Scotland Road Trip – First and Last Days

Initially the plan was to take you on our road trip as it happened but after my eyes stopped glazing over by the sheer number of photos taken, I decided to start at the beginning and the end and then try to go in order, or backwards or who knows!

We flew into Edinburgh airport, picked up our car and hit the road west from there making a big loop from the west across the middle and back down the east coast returning the car to the rental agency and spending a few days in Edinburgh.  Neither of us wanted to pay for parking in the city or try to navigate it so that plan worked very well. Turns out that even in places where parking was easy to come upon, we still had to pay upwards of three pounds at some lots – and these were at attractions.

Many times we just pulled over into designated parking/viewing spots alongside the road to either take photos or try and figure out where we were.  There were many times when even with GPS it would say ‘unknown road’ that we were driving on.  And those roads?  They ranged from major motorways all the way down to single track roads.  It was the ones that started as a dual carriage way and then all of a sudden turned into a one lane at a small bridge that made my heartbeat quicken.

Plus, there were sheep on the road warnings (we only came upon sheep on the side of the road, watch out to see if they wanted to suddenly cross) pullover spots so someone could pass you, trying to figure out the traffic signs (took us about a day then we got it) and names of places in English and I think Gaelic.  It was fun and the people were lovely.  It still brings a smile to my face when I think about the one bay side restaurant we were dining at when this young lad asked “Would you like any paper on your salad?” Obviously it was pepper but it came out like paper.  I caught on immediately but when he asked the woman at the next table the same thing – whilst holding a pepper mill in his hands no less – the exchange turned into an Abbott and Costello routine before she caught on.

Here are a few street scenes from Edinburgh to start the tour with.

Teri  📷

Looking up the busy Royal Mile.

Bagpipe busking on the Royal Mile; very common site.

Victoria Street.  Notice that above the colorful store fronts there is a terrace you can walk and dine upon.

Mother and child gingers on Princes Street.