if you are at all family with the Harry Potter series,  you might recognize this viaduct! 

But more familiar probably from this perspective.

It is our last day in Scotland and we have to head to Edinburgh to be closer to the airport for the night.   But before we leave Fort William, we decided to visit a bit of Harry Potter game.   The Glenfinnan Viaduct is only about 30 minutes away!  We also decided we didn’t want to wait over an hour to watch the train pass. We found a couple great places to get a photo!

Our one last goal was to get to see highland coos ( Cows, for us,  non Scots).  We were so lucky to catch these just of the main road back to Edinburgh.

It’s hard for us to believe. but it trip is almost over, our shortest trip to Europe in decades!  But for Tucker,  this is the longest he’s ever been away from home,  and a short preview of his next move to university.  

When we woke to a view like this,  we decided to change the plan for the day!  originally,  we had 3 nights here and time to relax,  and golf,  but moving 1 day to lengths out stay in Edinburgh to see the Highland games took that leisurely day away.  So, with only 2 nights stay here on the loch, we had just the 1 day in Fort William.   We just sacked the sightseeing for Tucker farther north in Inverness,  found a local golf club and sought tee time and clubs for him! 

Emmett and I then decided to drive a bit west in the highlands to Eilean Donan Castle!  our drive was beautiful,with far more vegetation than I had imagined,  between gorgeous deep blue lochs and lots of blue skies 1.

The castle is an iconic image for there Highlands, originally the ancestral home to the McKenzie Clan, purchased by the MacRae Family, in the early 1900s.  It is now still held by the family in trust for the Nation and operated as a historic site for visitors.

There is a video here with history and inside views (since no photos were allowed)

Eilean Donan – Kyle of Lochalsh, Scotland https://share.google/Kitm3wA3c3tCGt0KQ

We had a snack before returning to For William to pick Tucker up from the gold course for an early dinner.

The drive from Stirling to Fort William changed from city and villas, to forested farm land to green mountains and waterfalls!  And we had a beautiful day,  with some clouds,  a few sprinkles,  and then sunshine! 

In the Glen of Glencoe, at 3 sisters,  Emmett and Tucker did a hike up toward the falls,  and I did a shorter one,  just to photograph the scenery and document their hike.   It was a gorgeous day,  and we all enjoyed getting into the countryside.

We arrived in Fort William in time for dinner and to enjoy our lovely apartment on the loch

Too bad we only have 2 nights here!  This trip is wonderful,  just toooo short! 

We continued on towards the west,  to Stirling Castle,  pivotal to Scottish independence and history since the early 12th century!  It has been conquered and fought over between the English and the Scottish for centuries.  It was taken by William Wallace in the late 13th century,  recaptured by Edward I of England,  then taken again by the Scots and Robert the Bruce in 1314.   A couple hundred years later, it becomes the home of the baby queen,  Mary Queen of Scots.   Several King James 4,5,6 all ruled there.  So much History!  We had a great guide giving us the timeliness, and then we could visit the inside of the buildings.  

Our guide was very knowledgeable!  He did a great job telling the history

They recently unearthed part of the old kitchen and have some displays to demonstrate feeding hundreds each day! 

The Gardens are beautiful

We left Edinburgh early and the streets look remarkable different than the day before!  Empty streets!

Our first stop on our route west was Falkirk, with 2 amazing sites,  tired together by a canal!  The Kelpies, 2 amazing horse heads,  almost 100 feet high,  a monument to the working horse!   There is a set 1/10th scale,  which travels to tell the story of the Kelpies. 

the canal starts at the base, and we will see the end of our next stop.   Beside the waters, were a family of swans, the signature, almost full grown!

Just a few minutes drive away is the fascinating technological wonder. The Falkirk wheel!  It is the only one in the world!  It works to move boats from 1 level of water to another,  but it isn’t a lock!  The process takes 4-5 minutes! 

The movies show only a few seconds at a time, but you can see the whole process,  as I walked around the structures.   2 boats moved down,  1 moved up, 

The end seal moves down. our is the way,  and the boats begin to move out.

I am just amazed at the technology! 

I  feel like we Really experienced Scottish culture today!  We watched the highlands games competitions in Inverkeithing, across the Firth of Forth from Edinburgh.  4 bands. many darling young highland dancers, athletes in biking, and track and field events.  It was almost like a county fair, crossed with a track meet!  This is one of the oldest highland games in Scotland, begin in 1646! 

Runners,  bikers,  and field events like shotput, hammer throw, and caber throw.   Even the girls and elderly compete alongside the boys but from a handicap position, since there were seldom more than 5 or 6 competitors in each race.

Even the pipe bands compete.  The youngest drum major was leading the youth pipe and Drums group!

I’ve had the Tattoo on my bucket list for years and Today We checked it off!  We had a great Scottish dinner first,  an official beginning to the Tattoo program,  the first time ever offered. 

We got a private performance from the lead dancer with violin

At the Tattoo

What an evening! 

We left St Andrews early for Edinburgh.  The weather is pleasant,  no rain today!  We found a parking spot for the cheapest we saw advertised anywhere,  so I’m glad!  Hope it works for tomorrow too! 

We walked the Royal Mile a bit on our way to check in at our apartment and a bit after we had lunch.   This is an adventure!  Our apartment is in a 15th c. building, up a medieval spiral stone stair!  Small but efficient.

Up the street to the castle,  but no tour today.

Tonight we have a wonderful dinner and then the Military Tattoo! 

We are so enjoying the city as well!  it is so beautiful,  old Scotland!

Dinner again is Scottish fare!  Mussels, Burgers and Venison for main dish,  and Eton Mess for dessert,  almost like a Pavlova,  with meringue,  cream,  and berries!

Don’t worry!  walking upwards of 6 miles today worked out all off!

on Thursday,  Tucker was off to find another course to play!  And found 1 joining 2 golfers at Eden Course,  Andrew and Daniel.   He has had a wonderfully run of golf adventures,  even better than I could have hoped! 

Emmett and I wandered the city,  visited the ruins of St Andrew’s Cathedral,  once the largest cathedral in Scotland,  brought to destruction after attached by John Knox in 1559. 

We also visited Wardlow Museum,  with the story of young Mary, Queen of Scots, for a bit of early history, and The ruins of St Andrews Castle, and many St. Andrews University buildings

So much History around the city,  it feels like you are living history here.  I really enjoyed the city.

What a great day!  Beautiful weather, but breezy.   We walked over to St Andrews Links.

And Tucker was able to walk up to the starter on the New Course at St Andrews (new in 1895 anyway) and find a couple to guys to golf with, Abbas and Patrick,  from Florida.  Seems most golfers were tourists!  Locals golf Thursdays,  or so we heard! Their tee time was in just an hour and a half from walking up!  Amazing!  Gave us time to shop, and to rent his clubs,  and do a little warm up!

A lady,  Penny, from Philadelphia joined them just before tee time.    She turns 65 this year and is golfing her 65th game in her 65th year!  Fun challenge!

His tee shot on the first hole of the New Course!

In 4 hours, he will have enjoyed the round of his life…. so far!  He has a goal to golf the old course when he graduates with his doctorate in Anesthesiology!  I hope I’m around to see that! 

Great Round for Tucker, played 42 on each half!  Weather cooperated,  and he had a great day!  Coming in to the 18th green!

He found connections with several of the people he golfed with!   The couple from Philadelphia were donors to the union league which support the Founding forward program which Tucker traveled with to Valley Forge!  The 2 caddies know about BallyNeal where Tucker caddies! 

The iconic bridge!  It sits between the tee and the green of 18th hole in the Old Course!  all Cup winner take their picture there, and lots of individuals finishing the Old Course do too! 

Just a few more iconic sites around St Andrews.  The 18th green,  the FORE advisory, and the water station, a couple of the walk of Fame plates,  and an iconic scene,  the beach scene from the movie opening credits of Chariots of Fire!:

what a memorable day!