Scotland is so rugged and adventuresome. There are lochs (lakes) everywhere, you can almost always feel the ocean mist, and there are nearly 800 islands included in Scotland’s borders. The landscapes are gorgeous and everything feels surprisingly vast for a country that is about the size of South Carolina.
The casual outdoorsiness is contagious, and deeply embedded in the culture. John Muir himself was born in Scotland. After traveling through the country for a few week it became clear to me that Muir’s environmental and public access values are reflections of Scotland itself.
There are two large cities, they are Glasgow and Edinburgh. Glasgow has a grungy industrial vibe that I really liked, and Edinburgh feels much more British and fancy. I liked Glasgow as a hub. Things were less expensive than in Edinburgh, and everything felt a little more laid back.
For islands, the main areas are the Inner and Outer Hebrides. The Inner Hebrides include Isle of Skye and Isle of Mull, which are very popular in the summer.
The Isle of Raasay is a bit of a hidden gem in the Inner Hebrides. My father-in-law has traced his ancestry to Raasay, which is as short ferry ride from the Isle of Skye, and offers a bit of respite from the heavier travelled tourist trail.
The Outer Hebrides are also popular, with the Isles of Harris and Lewis and North and South Uist making up the core islands. Harris is famous for their tweed, and is also home to the best gin I’ve ever tasted. Visitors can experience Gaelic culture here in a way that doesn’t really exist anywhere else in the world anymore.
After three weeks in Scotland, I was ready to spend three years there. There are quite a few things still on my bucket list. I’m looking forward to cycling the North Coast 500, birdwatching on some of the more remote islands, and hiking through the mainland while staying in more Scottish bothies.
