Back from Scotland

It's been a long blog break while my wife and I were visiting Scotland.  A visit to the northernmost part of the United Kingdom might not be on your bucket list, but it didn't disappoint.  The Scottish Highlands contain some ancient mountains, lots of lakes (lochs), and spectacular coastlines.  I'll give a quick summary.

We started in Edinburgh, which was quintessentially Scottish with weathered buildings overlooked by Edinburgh Castle.  

Edinburgh is technically in the lowlands, but you can =get in a short climb above the city by ascending Arthur's Seat in Holyrood Park.  

Leaving Edinburgh, we got a glimpse of the lower slopes of the "original" Ben Lomond, which rises above Loch Lomond. 

Mother Nature blessed us with clear skies on the day we had booked an excursion out to Staffa Island.  We enjoyed the coastal scenery and puffins.

One of the reasons I like to go to places like Scotland is cool weather, clouds, and rain.  We get enough of the sun in Utah.  I like to travel to places where the rain gear and winter hats come out for a day or two.  Lightweight winter gloves were even on for a while on this hike. 

Call them hills if you want, but the ancient, wind-swept, treeless landscapes of the Scottish Highlands make for some spectacular scenery, even in the rain.  And the single-track, two-way roads can be a lot of fun to drive. 

Scotland has a rich climbing history.  Below is a monument to Norman Collie and John Mackenzie, pioneering mountain guides on the Isle of Skye and beyond.  

We paid a visit to Cairngorm Mountain Resort, one of Scotland's ski areas.  Seemed hard core not because of steepness, but exposure to the elements.  This is wind swept terrain.  Respect for the dedication.    

We did a hike up to one of the coires (glacial cirques) near the ski area.  Beautiful spot.  

If you are wondering, haggis was eaten and scotch was drunk.