So this year from the 3rd-9th August I had an amazing trip travelling around Scotland with my family which is one of my favourite places in the world. While we were there we visited some general tourist locations as well as some Harry Potter sites. We travelled a total of 771 miles and for 19 hours 36 minutes.
I have put together some photos and a brief overview of where we went with some suggestions of places you may want to go if you ever visit. (I apologise for it being fairly long)
Each place I mention I have included a link to find it on Google maps if you press on it because I am super cool like that and love giving myself extra work to do...
| View from farmhouse |
From Edinburgh airport our first stop we stayed at after lunch in Aberdeen was a farmhouse in the highlands just outside a village called Tomintoul. It was very unique and had amazing views but was FREEZING.
From there we set off in the rain and visited a cafe in Inverness called So Coco which had their very own version of Butterbeer which unfortunately I didn't get a chance to try but if I ever go back I definitely will!
From there we visited Stonehaven to see the castle and Rosemarkie Bay where you can see dolphins and seals in the see which were really fun to watch.
After seeing those sites we drove around Loch Ness (no monster sighting) and went back to Inverness for dinner in a restaurant called McGonagall's (another reference) and didn't end up getting back to the farmhouse until 1am the next morning.
The next morning we set off slightly later due to our lack of sleep and set off to our next stop on our trip. On the way we spontaneously stopped at Newtonmore and watched their Highland games which was unlike anything I had ever seen. We saw traditional bagpipes and Scottish dancing as well as hammer throw, shot putt and tossing the caber (throwing massive logs). It was really fun and was very high spirited and I would definitely go to another.
From the games we went to our next lodge which was in the trees in Dalmally. It was a lovely cabin with an amazing hot tub and the owners were very really nice to chat with. It had a really peaceful feel about it and I loved watching the chickens run past the windows.
The next day we visited Glenfinnan and saw the monument next to a beautiful loch. This is also the site where you can see the bridge used in the Harry Potter films and if you get there at the right time you can even see the Hogwart's Express sister train go over it!
From Glenfinnan we went further around the road to Loch Eilt where you can see another Harry Potter filming location which is the island that Dumbledore's tomb can be found.
We stayed there for a while but in the end had to give up and head back to the lodge as we were being bitten by all the midges.
The next day after a quick lunch break at Balloch we headed to the Wallace Monument in Stirling which was very impressive though there was loads of steps which took some effort for an unfit person like me but it was totally worth it finding all about its history and the amazing views from the top.
From there we went to our final house in Kirknewton which was just weird. Basically the person still lived there and had rented it out while she was away for the weekend and so it had all her food and photos and personal belongings in it and I just felt uncomfortable and like I was house-sitting the whole time.
The next morning we were up and out early aiming to spend minimal time in the strange house so we went into Edinburgh and had breakfast/lunch in a cafe called The Elephant House which is where J.K.Rowling wrote most of the plan for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.
If you go towards the back room of the cafe you can see the window that looks out to Edinburgh Castle which Rowling has said to be one of the inspirations for Hogwarts.
The most impressive part of the cafe are the toilets. That is definitely not a sentence I ever thought I would say, especially not where anyone can see it.
As soon as you step in it is a complete whole new change of scenery. Every inch of the surfaces are covered in graffiti all paying there respects to the creator of the wonderful world of Harry Potter.
From the cafe we went to another street in Edinburgh which was the inspiration for Diagon Alley and in it there is a shop called Diagon House which is full of Harry Potter merchandise.
It was an amazing shop but it was sooo crowded and busy so I didn't get as much time to spend as I would have liked in there but I did end up getting a Ravenclaw lanyard in there which I am totally wearing to college if I can.
After that we visited Edinburgh castle and looked out at the amazing views and ventured into the crowds filling the streets for Edinburgh festival which was extremely manic.
Finally we went on a wheel set up for the festival and waved goodbye to Scotland as we headed back to the airport.
This maps out my total travelling. I had to do it in two halves as Google maps told me I had reached the limit.
I had a really good trip and was kind of sad to say goodbye to the car as it had served us very well.
My final highlight of the trip was finding out that this book existed.....
If you ever get the chance to read it please do, it's hilarious.
No more needs to be said.
I hope this gives you some inspiration if you ever plan of going to Scotland and if you know of any other places I need to see let me know as I will go back there at some point.
Also I want to try and find a guidebook of all the filming locations and inspirations for Harry Potter so if anyone knows of one let me know so I can visit more awesome sites.
Kaitlin
PS feel sympathy for my poor hands, they ache from typing.
From there we went to our final house in Kirknewton which was just weird. Basically the person still lived there and had rented it out while she was away for the weekend and so it had all her food and photos and personal belongings in it and I just felt uncomfortable and like I was house-sitting the whole time.
The next morning we were up and out early aiming to spend minimal time in the strange house so we went into Edinburgh and had breakfast/lunch in a cafe called The Elephant House which is where J.K.Rowling wrote most of the plan for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.
If you go towards the back room of the cafe you can see the window that looks out to Edinburgh Castle which Rowling has said to be one of the inspirations for Hogwarts.
The most impressive part of the cafe are the toilets. That is definitely not a sentence I ever thought I would say, especially not where anyone can see it.
As soon as you step in it is a complete whole new change of scenery. Every inch of the surfaces are covered in graffiti all paying there respects to the creator of the wonderful world of Harry Potter.
From the cafe we went to another street in Edinburgh which was the inspiration for Diagon Alley and in it there is a shop called Diagon House which is full of Harry Potter merchandise.
It was an amazing shop but it was sooo crowded and busy so I didn't get as much time to spend as I would have liked in there but I did end up getting a Ravenclaw lanyard in there which I am totally wearing to college if I can.
After that we visited Edinburgh castle and looked out at the amazing views and ventured into the crowds filling the streets for Edinburgh festival which was extremely manic.
Finally we went on a wheel set up for the festival and waved goodbye to Scotland as we headed back to the airport.
This maps out my total travelling. I had to do it in two halves as Google maps told me I had reached the limit.
I had a really good trip and was kind of sad to say goodbye to the car as it had served us very well.
My final highlight of the trip was finding out that this book existed.....
If you ever get the chance to read it please do, it's hilarious.
No more needs to be said.
I hope this gives you some inspiration if you ever plan of going to Scotland and if you know of any other places I need to see let me know as I will go back there at some point.
Also I want to try and find a guidebook of all the filming locations and inspirations for Harry Potter so if anyone knows of one let me know so I can visit more awesome sites.
Kaitlin
PS feel sympathy for my poor hands, they ache from typing.
