A Record of a Lifetime of Wanderlust
Sandwick, Scotland On the edge of the Island of Mainland in the Orkney Islands lies the Bay of Skaill. The bay’s name is derived from the Old Norse Bugr Skála, which loosely translates as “Bay of the Houses” or “Bay of the Halls.” Looking out from the house across the bay, you feel as if…
Sandwick, Scotland One of Europe’s best-preserved prehistoric sites was discovered only because of a major storm. A severe winter storm in 1850 uncovered about 1/3 of a prehistoric village that No One knew existed. Today, the Skara Brae Historic Site gives us a great picture of a civilization older than the Pyramids of Giza and…
Kirkwall, Scotland Everywhere around the world, a locally grown crop forms the main staple of the diet. The staple crop in Scotland is oats. Scotland provides a perfect growing location for oats thanks to “long daylight hours, plentiful rainfall and acidic soil.” Scotland has grown oats since the Romans first imported them as horse feed….
Gills Bay to St. Margaret’s Hope, Scotland There is a certain anticipation that comes with taking the last ferry of the evening to a location. You hurry to arrive on time so you don’t miss your boat. If you miss the boat, you are stuck. In many places, this can be a problem, as you…
John O’Groats, Scotland From Lands End to John O’Groats is the ultimate British road, cycling, or hiking trip, connecting the far south and far north of Great Britain. Granted, John O’Groats is not the furthest North point on the island, as that actually belongs to Dunnet Head, a nearby nature reserve that is home to…
Berriedale, Scotland We were tired; it had been a long day on a trip that was already 10 days in. The drive was long and tiring, and the drivers needed a stop and a shot of caffeine. Everyone also needed a trip to the loo, and there had been nowhere to stop for many miles….
Between Inverness and John O’Groats, Scotland Visitors to Inverness arrive in the country’s northernmost city. The city sits on the north coast of the island and is the unofficial capital of the Scottish Highlands. The city is built around the mouth of the River Ness and an outlet into the North Sea. What is hard…
Culloden, Scotland Culloden. Few places evoke as much passion as this battlefield among native Scots. It was here that the Scotland of old passed and the Scotland of today emerged. One simple battle that lasted less than an hour had major ramifications for Scotland and, ultimately, world history. The Battle of Culloden, or Chùil Lodair,…
Leanach, Scotland It’s not often that you encounter human-built prehistoric sites that are available to walk up and visit, but Clava Cairns in Scotland is one of the most accessible that I have ever visited. Managed by Historic Environment Scotland, the site sits off the road, with a car park and easy access to the…
Dalroy, Scotland On our way to Culloden, we drove under the Nairn Viaduct, Scotland’s longest masonry viaduct. The viaduct, also known as the Culloden Viaduct, crosses the River Nairn and connects Inverness to points south. Completed in 1898, the viaduct is still in use today and was built from sandstone from a nearby quarry. I…