Scotland Part 1

In between houses we're making a trip to Scotland and we'll be spending 2 days in Catlowdry, 5 days in Edinburgh, 3 days in Fort William and 4 days in Inverness. First time to Scotland for me so I'm quite excited but also not looking forward to moving around and having to pack and leave to different places so often. James travelled when he was younger and did lots of backpacking alone so this is nothing to him but living out of a suitcase for 6 weeks will be something new for me. 

Day One 

Once we moved everything to storage we got in the car and drove 3 hours up north to Catlowdry a small village near the Scottish border. The road was really twisty and winding, even worse than Cameron Highlands and thats only an hour long. There no streetlights once we got off the main road so it was quite scary driving in pitch black darkness. I made a Spotify playlist for the trip but it was only for 2 hours, think we'll need to stick to podcasts for driving after this. I really didn't like driving at night on the backroads because there aren't any streetlights and you can't see if a car is coming round the corner. 

After 3 hours of driving 

Once we checked in, the night drive into town to get dinner.

The B&B was run by this old couple who were really sweet and once we parked we saw a big tabby cat at the entrance. Breakfast was included and it was on really fancy china and everything was set on a glass plate. James said it reminds him of his grandma's house and mine too, mama keeps all the good plates in a glass cupboard. After getting the fish and chips takeaway we went back and watched The Holiday for the first time. The town was so deserted at 7pm on a Monday there were no shops open apart from the fish and chip shop and teenagers were just walking about aimlessly huddled in little groups. It must be so strange growing up in a place like this, so different from KL and the constant city buzz. 

The room was very nicely decorated and felt like I was in an old film. I do like having a bed-side table and the bed was so much nicer than my old bed at Lodge House I had a perfect nights sleep. I think curtains are the way to go. My room in KL has glass window in the ceiling so its never pitch black at night. 

Day Two 

After breakfast we set off to do a 8 mile hike around Kelder Forest Park but because there were so many road closures we were driving for 3 hours. I got really nauseous at this point and felt like vomitting. We stopped by the side of the road so that I could rest for a bit. I wasn't cold at all because I was so wrapped up but James was freezing in his sweats. We drove to a nearby small town called Hawick but by then I was feeling so ill I just wanted to go back. Kelder Forest Park day was a fail. Went back to the room and I recovered after an hour or two and then back out we went. 

Left the room just as it started to rain and by the time we had left the gate it was pouring. I had my mask up so I didn't get rain on my face but we were completely soaked within minutes. James had some issues navigating and we ended up in a forest that looked like it had been burnt down and completely covered in mud. Took about an hour to get back and by then clothes, shoes everything was completely soaked and I was so stressed. Put everything on the radiator and just went to bed. A few hours later we watched a Mandalorian episode and then got ready for dinner at the Hidden River Cafe which was only 12 minutes away but in pitch black darkness we missed the exit and had to go back. Dinner was amazing and made up for getting rained on earlier that day. One of the best meals I've had and it was all seafood tapas. I wonder how they managed to get such a pro chef in the middle of nowhere. 

I didn't get any pictures of the food except dessert because we were too hungry and by the time the food arrived we just wanted to nom. The restaurant was set in a wooden barn which had two floors and residential cabins surrounding it. It would be a good place for a family bonding trip because there's nothing to do except to talk to each other and maybe play board games. I suggested this but James said that it was unlikely my family would agree to something like that. 

It was so beautiful 

Cookie dough waffles with ice cream

Day Three 

After breakfast we packed up and were in the car on the way to Dryburgh which has the Scots Monument and a giant statue of William Wallace. It took about 2 hours to get there and the weather wasn't too bad so we got out and walked around. I think I hate walking even if its short distances I wish I could go drive everywhere. This trip has made me realise that I am 26 with the body of an 86 year old. 

Got back in the car and drove for another hour to Edinburgh. I think I was expecting a big bustling city like Manchester or London but its more like York but spread out. Population of Edinburgh is only 500k and the houses are much older, cobbled streets and it looked less urban. Parked the car and trekked through old town to visit Armchair books. I wish I could have spent longer in here but I didn't wear contacts today and my glasses kept steaming up because we had to wear masks and I felt so uncomfortable. I saw a Grimms Stories book which I'd never seen before and Alice's Adventures through the looking glass which is one of my favourite books. I wish I had gotten the Grimms Stories but it was £29 and it was more a novelty collectors item than a story book so I didn't get it. 

Went to the national monument which I struggled with at the beginning because I was wearing my Dr Martens and my heel was starting to hurt. Honestly, I am so scared and nervous for our Ben Nevis climb. I think Edinburgh is such a nice city to live in, the architecture is so pretty and the view from the national monument was amazing. James likes how the city is such a mixture of old and new with the castle on one side overlooking the high street on the next. 

Overlooking the Royal Mile

View from the National Monument 

Had an early dinner at KFC and James got the double down burger which I can't understand. Its just two chicken patties with cheese in the middle. I love the hotel that we're in because there's a rainfall shower which I feel is the epitome of luxury, that and an efficient kettle. First full day of Edinburgh tomorrow!