It’s official; Scotland is our favourite place in the UK. From highlands to islands, across moors and lochs, at the Highland Games and sheepdog trials, we’ve had a hoot-mon!

It seems people fight over Scotland a lot. We arrived just weeks before the referendum on independence from the rest of the UK.

 

A nation divided?

A nation divided?

 

The polls seemed pretty evenly split until the day dawned and the No campaign won through. But the ballot boxes had barely been stored away before voices of regret began to be heard.

More than 250 years ago Bonnie Prince Charlie must have had a few regrets as his army became bogged on Culloden moor and was routed by the English – sealing the fate of a nation to this day.

Bonnie Prince Charlie arrived here to start the Scotish revolution. Within nine months he was defeated and on the run

Bonnie Prince Charlie arrived here to start the Scotish revolution. Within nine months he was defeated and on the run

Sometimes history is made in the most unassuming places - Culloden field

Sometimes history is made in the most unassuming places – Culloden field

Now the fields grow cattle fodder, in 1746 they were filled with human canon fodder

Now the fields grow cattle fodder, in 1746 they were filled with human canon fodder

The boggy marshes of Culloden field were the downfall of the Jacobite armies

The boggy marshes of Culloden field were the downfall of the Jacobite armies

 

We had no regrets in Scotland. The sun shone almost daily – bringing the bluest skies and gorgeous views from the Highlands and Islands alike.

We couldn't believe how sunny and blue it was as we hiked the Black Cuillin

We couldn’t believe how sunny and blue it was as we hiked the Black Cuillin

Big sky over Skye - at Broadford

Big sky over Skye – at Broadford

Fire and ice in the sky as the sun sets and the moon rises over the Kyles of Bute

Fire and ice in the sky as the sun sets and the moon rises over the Kyles of Bute

 

We sailed over the sea to Skye; hiked up to the Black Cuillin and out to Neist Point lighthouse; met the most majestic sheep we have ever seen and much, much more.

 

The view from the Cuillin - nearly high enough to touch the sky

The view from the Cuillin – nearly high enough to touch the sky

Over the sea to Skye

Over the sea to Skye

Hiking up to the Black Cuillin, Skye

Hiking up to the Black Cuillin, Skye

Neist Point, Skye

Neist Point, Skye

Neist Point lighthouse, with basalt cairns and a huge foghorn!

Neist Point lighthouse, with basalt cairns and a huge foghorn!

The magnificent and increasingly rare, four-horned Hebridean sheep

The magnificent and increasingly rare, four-horned Hebridean sheep

One of many glorious days camping in Scotland

One of many glorious days camping in Scotland

Loch Dunvegan, Skye

Loch Dunvegan, Skye

The moon over Loch Harport at Carbost, Skye

The moon over Loch Harport at Carbost, Skye

 

Oban has a couple of stand out landmarks. The first is a folly – the huge Coliseum style building looming over the town and the whisky distillery that gave the town its name and occasionally gives its scent.

 

Whisky and folly galore!

Whisky and folly galore!

Oban harbour

Oban harbour

 

In Oban we met an American woman making ready to compete in the Masters International Highland Games the following week in Inverness. We couldn’t resist the trip.

 

We were cheering for Angela - who told us about the Games.

We were cheering for Angela – who told us about the Games.

 

At the risk of sounding dismissive – Highland games revolve around throwing unfeasible long, heavy or awkward objects around.

 

This sport is not for the meek - that stone weighs nearly 90kgs

This sport is not for the meek – that stone weighs nearly 90kgs

They call them The Heavies

They call them The Heavies

This lady turned up late, with a broken nose after a car crash, and still won the round

This lady turned up late, with a broken nose after a car crash, and still won the round

Just pick up this 110kg stone and throw it over that bar, would you

Just pick up this 110kg stone and throw it over that bar, would you

Equalling the women's world record (17ft) for throwing a heavy weight over a high bar

Equalling the women’s world record (17ft) for throwing a heavy weight over a high bar

 

Sometimes the size, shape and requirements are too much to handle.

 

It can be hard to keep control of a caber - and a risky business too

It can be hard to keep control of a caber – and a risky business too

 

It was a Masters tournament, so that means over the age of 40. The oldest competitor was 84!

 

Looks can be deceiving - this old fella tossed more cabers than men nearly half his age

Looks can be deceiving – this old fella tossed more cabers than men nearly half his age

The over sixties were pretty impressive.

The over sixties were pretty impressive.

 

It was incredible and topped off with a world record simultaneous caber-tossing extravaganza!

 

The caber-tossers are standing by for the record attempt

The caber-tossers are standing by for the record attempt

A caber-tossing frenzy

A caber-tossing frenzy

The caber-tossing Guinness World Record official

The caber-tossing Guinness World Record official

 

Inverness is a lovely city – with the fish-filled River Ness running through it and of course the infamous monster-filled loch close by. It has a handsome castle,

 

Inverness Castle on the River Ness

Inverness Castle on the River Ness

 

the most fantastic arts centre, where we saw the premiere of the Nick Cave film, 20,000 days on Earth , took lovely river walks,

 

The Ness river running through Inverness, and still open for trout fishing

The Ness river running through Inverness, and still open for trout fishing

 

complete with mid-stream wooded islands stuffed with proper toadstools and the most moving pet cemetery. We were very taken with Inverness!

 

To Noddy - one of the tombstones at the Ness Island pet cemetery

To Noddy – one of the tombstones at the Ness Island pet cemetery

Tombstones in the pet cemetery on Ness Island, Inverness

Tombstones in the pet cemetery on Ness Island, Inverness

Ness Island toadstools

Ness Island toadstools

 

There are many more photos in the slideshow than we’ve featured in the blog – so please, raise a glass to Scotland and enjoy the beauty of the place with us. If you still haven;t supped enough of the spirit of Scotland, there are even more photos on our Flickr page – so have a peek at those too!