Trifter

It is an unforgettable experience of traveling to Scotland from where you can get original ideas actually how to go about planning and enjoying the city to the fullest.

I am an Indian, had to go to London to attend a wedding. Thought of using this as an opportunity – took five days spare, to visit the neighboring places. Did not want to pay that extra bit for the visa charges so decided to go around UK. In spite of being on a very tight budget – it was undoubtedly a life time holiday. We were five of us – me, my better half, my mother, and two of my old Indian friends who were supposed to join us from the USA and London respectively. Before actually starting our journey we all were well connected through mails to do all the bookings and finalizing on accommodation and the rest of the stuff. Hope you guys get to see Scotland the way we did, so here the story begins.

We had hired a car from the Heathrow Airport from hertz. Fortunately we got a very good car, Ford fusion, perfect for five of us with a spacious boot. We started around 12 pm, from Heathrow – took our first halt at the Wilson Castle on the outskirts of London. Finishing with our lunch – we headed towards the Lake District – 5 hours drive from London. While enjoying the beautiful terrain on both sides, and the drive, with the gossips from around the world, we thought of hitting the Silverstone on our way, which to our delight was supposed to be just a few miles off the main highway. After getting into the F1 speed, we took the diversion, and what a luck we could actually get up to the starting point, all thanks to an Indian engineering student we met there. It was like a dream come true, we had not planned for it, but it was for sure written. That’s the benefit of traveling by your own vehicle, you can enjoy the landscape, stop where you want, eat wherever you like, and take whichever diversion you want. And I just forgot to mention -all this while and of course through the days to come we had our treasured soul mate with us, without whom we would have got lost – the Tom Tom, our navigator, so don’t forget that, for all those who are  planning to drive on their own. By the time our excitement got settled witnessing the Silverstone it was around 7 pm and we surely had a long way to reach our final destination. Driving a few miles, once again we took a diversion but this time for our survival, we all were starving. We entered Buckingham, a quiet city with bungalow type house on either sides of the road. Relished dinner, luckily got an Indian cuisine, and started again on the voyage. Reached around 12 in the night, it was pitch dark, but to our surprise there were many bars and pubs still lively at Bowness and Windermere known to be quiet and peaceful places. There are numerous bed and breakfast options to choose from around the area. The next day, we got up fresh to witness the panoramic view of the lake, with spectacular landscape, green lawns with sparkling crystal clear droplets of water, the serene calm atmosphere. A paradise, to relax, enjoy the quietness of the place, experience the waters or simply walk around on the streets by the cute little souvenir shops with a cup of coffee from Costa. The same day we had planned to reach Edinburgh – the capital of Scotland.

Now, the drive from Lake District to Edinburgh, one has to experience it to believe it. Its one of its kind. On reaching Edinburgh, we first checked in our hotel the Holiday Inn, right back of the famous royal mile street. The hotel was bliss, and an evening walk on the royal mile was a treat to our eyes. Varied street plays, musicians, the live music at the bars, the birds flying from south to north and east to west, one actually forgets all the fatigue after a walk on this street. There is a lot to do in Edinburgh from the ghost walks, to the scotch tour, to a walk in the Edinburgh castle to the gardens, clicking on memories in front of the churches, their parliament. The capital has got the right blend, being a perfect city to live in, work in and party in. It is for sure a not to miss city and scores much above Glasgow, another talked about town of Scotland. One can have a shopping spree at the princess street with all the brands, or stroll on the royal mile by the souvenir shops.

After an overnight stay, the next day we pushed for our final destination Inverness – north Scotland. The one thing you enjoy in Scotland, no matter where you are are the open grasslands, the sheep, the fascinating landscape views all around. Once again the journey from Edinburgh to Inverness was a pleasure.  For a change we had booked a two bedroom apartment here in the heart of the city, known By the Bridge apartments. A very well furnished, with contemporary interiors, neatly kept, with a huge balcony overlooking the loch ness, with all the latest amenities. Staying a night here is a very good option if one wants to discover Scotland and is going further. We had time limitation and had to rush back to London for the wedding, so ended the Scotland trip in Inverness. Handed the car at the Inverness airport, and boarded the flight to London. Hope many of you can get useful tips from this experience.