Scotland was never on my to-do list. Of course, I always found it charming. It always seemed interesting. But in all my years, I was never like, I really, really want to go to Scotland.
So when Sam brought up the idea of visiting the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, I was intrigued. He had heard me talk about it for years, and this felt like a nice gateway into Scotland. I ended up loving it. Edinburgh turned out to be the perfect starting point: we spent our days bouncing between comedy shows in yurts and pubs, eating sausage rolls from and listening to buskers on Market Street. From there, we drove north into the Highlands, stopping at castles, distilleries, and eventually making our way to Skye.
It is truly one of the most beautiful places in the world, and it was a relief to escape an American heatwave while I was there. The weather isn’t great—cold, windy, and unpredictable even in August—and the food can be a little heavy on the fried and beige side. But between breathtaking hikes, windswept coastlines, and the occasional plate of oysters or Indian food, you can piece together some really wonderful moments. Scotland’s beauty almost forces you to slow down and reflect.
I totally recommend going. I don’t know if I’ll ever return, but I certainly wouldn’t mind if I did. I think of this trip as a long weekend that spiraled into two weeks of castles, cliffs, and whisky. Along the way, I even reconnected with old friends, saw the infamous Loch Ness, and ate way too much fish and chips.
I hope you enjoy the next couple of entries. I really did like this trip—and you’ll notice that I wrote it almost a year after we went, though I’ve backdated all the posts to the actual dates.