Scotland

2013

I first visited Scotland in 2013. It is one of my favourite countries that i've visited so far - so full of culture and history. If you love old architecture and a bit of history like I do, you cannot visit The UK and not visit Scotland. Just be prepared - it is cold. My first trip over was in the middle of summer and I still needed a jumper, however the locals were out and about in singlet tops. The sun is harsh; I got sunburnt whilst wearing a scarf which created great confusion. The locals couldn't believe that I was Australian as I was even fairer than them!

My trip started off in Edinburgh, which I must mention is my favourite city in Scotland. It is SO picturesque. The highlight for me was sitting on the beautiful green lawn underneath the Edinburgh castle. The castle is well worth a look inside as well. You can either walk up the stairs from the lawn (medium/high level of fitness required), or catch the bus up. You'll need a few hours in the castle to see it all, and you'll feel like you've gone back in time. The castle is so well preserved and cared for.

(The Edinburgh Castle)

When in Edinburgh you MUST check out Arthur's Seat. It is a stunning walk through the beautiful Scottish countryside (once again, medium/high level of fitness required). This was my first time visiting Arthur's Seat and I underestimated how much walking/hiking was involved. It's around a 45-60 minute walk to get to the top, but once you're there the views of Edinburgh are unencumbered. Wear good walking shoes with a lot of traction, as often you're walking on grass or stone with no grip. As you'll be at the top of a mountain it is also quite windy so you'll need a jacket, even in summer.

If you like spooky things, check out the Edinburgh underground vaults. These can be seen through a guided tour, and really give perspective into the past. It can be cold down there so take a jacket. The tour guides are funny, and have a fantastic sense of humour. They will also take you through the streets of Edinburgh. My tour guide informed me that back in the day, I would have been considered a witch for having red hair, and they would have rolled me down the street in a barrel of nails! Fun!

Edinburgh also offers fantastic shops if you are so inclined, and you get a view of the castle while you shop too! The shopping strip opposite the park on Princes St offers all the UK shops that I love - Office, Primark, H&M, Zara, Marks&Spencer, Urban Outfitters etc. *Drool*.

I then took the train from Edinburgh to Glasgow. Glasgow was nice, but had a completely different feel to Edinburgh. Perhaps it was the part of town I stayed in but it felt more industrial. I was in Glasgow for a few days, before catching the train up to Dundee - where my Grandmother's cousin lives. She was nice enough to let me stay with her, which was a fantastic bonus because hotels in The UK are very expensive. She kindly drove us around, and took us to many sights and locations that I didn't know about. Dundee itself is a cute little town by the River Tay, and make sure you have a look at the HMS Unicorn while you're there.

From Dundee we did a day trip to The Falkirk Wheel - an interesting piece of infrastructure that moves ships between canals. I've never seen anything like it but it was most fascinating. The Wheel is out in the open so put on sunscreen if you go in summer. It was popular among children and adults alike, and everyone was having fun there. You can even ride on a boat during its transportation in The Wheel - a novelty not many get to experience in their lifetime.

(The Falkirk Wheel)

We then did a day trip up to Aberdeen. A cute little city with a lot of history. Northern Scotland is full of old castles - if you're a Harry Potter fan you would love the vibe up there. South of Dundee is St Andrews; a historic little town with VERY Harry Potter vibes.

2016

I loved Scotland so much I had to go back. So in 2016 after my trip to the USA and Germany I flew up to Edinburgh. This time it was winter, and boy does it make a difference. One word: cold. I made the trek up Arthur's Seat again, and it was a very different experience in winter. I wore furry boots to keep my feet and ankles warm but this was a mistake as they had no grip. I noted there were a lot less people doing this walk in winter, and now I know why. It's a trek. I fell over multiple times, skidded on the dewy grass, grabbed onto icy rocks to stabilize myself and thought I was going to loose all my fingers and toes to frostbite. But don't let me put you off; just be well equipped. It is still a lovely walk that I 10/10 recommend.

(Arthur's Seat)

I had a few new experiences during my second time in Edinburgh too. I had dinner in The Elephant House, the restaurant where JK Rowling wrote a fair chunk of the second and third Harry Potter books. I went to use the bathroom in the restaurant and was shocked - fans had drawn Harry Potter pictures and quotes all through the bathroom! It was like a shrine. I was on such a Harry Potter high that my friend and I decided to continue our experience and find Tom Riddle's grave. No, not the actual fictional character's grave; but rather someone aptly named. Greyfriars Kirkyard is a large cemetery opposite The Elephant House, and is guaranteed to give you the shivers, especially if you go at night like I did. Several unusual things happened to me here which makes me think the graveyard is cursed. We were walking through the graveyard at around 8pm, and it was very cold. Below 0 degrees (Celsius) I would say. We were using our phone lights as torches to find Tom Riddle, when all of a sudden our phones both died. Mine was at about 40%, when usually it wouldn't die if it was above about 3%. I grabbed my friend from behind to give her a big fright, then skidded on an icy grave. I actually cannot remember if we found Tom Riddle's grave in the end, but it was all a good laugh.

(The front of The Elephant House)

(The bathroom wall inside The Elephant House)

Scotland is a marvelous country, and I will be back. Edinburgh is the highlight for me, and I cannot wait to spend more time there and discover more of it's secrets. I would definitely prefer to go back in summer though! Be prepared to do lots of walking.

(Greyfriars Kirkyard)