1, called the rental agency, and they sent a shuttle directly to us. After we got our car (be prepared to drive on the opposite side of the road AND the opposite side of the car), we drove to find parking near our AirBnB in Edinburgh. Parking can be tricky, so do your research on the nearest free parking. After we checked in, we explored the city on foot. We visited the Royal Mile and Victoria Street. It stays light outside late into the night during the summer here. We found something to eat and ended our evening at the Boozy Beaver. The people were so warm and welcoming! We never felt like outsiders or tourists. We went back to Dean Village, where we stayed for the night.

We left Edinburgh and headed to Anstruther for the award-winning fish and chips at Anstruther Fish Bar. Afterwards, we went to St. Andrews for a cathedral/castle/golf course walk. We walked through the town and on the beach where Chariots of Fire was filmed. We stood on the bridge of the golf course that Jack Nichlaus has a picture standing on. We visited the golf shop, which is a must for any golf lover. We left there and headed to Aberdeen. We walked around Old Aberdeen and ate at the Bobbin Pub. We stayed in an AirBnb cottage right beside a lighthouse. It had a hot tub and it was pristine clean and the views were gorgeous. The following day we visited Dunnottar Castle (stunning views), Stonehaven and its beach, and we ate at The Dunes Restaurant and Bar at Trump International, Scotland. The food was absolutely amazing and the restaurant and surround areas are beautiful. After dinner, we headed to Seal Beach and watched up close as the seals floated back and forth in the water. It was a dream come true for a marine life lover! There is a paid car park and you walk through dunes to the beach. There were just a couple of people there due to how late it was and there were no seals on the beach, but all floating in the water, super curious about us!

Afterwards, we headed West to Dunkeld. On the way, we stopped by Craigevar Castle, which did not disappoint. You can walk the grounds for free or you can pay for a tour. We got beautiful pictures there and visited the gift shop. We continued traveling to Dunkeld, where stayed for the night. You can walk the small town, go for a stroll down by the river, take a walk around the cathedral, and visit one of the small local pubs for the evening. We stayed in an AirBnB called Perth and Kinross, which was a private room and bathroom with a shared kitchen. The hostess was lovely and there was free parking on the street right outside our accommodations.

We booked a canyoning trip near Dunkeld with Splash Canyoning Scotland. It was FRIGID, but exhilarating. Our guide was wonderful and they provided all of the gear we needed. We were a part of a small group that went that day. After our canyoning adventure, we drove to Drumnadrochit and stayed at the Kilmore Farmhouse. We could walk down a trail and reach part of Loch Ness. The following day, we visited the Loch Ness Exhibition Centre, ate at the Drumnadrochit Hotel (second story with a fantastic view) visited Urquhart Castle and had a Celtic handfasting ceremony performed for me and my husband. It was phenomenal and I highly recommend for all couples. It was magical.

On this day, we booked a trip on the Jacobite Steam Train in Fort William. We are huge Harry Potter fans, so this was a must! It is a round trip train ride, so you will park near the train station and will return later. We booked first class and had delicious tea and cookies both ways. We were given a chance to get off the train and have lunch and visit a Harry Potter shop and other surrounding shops, and then get back on the train for the return ride. You cross over the Glenfinnan Viaduct, which was spectacular. We walked around downtown Fort William, which had beautiful buildings and great shops. We stayed at an AirBnB not far from the train station and ate at a local eatery that is part of a golf club that we were able to walk to from our accommodations.

We left and headed to the Glenfinnan Viaduct to see the steam train cross. Check the times for the steam train crossing or else you'll miss it. Get there early because many people go for the stunning photo op! We then began our trip South back towards Edinburgh where we will depart in a couple days. We stopped in Balquhidder to make wedding rings with a silversmith in a quaint little cottage. We booked this activity through AirBnB and it is one of our favorite things to date! My husband wears the ring he made as his wedding ring and I wear mine on my right hand. The silversmith was so patient and such a great teacher. Everything was hands on and we did all the work. I highly recommend doing this if you love handcrafted jewelry. We then made our way to Stirling where we visited the castle there. The gardens were spectacular. We also visited Falkirk Wheel and the Kelpies. I highly recommend visiting the Kelpies as late as possible because they are best seen at night when the lights can be seen from within. Because it never really gets dark in the summer, you'll likely have to stay until 11 or midnight to get the best photo. We stayed until about 10:30 and I'm still happy with what we got. We spent our last night at the Macdonald Hotel and Spa. They had an indoor pool, spa amenities, and a restaurant.

We left the Macdonald Hotel and Spa early and headed to Glasgow to visit the cathedral there. We also walked around the cathedral and around the cemetery, which was elevated and gave us an amazing view of the cathedral. Afterwards, we headed back towards Edinburgh and returned our rental car to Arnold Clark. They gave us a shuttle ride back to the airport and we departed for Florida. So long, Scotland! We will see you again!