Scotland
Scotland: Outlander Put It on My List and I'm Not Ashamed
Scotland had been on my bucket list for years. If I'm being honest, Outlander put it there. The show made the landscapes look so raw and dramatic that I needed to see them for myself, so I booked a solo trip and went.
When I stepped off the tram from Edinburgh Airport, the architecture stopped me cold. I don't know exactly what I expected, but it wasn't that. The buildings are grand and old and everywhere you look there's something worth staring at. I was standing there taking it all in while simultaneously on a work call, when an older man approached me asking for directions. I felt inclined to help, so I pulled up Google Maps and started searching while my coworkers got a shaky, unplanned tour of Edinburgh through my camera. They were in shock that I'd stopped to help a random stranger mid-call. Solo travel and a full time job—that's just how it goes. I found a quiet spot, finished the call, and then let Edinburgh have my full attention.
Edinburgh was my base for the first part of the trip. I walked almost everywhere, used Google Maps to navigate, and let the city unfold at my own pace. I visited the Old Calton Burial Ground and climbed Calton Hill for views over the city, walked Princes Street, stopped at the Scott Monument, and just took my time. Edinburgh is active and crowded in the best way. There's always something happening and the architecture gives you something to look at on every block.
After a couple of days I grabbed a book and took the train to Inverness. I arrived at night and the city was completely quiet. Thankfully I'd already mapped out the walking route from the train to the hotel. Inverness in the dark felt like a different place than Inverness in the daylight, which I discovered the next morning. Smaller, calmer, and much more local feeling than Edinburgh—the kind of place where you feel like you're actually in Scotland rather than a version of it curated for visitors.
I booked a group tour through Rabbie's for the next day—the Skye and Eilean Donan Castle day tour. The tour guide was excellent and the landscapes through the Highlands were unlike anything I'd seen before. I booked another tour on the spot for the following day.
The second tour turned out to be even better, and for an unexpected reason. I was the only person booked. The driver asked if his mom could ride along and I said yes, not sure what to expect. She grew up in the Highlands and spent the whole day sharing stories about her life there. We made extra stops that weren't on the itinerary since it was just the three of us. Lunch with them at a local restaurant was a little weird, but it worked. It's the kind of thing that only happens when you're traveling solo and stay open to wherever the day takes you.
The highlight of both tours was the ride along the NC500 route. The North Coast 500 cuts through some of the most dramatic scenery I've ever seen—mountains, coastline, open road. Two days of touring was enough to know I've barely scratched the surface, and I want to go back and spend more time in the Highlands.
I spent a morning walking around Inverness before taking the train back to Edinburgh—visited a few shops, walked along the river, and appreciated the quiet one more time before heading back to the city.
My last day in Edinburgh I walked the Royal Mile, took the bus out to the Royal Yacht Britannia, and ended with a tour of Edinburgh Castle. The tour was the least favorite part of the trip, but it was the only way to get in last minute. The castle itself was lackluster and ridiculously crowded—barely able to move crowded. I stayed at the back of the group so I could take decent photos without being rushed.
Overall, public transportation was easy and I felt completely safe on my own the whole time. Edinburgh is very manageable as a solo traveler. And the fish and chips—I can't leave that out. Some of the best I've ever had.
I'll be back, probably with the kids since Scotland is on their bucket list too.