August 27, 2016 - Tanya's Magical Anniversary Trip - Day 11 - Scottish Highlands

Elisa's Daily Scoop

The Scottish Highlands

Good day!!

A lovely Saturday here on Long Island!!  The sun is shining, although I'm not sure what the temps are like and how much humidity there is, since I haven't as yet ventured outside.

Can you believe it's the last week of August!!! Back to school right around the corner BUT, we still have another week to go!

Next week, is going to be a very busy one!  The girls will be riding Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  

They have some make up days to do, so Mom will be on the road quite a bit!

Next Friday, we have a special day - going to the Hampton Classic.  My girls are super stoked since they have a number of friends who will be showing in this world-famous equestrian event!

Well, it's obvious that Tanya is having her share of internet woes throughout Europe.

Today she is in the Scottish Highlands.  

​How familiar are you with this location?  

From initial research and pictures, I was truly taken and wanted to tell you a bit about it...

(credit: pinterest)

The Scottish Highlands are a mountainous region encompassing northwest Scotland with Loch Ness in the center.

The term Highlands has its basis in history.  There is also a Lowlands as well.

The Highlands are a historic region of Scotland, which was dominated by the Gaels and their Gaelic language and culture while the lowlands were Scottish. 

In Scottish Gaelic, the region is known as the Gàidhealtachd, which literally means "the place of th Gaels" because it was traditionally the Gaelic-speaking part of Scotland.  

Today, the language is now largely confined to the Outer Hebrides.

Inverness, the administrative centre and traditional capital of the Highlands (c)wikipedia.org

The Scottish Highlands is very sparsely populated, with many mountain ranges dominating the region, and includes the highest mountain in the British Isles, Ben Nevis.
 
The dividing line between the Highlands and the Lowlands was everything west from the Great Glen (Inverness to Loch Lynnhe and the islands) and roughly 50 miles of land east of the Great Glen.

Ben Nevis from the path to the CIC Hut alongside the Allt a' Mhuilinn (credit: wikipedia.org)

Now, ironically, August is one of the best times to visit Scotland - particularly, Edinburgh (where Tanya was earlier this week) and the Highlands.

In fact, according to Nic McCormack of Bloomberg Pursuits, "Highland Games throughout the region showcase Scottish culture with feats of brawn and might, from strongmen sports such as hammer throwing (seen here), tossing the caber, backhold wrestling, and tug-o-war, to field and track events such as hill running as well as Highland dancing and Scottish piping competitions.

It’s thought the games are rooted in the 11th century, when King Malcolm III organized a hill race to find a speedy personal messenger. The Cowal Gathering in Argyll (cowalgathering.com) is the largest Highland Games in the world." 

Highland Games (credit: bloomberg.com)

This is one of the best articles I've read about the Scottish Highlands from all of my research, particularly if you are planning to go in the summer!

But, that's not all - there is so much to do for the outdoor lover and places to see!

Here are the Top 5 Things to Do and Visit in the Scottish Highlands: 

Cairngorms National Park (credit: visitscotland.com)

1. Cairngorms National Park
Britain's largest national park has more mountains, forest paths, rivers, lochs, wildlife hotspots, friendly villages and distilleries than you can possibly imagine.

In fact, five of the UK's six highest mountains lie inside the park, and there are 55 Munros - mountains over 3,000 ft., as well as huge forests of ancient native trees, cascading waterfalls, and tons of wildlife.

More people come to ski in the Cairngorms than at any other resort in the UK. ​

Loch Ness (credit: lochness.org)

2. Loch Ness
I'll be talking more about this very famous place tomorrow, but, this lake lies right in the middle of the Scottish Highlands and has become famed for the famous monster, "Nessie."

City of Iverness, Scottish Highlands (credit: en.wikipedia.com)

3. City of Inverness
Inverness is the largest city and the cultural capital of the Scottish Highlands. Its Old Town features 19th-century Inverness Cathedral, the mostly 18th-century Old High Church and an indoor Victorian Market selling food, clothing and crafts.

It is situated where the River Ness meets the Moray Firth. 

Ben Nevis (credit: walking highlands.co.uk)

4. Ben Nevis
Ben Nevis (Scottish Gaelic: Beinn Nibheis) is the highest mountain in the British Isles. It is located at the western end of the Grampian Mountains in the Lochaber area of Scotland, close to the town of Fort William and is affectionately known as 'The Ben.'

Interestingly, the town of Fort William is known as the "outdoor capital of the U.K." And it's no wonder with more than an estimated 225,000 visitors per year, many of which are bikers and hikers.

The summit, at 4,411ft above sea level, unusually for a mountain in Scotland, features the ruins of a building, an observatory, which was permanently staffed from 1883 until its closure in 1904.

Moray Firth, Scottish Highlands (credit: www.embracescotland.co.uk)

5. Moray Firth
The Moray Firth has been named in the top twelve of the world’s most beautiful and unspoiled coastlines
 
​Best known for its population of more than 130 bottlenose dolphins, the Moray Firth is one of the best places in Europe to see these lovable creatures in the wild.


What a gorgeous country!! Such natural beauty to behold - cannot wait to see Tanya's photos once she has more dependable wifi!!

On that note, friends, I'm going to get my day going. 

I'm in need some beautifying and will be getting my hair colored and cut today!

Back atcha tomorrow to talk all about Loch Ness!!!

-E
xoxo

Tanya's Daily Scoop
CURRENTLY TRAVELING IN: SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

Traveling through Scottish Highlands

Well Ello there!

​No I did not forget the ‘H’, I purposely left it oot (out).

After a lovely morning hanging out and enjoying the Melville Castle, the horses on the grounds that were literally right outside our back door, the blue skies dotted with ever so picturesque clouds - YES it was glorious day!

But then alas, it was time to check out of the castle and drive back into town, grab so grub, and then head on out into the Scottish highlands. ​

This I should let you know was one of the most highly anticipated events for me on this trip! 

I’ve always heard and seen amazing sights from the Scottish highlands…

WELL GUESS WHAT

It didn’t take long at all before yours truly had begun to DOZE off -
I’m such a baby when it comes to being driven around. Luckily this doesn’t happen when I’m in the drivers seat - because as a passenger I have the most difficult time keeping my eyes open.

But from what I saw, as I fought the drowsy eyelids it was lovely and the hills were spotted with adorable white fluffy sheep for as far as the eye could see.

We drove through - Cairngorms National Park (read more about this park in Elisa's column)
And with each mile we drove, it was the furthest north that I have ever been in Scotland.

Being further north in Latitude both in my Norway and Iceland travels. And it seems about the same of very similar latitude while traveling in Alaska.

Finally I was able to stay awake once we got close to arriving into Inverness (read more about this city in Elisa's column), our base for the night before heading out with Wilderness Scotland and to the Outer Hebrides - also the furthest western points in all of the UK.

We found a yummy dinner and a crabby hotel keeper for our one night stay at the Columba Hotel which overlooked city center.

However, the internet connection was absolutely quite awful, but the view that our suite had directly overlooking the River Ness almost made up for it…
It would’ve made up for it completely if it weren’t for my complete frustration with the lack of technology! UGGGGH

As of yet just so you know, the wifi kinda sucks out here in Lochmaddy on the Isle of South Uist in the Outer Hebrides (where I am currently located).
​ 
We are finally ready for our cycling adventure…that all starts TODAY and that you get to hear/read all about it tomorrow!

Gots to go now. 
Tootles,
-T