Signs of Spring! (plus monsters, and fisty cuffs)

Before returning to my Italy adventures, today's sojourn was one of those things you have to do while in Scotland (check off my list!): a trip to Loch Ness!


My friends I traveled with in Italy and I decided to take a bus tour through "Discover Scotland," whose main highlight was Loch Ness, but which also covered a great deal of the picturesque Highlands: castles, lochs, glens and bens. While the day started off as unexpectedly freezing, it got quite warm- up in the 60˚s F! This was the first time I've done a bus tour like this, and was an interesting experience. It was a comfortable bus- just for 16 people (two of which didn't show up), with comfy seats and overhead compartments, and nice big, clean windows to gaze out of! Through my own investigation and with some aid from the bus driver, I discovered we had 1 Aussie, 1 Kiwi (New Zealander), my 3 Italian friends, and 8 Chinese students- plus me, Maria the Irish girl. Or so the bus driver thought at first, before I could reiterate, with the help of the lovely Australian and Kiwi women that I was American. Never did sort out the Maria bit...


In light of being Maria, I had a great time, though I wish the tour guide had talked more, told more stories and the like, though the bits he did tell were interesting. One thing I noticed throughout today was that Spring was all around: daffodils were blooming everywhere! Bright yellows, whites and oranges: alongside paths, wall and roads, spaced precisely in gardens and wildly sprouting in overgrown cracks. Flowers, and specifically daffodils, are everywhere! The second sign of true spring, besides the weather: baby animals! I have discovered that lambs are in fact, one of the cutest things on earth. It's Scotland, so sheep are everywhere, but it didn't occur to me that in the spring this would mean lambs are everywhere too! They are amazingly small- perhaps the size of my backpack, and already have beautiful snowy wool, some with black ears and faces, others just a white cloud. They were in serious danger of being lamb-napped by me (that was quite cheesy, admittedly, but they were so adorable!) In addition to sheep, Scotland is also known for its coos (cows), and there were also young calves frolicking about! And calves really do frolic and romp, gleefully springing about. It's as if they suddenly realized they have legs, and are so excited and filled with joy at this idea, they have to try them out!

I couldn't get a picture myself, so this is off Google... LOOK HOW CUTE IT IS!!

We took an extremely scenic route on the way to Loch Ness, passing through the beautiful region of Glencoe to Fort William, under the shadow of Ben Nevis. Quick lesson in Scottish scenic vocabulary. Loch=lake, Glen= small valley between mountains, Ben= Mount(ain). In Glencoe were these gorgeous sweeping vistas with towering mountains and hidden glens. We stopped at look-out by the Three Sisters, so named after three sisters killed during the Massacre of Glencoe, and there was a bag-piper perfectly located by the majestic view. Three peaks are raised jaggedly upward, with green glens lying between in their shadows. Our guide, Keith described one of the battles as the clans "coming to fisty-cuffs!" one of my all-time favorite expressions that I learned from my good Australian friend. Did not expect to hear it from a Scot!

Majestic, though slightly out-of-tune Piper

2 of the 3 Sisters- see the Glen in between?

Our crew!

Along the road we passed through Rannoch Moor, which apparently is the most desolate place on earth! The Glencoe area however, is generally stunningly beautiful and has been left untouched since the tilme of Bonnie Prince Charlie, 300 years ago. Fort William I've been to before, it's primarily famous for lying under Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Britain. We were lucky enough to see the peak today! Usually it's covered in clouds its so high up.


Then we passed next to a series of four lochs: Loch Linnhe, which leads from Glencoe and Fort William to Fort Augustus, Loch Lochy (my favorite name: Lakey Lake!), the tiny Loch Oich and finally, Loch Ness! This whole region of the Highlands is known as the Great Glen, a beautiful, scenic area where the lochs were created by glacier movements 400 million years ago. Today, they are connected to each other and the sea by the Caledonian Canal.


While we didn't happen to spot dear Nessie, we did take a very short boat tour of Loch Ness, basically going to Urquhart Castle and back. I really would have liked to spend more time on the loch, which is my main complaint with the trip. The extra £12 we paid for the "boat tour" that was only an hour wasn't really worth it, though we did get some beautiful views of Urquhart Castle from the Loch! I wish we had had the time to explore inside the castle ruins- I have a thing with exploring ancient ruins. But, it was still a gorgeous day, full of exciting scenery. At the top of Loch Ness, we reached Inverness, along the River Ness, another town I'd have liked to spend more time in had we been allowed.

The Mysterious waters of Loch Ness

Urquhart Castle from the loch

Urquhart Castle!

Inverness Castle, now used as a court

On the way back down to Glasgow, we passed alongside the Cairngorms, a beautiful mountainous region known for its wildlife and skiing! And interesting fun fact about our ride back: we passed by Blaire Castle, the residence of the Duke of Atholl who also own all the land around, far as the eye can see! He is also the only man in all of Britain to own a private army. Why does he have his own army? No idea, they don't ever fight really despite their weaponry, just do ceremonial-type things. Incidentally, when the old Duke died some 11 years ago, heirless, the new Duke appointed is from South Africa! Still not sure how he came into things, but there you go!


It was a fun trip, a bit long and could have done with a bit more info, but still enjoyable! Incidentally, our tour guide had the scariest cackling laugh ever. Every time he did it (which was often), we couldn't help but crack-up in the back... Loved those Bens and Glens!
-Maria of Ireland