When I got to Stirling, it was a whirlwind of events the first few days. Moving in, orientation, and quickly starting lectures that Monday.
The one thing that sparked my interest during orientation was mention of a three day highland tour. I thought that it was just the thing for me, as I have a bucket list that includes exploring the highlands.
So I took the plunge and paid for a three day tour with Heartland Travel (£134). I was sold on the idea for two reasons: 1. we are picked up from the uni and got dropped off at outside of our flat (no extra cost getting to/from Edinburgh) and 2. accomodation was all sorted for us, while the accommodation fee was separate, it was totally worth the £25/night.
We stayed in the Station Master’s Lodge in StromeFerry, in the middle of nowhere facing the Stromeferry train station and the a loch right behind us. Though it was much too cold and I was much too tired to explore the surrounding areas. I’m sure, if you booked earlier in the season and not the end of October you will find warmer weather and enough light for a quick wander around after hiking all day. The rooms were much nicer than most hostels I stayed in and the beds were so much softer than the old springs I have in my dorm. I was very pleasantly surprised at how nice it all was and would 10/10 recommend.
So the important things: What did we do that made this trip worth the cost?
Well, we did all the things. We…
started the trip with a stop to Doune Castle,
Stopped at the Glencoe Mountains and saw the Three Sisters,
walked out to Glenfinnan Viaduct, most famous for being the bridge/train for Hogwarts Express,
took a hike down to the Fairy Pools,
visited Eilean Donan Castle,
a hike up to the Old Mann of Storr,
a scenic drive to the Quiraing,
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It stopped raining for two minutes… -
then the sky began to turn grey… -
but we still got to see a double rainbow -
I was definitely hit in the face with so much hail in this photo -
With eyes open this time
a hike to the Fairy Glen,
drove out to Loch Ness and a quick wander around Fort Augustus,
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Look Mom! -
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Nessie is that you?! -
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stopped to see Ben Nevis and The Commando Memorial,
and finished our trip visiting the Black Linn Falls, which had an the best view from Ossian’s Hall.
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Ossian’s Hall -
Hello, Black Linn Falls -
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So, for the moment of truth… was the tour worth it?
If I am to be completely honest and unbiased, yes. The guided tour was worth every pence I spent (and, yes that includes losing my debit card on the Isle of Skye). It was so nice to see the best parts of Skye and not have to worry about driving, getting to meet new people (many who turned out to live in the same block at the dorms as me), being told the stories of the land and really getting a sense of who the people of Scotland are.
Our guide, was such a lovely human, passionate not only for his small business, but for his country. He is warm and inviting, getting many belly laughs out of you during drives. And you can get a real sense of who he is as he shares the story of each stop we made. I never felt comfortable hopping on tours in bigger cities like Edinburgh, feeling like another tourist in a machine hopping off one bus to catch another after a few pictures were snapped. This tour gave us so much (more than just the pictures taken, but hey, they are great to send home to my folks) and I would love to do it again to see Scotland in the spring or summer.
The tour company is Heartland Travel and offers a range of tours that range from adventurous, like the three day one we went on to four day tours out of Edinburgh, to private tours. If you think this could be right for you I am attaching the link below. https://www.heartlandtravel.co.uk/
-Rose xx
Isaias Dassum 