This weekend my friends and I went on another trip to the Western Highlands. The major stopping points were Oban, Dunstaffnage Castle, and Inveraray Castle.

We were so pleased with our trip the weekend before with Timberbush Tours, that we decided to book with them again. Basically you pay around £30 for a day trip: they drive you around the Highlands in a bus, and the bus driver gives a running commentary on what you’re seeing outside as well as dropping you off at the sites included in the tour package. There are several coffee/food stops and one lunch stop. It’s a long day but well worth it to get around Scotland!

Dunstaffnage Castle is under the care of Historic Scotland these days: it was built before 1275, so it’s quite old! It lays in partial ruins today with the basic stronghold structure still largely in tact. We also explored the old chapel that is located nearby—this was in ruins too, and if you ask me, spooky. The forest surrounding it was full of gnarly old trees. Wouldn’t be walking there alone.

Oban is a small bay town—in fact, Oban means “small bay” in Scottish Gaelic. It’s very busy during the summertime due to its picturesque layout. The fish caught in Oban provides for yummy Fish n’ Chips shops. Guess what we had for lunch? The Fish n’ chips in Oban were delicious: the haddock was freshly caught. We left feeling pleasantly full.

Our next stop was a picture stop. Sitting on a semi-island on Loch Awe is Kilchurn Castle. It was built as a Campbell stronghold. We only got to see it from a distance but in my opinion seeing it from afar is just as good: sitting on the still lake it looked as if it was floating in the water. Eerily pretty against the grey skies.

What next? Can you guess? Another castle! This time it was Inverarary Castle. This one is still inhabited today by the Duke of Argyll and his family. I don’t know how big the family is but the castle is huge! I wouldn’t know what to do with myself with all that space. Dancing around the halls to Franz Ferdinand would probably get old pretty fast.

We also stopped at the “Rest and be Thankful” hill point. Here we got some nice shots of the valley below us, and did some spontaneous hill climbing. It was fun! I fell three times, my friends got some shots of that too. You don’t get to see those (un)fortunately. 

I (obviously) fell asleep on the ride back to Edinburgh. I think the busses are infused with some sleeping remedy because I always zonk out completely.

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you all: I was reunited with Hamish on the trip too! It had been a long week for the both of us, but all was well when I saw his furry face again. Our bus driver used the same rest stop as the last trip knowing of course that everyone would want to see Hamish the hairy coo.

This coming weekend I will be at Firbush, an outdoor center for sport and exercise. I think a big group of people from my Arcadia program is going so it ought to be fun. I’m looking forward to some kayaking! It might be cold though…we’ll see! Until then, have a great week!