Our Scotland Trip 2013

Chris and I are back from our trip to Scotland with Flex and Nealie.

There is much to relate, but I want to start with a quick summary.

We flew out of Detroit Metro and after a hectic "layover" (more of a "sprint to the next flight" over) in Amsterdam, we landed in Edinburgh, where we got the first stamps in our brand new passports (that's a whole other story).

Our first stay was at something that used to be called The Bank Hotel (it is in an old bank). We suspected trouble when the cabbie had no idea where that hotel was. Following directions Flex gave her, she delivered us to a place named "The Inn on the Mile" that looked suspiciously closed. There was newspaper covering all the windows, and no signs of life. A quick phone call and Flex was able to confirm that we were in the right place, but the hotel had changed ownership and changed its name. The pub on the bottom floor was under renovation due to the change in ownership.

We went to the Edinburgh Castle, did a "Ghost Tour", and had High tea, among many other adventures in Edinburgh before picking up a rental car and heading to the isles.

Our first Island paradise was the "St. Columba" hotel on Iona.

While on Iona we caught a boat to Lunga and Staffa in the Treshnish Isles. Lunga is all about Puffins, Staffa is all about natural Basalt formations, including something called "Fingal's Cave".

We departed Iona and headed next to the Isle of Skye, where we stayed at the Isles Inn in Portree.

After that, Loch Ness, the "Clansmen" hotel. I actually advise avoiding Loch Ness. Although we had a great time, it is the most "touristy" place we visited. We got out to see Urquhart Castle, which is an impressive ruin.

We then went to Castle Stuart, a formerly ruined castle that has been rebuilt into a hotel, then back to the Inn on the Mile for a night before our flight home.