Two Highlanders and an Islander Visit Scotland

WELCOME to part two of our travels, in Scotland! This diary is about the second half of our trip in Scotland. Make sure to read Part One of our Trip on Ireland first! So, Amanda and I told Erin we only had one condition for coming on this trip; she had to watch at least one season of the show Outlander. The show is filmed in Scotland and I wanted to do a tour to all the sites and castles they filmed at. After BEGGING her to watch it, she finally started it…FLEW through all four seasons, restarted it, texted us day and night about it and then watched it AGAIN. She would rush home from work everyday just to crawl in bed and watch it. Erin was obsessed! You know what really didn’t help this situation? Taking a vacation to Scotland. Literally. Like every other sentence out of her mouth is about Outlander.

We spent the entire week in Scotland either quoting, reenacting or hypothesizing about the show and Scottish history. So I am sorry if a lot of this travel diary is filled with quotes about the show. IT’s ALL WE DID. And, mark me, dinnae be thinkin’ I won’t be throwing a wee bit of Scottish slang in me blog, ya ken noo. Cause I will!

So I encourage ye, the person reading this, to watch Outlander. Ye can find all 4 seasons on Starz or the first two seasons on Netflix. It’s a bonnie good show. Just look at the pic below ya ken.

AND I AM NOT SORRY.

Glasgow, Scotland: Day 9

I am lucky to be living with two roommates who both studied abroad in Glasgow and could give me SO many tips and recs for the city. My roommate Carly typed up a whole guide! We spent the first day in Scotland exploring Glasgow, going off of her list. When I was making the decision to fly from Ireland to either Glasgow or Edinburgh first, I researched which city had the most weekend markets andddd that’s how we landed at Glasgow first. That’s a little travel tip for ya, always see what’s happening in the cities you are traveling to beforehand.

Exploring Glasgow!

In the market, one of the vendors asked if Amanda was on her way home? Confused, she asked, “on my way home?” And he said, “Ye on yer way home from the clubs? Ye look like ye are dressed for the clubs.” HAHAHAHAH Let me provide you with a picture of what she was wearing.

I went into one shop and while I was purchasing, the guy rang me up and said “dsjkf;airhgauhf;A” to me. And I was like uhhh, “What?” He looks at me funny and says, “Oh sorry, do ye not speak Gaelic?” and I respond, ” errrr no”. He goes, “Sorry! Ye look like ye do!” Haaaaaaaaaaaaa. Must be my luscious red locks.

West End and Glasgow University

At this point in our day, everyone was BEAT. DEAD. NOT WELL BITCH.

And a wee nap was in order. Also, this is when the wifi stopped working in our Airbnb. And guess what: in the next Airbnb in Edinburgh, the wifi wasn’t working as well. So here starts our Wifi-less ~JoUrNeY~. I don’t mind not having internet a single bit. It’s just annoying when you want to map yourself to a restaurant or look up museum hours and you can’t! Luckily Amanda has an international plan so she could look things up when necessary. PLUSSSS this meant we couldn’t lay down and watch Outlander on Netflix. WAH.

Dinnertime

We went back over to the same area as the market from this morning for a nice meal. And a wee dram!

Glasgow, Scotland: Day 10

Ayeee, Day 10 already! I was stoked for this day before we started our trip.

I had been in contact with my Aunt Diane about our Scottish history and genealogy. She sent me so much information. Aunt Diane is my grandma’s sister, on my dad’s side. Their mother was born in Scotland! She knew all the history about her, and her mother, and all their families, where they lived, who they married and where they died. Amanda and I come from Clan Flockhart, Clan Cochrane, Clan Hunter, and Clan Smith. And probably way more we have no idea about. Everyone was probably cross-pollinating and getting knocked up right and left. Honestly, I could very well be the descendant of Mary Queen of Scots ya ken?

Stirling Castle

Alloa, the town my great-grandma was from, is near Stirling Castle. And if ye know anything aboot this castle ye know it has some major significance with the war between England and Scotland ya ken! This is where Mary Queen of Scots lived! And with my family right down the street, there is no way I’m not somehow related. 

Alloa, Scotland

After a quick train ride from Stirling, we arrived in Alloa. I’m not sure if because it was a Sunday but, this town was dead. Like, DEAD. No one was walking around, shops were closed, restaurants were closed. Compared to Stirling, it was a ghost town. But, we were there to visit a graveyard so I guess that’s fitting.

Flockhart Tombstone

Dinner and a Show!

Amanda and I smelled four different types of whiskeys before settling on two to taste. Homeboy was not feeling me when I asked for a Diet Coke on the side. He told me, “Then ye can’t taste the distinct notes of the whiskey”. And I was like, ya that’s the point. It tastes like I just gargled Windex, so ya, pass me the Diet Coke… homeboy.

After the dranks, we made our way to The Howling Wolf, a bar with live music. Another fabulous recommendation from my roomie!

After a couple more drinks, we decided we should probably call it a night and turn in!

Glasgow to Edinburgh Scotland: Day 11

We didn’t have anything crazy planned for today. Our only objective was to get from Glasgow to Edinburgh. To kill time, we decided to do a brewery tour. After breakfast, we headed over to Tennents Brewery to learn how they make their beer, tour the facility and have a wee tasting!

Tennents Brewery

Glasgow Cathedral

I should mention that Erin bought a book about where they filmed the show all across the country. We made sure to hit up all the filming spots in every city we went to.

That’s Erin, talking to her new Outlander book.

Train to Edinburgh

Luckily, the train ride was only an hour long. Amanda and Erin sat together and watched Outlander (surprise) on her phone because God heard our prayers and added the first two seasons to Netflix while we were away! We got to our Airbnb around 4pm and it was… WOW.

We were all starving at this point. We had an early dinner and walked around the city a bit before heading back to the Airbnb.

So unfortunately for us, we were still without wifi. BUT we came up with an amazing solution for watching Outlander. Three of us, in the big bed, with a few pillow propped up with Amanda’s phone angled against them. You might think it’s a little ridiculous that three of us would squeeze into a full-sized bed to watch a TV show but, mark me, we needed to do research because our Outlander tour is TOMORROW!!!!!!

Edinburgh, Scotland: Day 12

Before I left, people would ask me what I was most excited for and I said eating carbs. AND this Outlander tour!!! I would respond, so there is this show… and I read all the books… and they have this tour around to all the spots they filmed the show… AND I’M PUMPED.

Our day started bright and early. We all climbed on a bus and got ready for a day filled with Outlander facts and fun. Our tour guide was amazing. She drove this huge bus around while spitting out facts about the show and the history of Scotland. Highly recommend.

Stop 1: Linlithgow Castle aka Wentworth Prison

Stop 2: Doune Castle aka Castle Leoch

Stop 3: Culross aka Cranesmuir 

Culross is where they film Geillis Duncan’s house, most notable for the scene where the boy gets his ear nailed to the pillory. Also, they use the gardens here as the gardens for Castle Leoch. And lastly, in season 4, they film Laoghaire’s house.

This stop is also where we had lunch. I had a fabulous pizza and a wee spot of tea.

Stop 4: Falkland aka Inverness in the 1940s and 1960s.

Not sure why they didn’t just drive up to Inverness to film Inverness things but whatever.

Stop 5: Midhope Castle aka Castle Lallybroch

End of tour!

If all these images of Jamie I have placed throughout this blog won’t get you to watch the show, then Ah dinnae ken what to tell ye.

After such a long day, we went home… crawled into bed… and watched Outlander. DURRRR.

Edinburgh, Scotland: Day 12

Today was a walking around, exploring kind of day. We had been super blessed with the weather this entire trip. Today happened to be super foggy and in the afternoon it started pouring rain. But, we started out the day with the most amazing breakfast!

Edinburgh Castle

More Exploring

National Scottish History Museum

You know we are all about dat Scottish history now. Amanda, Erin and I wanted to read all things Jacobite, history, wars, battles, and monarchy.

Dinner and… Outlander

It might not seems like we did much today but man we walked a lot and it POURED rain in the afternoon. We went to a little cafe next to our Airbnb to let the storm pass, use their wifi and eat some cake. I wish I took pics but we had a shortbread dipped in chocolate cookie, which was amazing. A white chocolate raspberry muffin, which was outstanding. And lastly, a toffee coffee cake, which was unbelievable. Every single baked good was so scrumptious. Couldn’t believe we just stumbled into a place with so many good treats. Actually, props to Erin for being PICKY AF and not settling for a mediocre place with mediocre cake.

By this time, the trip was catching up to us. We just wanted to lay down. We went about 40 feet from the Airbnb, across the street to a pub for dinner. I split a bacon, brie and cranberry bison burger and a nacho with Amanda. And a Guinness to wash it all down. We didn’t split the Guinness. Drank that bad boy all by myself. Anddddd of course after dinner, we snuggled back into bed to watch Outlander.

Edinburgh, Scotland to Dublin, Ireland: Day 13

IT’S AMANDAAAAAA’SSSSSS BIRTHDAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYY!!!!!!

How COOL is it that we are in Europe for Amanda’s 29th bday? Ringing in her final year of her twenties in style. Damn she old.

We checked out of the Airbnb, stored our luggage at the train station and made our way to breakfast. The breakfast place was AMAZING. For the last meal in Scotland, we all got traditional Scottish cuisine.

Amanda and I got blood sausages and egg sandwiches and Erin got a haggis scramble. We tried to soak up as much last min Scottish culture as possible.

And since it was her birthday!

We got Aperol Spritz! For Breakfast! Yolo

Exploring before our flight

We had time before flying back to Dublin to hit some streets and areas we couldn’t do when it was pouring rain.

It’s just all so pretty. Loved this city. But I felt like it needed the personality of Glasgow. If I could take the Glasgow people and mix it with the looks of Edinburgh it would be perfect.

Arrive in Dublin, Ireland

Our last stop. *insert sad face whomp whomp whomppppp. But it’s still Amanda’s birthday so we are still partying! My friend, April, flew over from England to spend the remainder of the trip with us! I just love, love, love, spending time with her and I’m glad we were able to see each other while I was so close to her side of the world.

Amanda’s Birthday Dinner

I sent Amanda a list of restaurants for her to pick from before we left so I could make a reservation for her birthday dinner. Homegirl picked the fanciest one. I would have too, to be honest. We all got the three-course meal. Starter, entree, and dessert. This place is known for their steaks so we all got that! Minus April, she had the pasta.

My, it was a mighty fine birthday dinner if I do say so myself!

Dublin, Ireland: Day 14

Our last full day. It turns out, you can do Dublin in about one full day. Which we already did. Today we had no real plans except the Jameson Distillery tasting at 4pm, my birthday gift to Amanda (so kind).

Cake for Breakfast

This was probably my 3rd favorite breakfast we had. Right behind the birthday breakfast yesterday and the porridge in Edinburgh.

Not sure what Merguez sausages are, but lord… they were the best sausages I have ever had. Every single one of our meals were OUTSTANDING. The cake, the coffee, the breakfast. It was just WOW.

Jameson Distillery

April and I were already buzzin’ at this point. lol. We made out way across the river for some whiskey tastings! This was all Amanda wanted. to do for her birthday because, for some reason, she loves whisky, and Jameson!

I’ll show you what that last one tasted like.

Sadly, I had to say goodbye to April. Till next time my dear April! Amanda, Erin and I went back to the Airbnb to, you guessed it, watch Outlander.

Dublin, Ireland to Los Angles : Day 15

We figured the best way to go out in style is to head BACK to the Cake Cafe for round two of cake for breakfast. It’s STILL vacation.

After we divulged in cake, we packed our bags and headed to the airport.

Flying back home

My goal on the flight home was to not sleep. We would land at LAX around 6/7pm and I figured if I could make the ten hour flight, land, drop everyone off, by the time I got home it would be around 9/10 and then I could dive into my bed. Unfortunately, we all had to take a little cat nap. We were exhausted. It didn’t affect me one bit that night, however. I was able to sleep, wake up Sunday and do all my chores just fine. Didn’t feel jet lagged at work the next week either! I was just depressed I was back at work. I always get post-vacation depression. Just sitting at work like, “Why am I not frolicking through the highlands with a Scottish man”, “why are there people driving on the right?”, “where is my morning cappuccino?”, “how come Erin and Amanda aren’t in my bed watching Outlander?”. Erin is feeling the same way. She is constantly sending Amanda and I photos of Scotland on Instagram asking when we are going back.

It was SUCH a great trip. In conclusion, we loved Scotland over Ireland. However, the road trip around Ireland was one of our favorite things we did. Next time we go we are 100% renting a car and driving around Scotland. That’s the BEST way. Overall, 10/10 trip.

Can’t wait to start planning the next!

TATAAAAAA for now!

Alrighty, people if you are visiting Scotland and need some advice on what to do, I got you! Check out my posts on Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dublin, Galway, and the Dingle Peninsula! I have tons of other recommendation lists for cities all over Europe: Amsterdam, Rome, Athens or for a full list check my Destinations! In the meantime feel free to read my Travel Diary on Ireland.