Travel diary Scotland day 5, 2016: I am Merida, firstborn descendant of Clan DunBroch. And I'LL be shooting FOR MY OWN HAND! - Merida, Brave (2012)

 **Disclaimer: I write and upload the same day, often after a long and exhausting day. I often don't have the focus to re read and take out the typos, grammatical and vocabulary errors. Beware!**

Halloooooo!!

So, today wasn't the best day of my trip so far. First of all, I feel like 15 days holiday isn't going to be enough. Secondly, I'm staying in a town that wants to leave the EU and thirdly I've had so many delays today. Ugh.

No one to blame but me.
The day started off pretty fine. Got up on time, had a delicious full Scottish breakfast, fruit and yogurt, by 9.30am I was checked out and ready to hit the road (after snapping a few more images of the square). All seemed to go to plan, until my sat nav decided to bail on me. I wanted to visit Dunnotar castle in Stonehaven, which is about 20km from Aberdeen. I always check the route on my sat nav to ensure that I'm going in the right direction. So it seemed. So I started driving, everything went smoothly, no issues, no traffic, no road works, nothing. Until the last 20kilometers. Like an idiot I followed sat nav rather than the signs on the side of the road. I ended up in freaking Aberdeen!! Luckily it was only a 30min drive back, but that 30min meant that I had to drop my plan to go to Aberfeldy on my way to Grantown-on-Spey. If you don't know, Habitat (local 'restaurant') has the best burgers in the world (in my opinion). I was soooo annoyed with myself! Travel diary Scotland day 7, 2015: Mrs Rowling, are you home?

Castle DunBroch
Finding Dunnotar Castle in Stonehaven turned out to be another adventure, which made me loose even more precious time. But when I finally arrived, I was blown away by the look of the castle. It just stands there, impressive on a rock.

The main reason why I wanted to visit Dunnotar castle is because I believe it might have been the inspiration for DunBorch, castle where Merida lives in the Dinsey Pixar movie Brave. This has not been proven and there are of course a lot of other castles on rocks near seasides. Also, a colleague heartily recommended it to me.

Now here is my recommendation: definitely go see it, but do not visit it. It's not worth the £7. There is no audio guide included or even an option, and it is basically just ruines on top of a hill. It missed some character, unlike Doune castle which has plenty (thanks to the audio guide).

Although I saw the entire castle in less than 30min, I did spend a good hour up that hill. My brain was in over drive so just sat on one of the benches to process everything. After I left the castle I sat outside on the grass with a splendid view on the castle and surroundings, finishing my thoughts process. It was bliss.

2hour drive turned into 4hour drive.
Of course I'd like to have a travel companion. It is nice to share experiences with someone else, but I when there are none available I don't mind going by myself. I'm very comfortable on my own and I am very picky with my travel companions. However, the idea of sharing experiences is just something I'd like, not something I need. The only time I actually would need a travel companion is when sat nav bails on me (again) and I have to ride based on the good ol' map. Part of the road on my way to Grantown-on-Spey was closed due to road works. Fair enough, but a road closure in the Cairngorms means a detour of at least 70kilometers. Hurray! My sat nav was completely confused and kept asking to 'keer rechtsom indien mogelijk' (return if possible). Luckily I had a map of Scotland (thanks dad!) with me so I could plan out an alternative route. I tried to memorise a few of the towns that I needed to pass and in which direction I had to drive everytime I had to make a turn. That part was easy. The difficult part was to check if I was still going in the right direction whilst driving. Since that is a no no, I had to pull over everytime, get the map out and look. If I've had a travel companion co piloting next to me, they just could have said where to go. That was the only time I actually really wished I had someone with me.

Anyway, I made it ;)

Grantown-on-Spey wants to leave?
By the time I was approaching my final destination I was already a bit grumpy. I hadn't had the most delicious burger in the world and I had to drive 2 hours longer than intended. I was starting to get hungry and on top of that my batteries of my phone and two cameras died. But when I came closer to Grantown-on-Spey signs with "Vote leave" and "take back control" started to appear. By the time I was driving through the town, the signs popped up left, right and centre.

Now, I had heard the reasons for Brexit. I've seen them on social media, in articles, interviews with politicians, etc. I've also read and heard alot about people who want to stay. Now, this is all good and well, but when I actually saw those signs today, it really made me feel unwelcome. It was probably the combination of my entire day that magnified that feeling, but it really hit me. It'll be very interesting come Thursday. Now, when I checked in at my guest house, I saw a sign that said: Vote Remain. I'm in good hands here ;)

Also, allow me to introduce you to...
... my travel companion for 12days of my trip. This is a Vauxhall Corsa. Nice car, not too big a fan of the colour, but it drives me through Scotland so... Unfortunately it can't read maps...

Car rented via Europcar

This is where I'll leave you today.

I've got two days of hiking in front me, so better getting that sleep!

Thanks for reading!
xo - Sara

Travel diary Scotland day 4, 2016: Castle Leoch or Winterfell?

 **Disclaimer: I write and upload the same day, often after a long and exhausting day. I often don't have the focus to re read and take out the typos, grammatical and vocabulary errors. Beware!**

Hallooooo!

**picture heavy post**

Unlike yesterday, I did get out of bed in time. Wanted to get to Doune Castle as early as possible and then get breakfast in town. I managed both ^^

Had the most delicious pancakes at the Buttercup Cafe just in town Doune.

Castle Leoch or Winterfell?
By 10am I had bought my ticket and had my audio guide at the ready.

I really really really recommend to visit this place! Audio guide is included and is sooo funny. Monty Python and the Holy Grail was shot here in 1975 and the tour is narrated by Terry Jones, one of the directors, actors, producers of the movie. They let you hear fragments of the movie and it's so funny. I must have looked like an idiot, standing in the courtyard, laughing at apparently nothing. Sam Heughan (Jamie Fraser) narrates the little side tour about Outlander which was also shot here. The castle also featured in the pilot for Game of Thrones as Winterfell, House of Stark.

Did you know that the kitchen in Castle Leoch isn't actually filmed at Doune Castle? The art departement made a replica in the studios near Glasgow as the crew could damage the stone walls by hanging up lights or sounds equipment. Interesting hein?

It took me a bit over an hour to get around the castle. I listened to the entire audio guide and walked around the castle just to get a better picture of the area. Unfortunately the battlements were closed due to the bad weather. It was drizzling on and off all morning...

Prison or residence?
...And by the time I arrived at Loch Leven to visit that castle, it was proper raining. However, the moment we stepped onto the little boat that would bring us to the island, the sun came out and it stayed like that for the rest of the afternoon.

Lochleven Castle had various functions throughout history. Robert the Bruce used it as a residence, Mary, queen of Scots' first visit was as a guest, her last as a prisoner. She stayed on the second floor of the tower house for a year before dramatically escaping the island.

I'm really happy I got to visit it this year. Last year I arrived just after closing time... It is also nearly on the day that I returned a year later. 19/06/2015 and 20/06/2016 Travel diary Scotland day 7, 2015: Mrs Rowling, are you home?

No ghost of a Highlander to be seen
After my visit to Lochleven Castle it was time to check in at my next hotel. And that is in Falkland. Does the picture below look familiar? It might be, as it features as the little town near Inverness where Claire and Frank stay on their second honeymoon. I'm actually staying in the Covenanter, which is the little hotel that also featured in the series!

Outlander is quite the presence at the hotel. The series probably has increase the tourisme in town. I'm a prime example for that.

After taking my pictures around the square I also visited Falkland Palace, because, you know, I'm a member of the National Trust so it was free for me. Why not pop in and see if it's interesting? Turned out, ANOTHER link with Mary, queen of Scots and her father, James V. It just keep coming and coming. She used to stay there for hunting parties and tennis matches. Who knew?

The palace closes at 5pm and as it was a bit too early for dinner, I decided to work a bit and enjoy the sun whilst I was at it. This was my 'office' for today. Bliss.

This is the little hotel I'm staying on the Square if anyone is interested: the Covenanter, Falkland.

And that is it for today!

I'll see you tomorrow!
xo - Sara

Travel diary Scotland day 3, 2016: "Long may she reign" - Nostradamus, Reign

 **Disclaimer: I write and upload the same day, often after a long and exhausting day. I often don't have the focus to re read and take out the typos, grammatical and vocabulary errors. Beware!**

Hallooooo!!

Today's photos make it look like it was such a dreary day, but I promise you, it wasn't. Well I know some people would have found today boring, but that is each to there own ;)

So yesterday evening before I went to sleep, I made sure I had set my alarm clock for every morning for the rest of the week. I have a busy schedule and I'd like to get the most out of my trip. I did set my alarm clock for the rest of the week, except today... When I woke up this morning, it was 9am. 9am! I had my alarm set for 7! A 2 hour delay. Anyway, rather than rushing out of my hotel room, I just adapted to a new plan. If I get up later than anticipated, let just take the rest of the day super laidback as well.

I drove to city centre and parked my car near Stirling Castle. The first thing I needed to do was to find breakfast. It took me a while to locate a Cafe Nero or any coffee shop that was open for that matter. Living in London really gives you a false idea of reality where all the shops are open every day of the week until ridiculously late hours.

All the links to Reign
Anyway, after breakfast it was time to make my way to Stirling Castle. Didn't do much research about it before hand so it was a nice surprise that the main focus on the audio tour was King James V (Mary, queen of Scots' father). It was so interesting to hear someone actually talk about a certain periode in history (16th Century). I've learned so much about that periode thanks to one TV series. Back in May, a friend introduced me to the show and I've been hooked ever since. Not only do I think the show is great, it also makes me look for information and actually learn something. It was amazing to be able to actually link names to a place and other people in history.

The main reason why I wanted to visit the castle in the first place was not because it was a film location of anything that I was familiar with (yet), but it was featured in Dragonfly in Amber, the second book in the Outlander series.

I really need to see Braveheart now
After my 2hours wandering around Stirling Castle it was time to move on to other places. I've visited Argyll Lodging, which I don't really recommend and the William Wallace monument on the other side of town, which I do recommend. By the time I arrived it was proper raining, which gave the below view on Stirling Castle:

I'd recommend this with an audio guide! I knew who William Wallace was and why he was a local hero, but I've learned a lot more thanks to my visit to the monument. It's also inevitable: I have to see Bravehart...

And yes, that is actually Wallace's (broad) sword. 1.67meters long!

You can actually go on top of the monument, which should give you (with better weather) a beautiful panoramic view on Stirling. Instead I got this. Quite a view hein?

The monument closes at 5, so I had wandered around for a good hour, which was enough.

After I got back to the car I wanted to back to the hotel and get some dry shoes, but I changed my mind as I wanted to have an "early" night. That didn't work, it's passed midnight... Again -.- Anyway, had dinner at a pub in Bridge of Allan, not to far from Stirling University (where I'm staying) and was 'home' around 7. And that is it for today! Tomorrow I'm leaving Stirling to visit more places, especially one I'm very very excited about x)

That is it for today. Thanks for reading!
xo - Sara

Travel diary Scotland day 2, 2016: "On your feet soldier. Take me back to Lallybroch" - Claire, Outlander S1E11

 **Disclaimer: I write and upload the same day, often after a long and exhausting day. I often don't have the focus to re read and take out the typos, grammatical and vocabulary errors. Beware!**

Halloooo!!!

What a day, what a day, what.a.day! Little sleep, busy schedule and back on the road. Let's get cracking.

Car rental pick up @ Europcar
This should have been an easy thing, but it wasn't. It took me a good 20min to check in and receive my car keys. Reason being: if you are younger than 26 you can't have the premium protection package. You can only have the medium protection package, which means that if you have damaged the car for £250 or less, it is coming out of your pocket. On top of that, if you are younger than 25 you have to pay an additional fee because you are a 'young driver'. It doesn't bloody make sense. I've been driving for longer than 6 years now and you're telling me that someone who's 25 and has his/hers driver's licence for a month can rent a car without an additional fee and premium protection package? I can see a few things that are wrong with that theory. Anyway, after a painful check in, I finally got in my car (a red Vauxhall Corsa, pictures will follow) and I was on the road! It felt surprisingly natural to get back behind the wheel on the right hand side of the car^^

'Take me back to Lallybroch"
First stop of the day was Lallybroch! Well, Midhope Castle near South Queensferry, which features as Lallybroch in the tv series Outlander.

You can't actually enter the building as it is pretty much neglected and looks dangerous to enter. It's amazing how they changed it for the show. In reality, there is no front door, the windows are plain and dirty, etc. But when you have a look at the tv show, the house looks lively and warm... TV magic :)

As an exception to the rule, I couln't resist taking a picture... I'm not the selfie type of person, but sometimes I just like to have a picture of myself in a place that I think is beyond awesome, so here I am, focus on the background and 1/4 of my face not in frame. You see I'm skilled at taking selfies (*ahum*)

Mary, queen of Scots birth place
Next stop was Linlithgow Palace. Mary, queen of Scots was born in this palace in 1542. Nearly all her relatives with the name James have done some amendments on the palace, but she, obviously didn't. This is also a film location in Outlander when Jamie is in prison, but that was not the main reason why I came to this place. (I only just found out it was also used in Outlander)

Thanks to the TV series Reign, I became fascinated with Mary, queen of Scots. I'm still not sure if she was a cold hearted ruler or a queen with the biggest heart. After doing some research I found out where she was born and where she used to stay. I'll be visiting a couple more place where she stayed. In the below picture, on the second floor in a room in the corner of the palace, she was born. It once was also the bedroom of Queen Margaret, Henry's VIII sister... Interesting...

The palace itself wasn't too big. In about 45min I had seen everything. It is literally a ruin, but a fascinating ruin. You can wander around, get lost in the maze of little corridors, etc. The second kitchen, which was in the basement, freaked the hell out of me though. Brrrr.

On the below image you can see two fire places. On on the same level as the floor, another 1 level up. The level I'm standing on used to be the quarters of King James IV. Above his were the quarters of queen Margaret. Who would have thought these two fire places would ever made it onto one picture? x)

Black kirk - Outlander
Last stop of the day was West Kirk in Dunfermline. It was the setting for Black Kirk in Outlander season 1 episode 3.

ALSO on my way to West Kirk...
I SAW THE KELPIES!!! And they where majestic and beautiful and powerful and everything I'd imagined and I might have squealed rather loud when I passed. I might have.

Unfortunately I was driving and they caught me complety by surprise as I had not idea they were located near Falkirk, so I don't have a picture... But here's one from the interwebs, just so you know what I'm talking about. Kelpies are mythical waterhorses with super strength, by the way.

Image source: wikipedia

After West Kirk I made my way to Stirling, where I'll be staying for 2 nights. So that is what I'll be doing tomorrow. Wandering around Stirling ^^

This is where I'll leave you.
Thanks for reading!
xo - Sara

Travel diary Scotland day 1, 2016: Edinburgh, home sweet home

 **Disclaimer: I write and upload the same day, often after a long and exhausting day. I often don't have the focus to re read and take out the typos, grammatical and vocabulary errors. Beware!**

Hallooooo!

And so it begins, daily blogging my way through Scotland ^^ For the next 14days I will driving through the Highlands, making various stops at Stirling, Falkland, Stonehaven, Aberfeldy, Grantown on Spey, Culloden, Inverness, Glen Coe, Loch Lomond, Alloway and Edinburgh again. And I'm going to blog every.single.day.* Let's do this!

*As I'll be blogging every day, I won't always be able to reread all of my blog post for typos and spelling mistakes due to tiredness. Of course I'll try, but just to give you a heads up ;)

Too early or too late?
The first post isn't too spectacluar I'm afraid. Lets start with a bang, hein?;) I've been traveling from London to Edinburgh and that consisted of a 4h30min train journey... But, I'm going to say it as it was anyway.

Today started off pretty mellow. I woke up at 8, got ready, finished packing, had a little catch up chat with my landlord and by 11am I was out the door on my way to London King's Pancras to catch my 1pm train. Unlike last year, when I had to run to catch my train, I arrived at the station a good hour too early. This gave me enough time to buy lunch and some snacks and a coffee and actually finish that coffee before I had to go on the train. Then, on the train I had enough time to put my giant North Face bag in the storage space, preparing myself without rushing for the 4hour and a half train journey North. It was bliss.

I saw the movie the Illusionist again with Jessica Biel, Edward Norton, Rufus Sewell and Paul Giamatti and I wrote a couple of emails. Very productive journey.

Somewhere along the way we were delayed, so instead of arriving in Edinburgh at 5.30pm it was something like 5.50pm. No biggy, I'm on freaking holiday. I've got all the time of the world.

'Mixed' dormitory @ Cowgate Hostel
Because I've visited Edinburgh last year, I kind of have a baring of my surroundings. That made it possible for me to book a bed in a hostel a little further away from the train station. I'm currently sitting in a 4-bed dormitory. It's supposed to be mixed, but my three room mates are men. Ah well. On top of that, across the street is party going and apparently the same is happening in the hall just outside my door. Probably not going to get much sleep tonight. But, it is a cheap way of traveling and it is only for 1 night, so I'm not too bothered by it (yet). Plus I have my laptop and access to a plug and free wifi so I'm good ;)

Home sweet home
When I arrived in Edinburgh on Friday 12 June 2015 it was love at first sight. When my train arrived at Edinburgh Waverley station today and I saw the Balmore hotel, I couldn't believe I was back! It just feels so right. After I checked in at my hostel, I wandered back to the Royal Mile and had a little brows through the little stalls. I was planning to buy another ring at the end of my trip, but since I was there, why not buy a souvenir at the beginning of a trip rather than at the end? Had a very touristy dinner at a Pizza Express, got myself a camomile tea at Starbucks (can't believe I forgot my tea at home!) and sat on a bench, people watching. Great first day of my 15day adventure.

I'm a bit scared though
I'm going to be completely honest here, but I am a bit scared. 15days is a long time. I had the same 'fear' last year about my 9 day trip, which turned out fine so this year I doubled it. But yeah, it'll be interesting.

I'm going to finish here. I'd like to say that I'm going to sleep, but I doubt that that will be possible whilst that party is going on in the hall and across the street and one of the men in my dormitory is snoring so loud I think I might be cutting through a forest. Maybe I should join the party-goers?x)

Anyway, this is where I'll leave you.
See you tomorrow!

Thanks for reading!
xo - Sara