Nothing Like A Trip To Scotland

There are a number of things I did not expect from a trip to Scotland in the British Isles. 

Experiencing not a drop of rain during the stay is one.  If fact, almost all of the days on the islands were partly to completely sunny.

The Scottish people are almost to a person, friendly and helpful. 

Many of the locals offered insights and tips about places to see.  Linda and I were able to experience many things not mentioned in travel books and guides.

The variety of the makeup of Scotland is rather astonishing. It is most unexpected.  I have read and researched a fair amount on Scotland. However, there is so much more to this place than expected.

The vibe and feel of the two big cities, Edinburgh and Glasgow, are materially different from one another.  Each is worthy of a visit. Miss either of them and you will have a hole in your understanding of Scotland.

Each region of Scotland feels different from one another.  Sometimes shockingly so.  It would be smart to assume nothing about anything in Scotland – including how what’s around the bend will look and feel.

Note: The one Travel Guide and Writer we rely on and trust is Rick Steve. Rick (and his staff) are superb. Rick’s site on Scotland is located [here].  Make sure to get his Travel Guide Book if heading to Scotland.

Scotland In My Mind

Below is what is most memorable to me about the trip to Scotland.

Stand Above the Clouds and Hike Into the Mist

 

Experience Villages That Appear to be Frozen In Time

The Castles Seem Endless

 

 

 

 

 

Cathedrals, Churches and Chapels

The story of the Italian Chapel is [here].

 

Most Intriguing House of Worship?

St. Bridget’s Kirk is an abandoned House of Worship built in the 1100’s.  It is located on the 117 mile long Fife Coastal Path at Dalgety Bay.  It functioned in the role for over 700 years.  The Kirk is situated in a tranquil setting with magnificent views.  Similar to so many other fascinating aspects of Scotland, it is noted by a small sign marker by The Historic Scotland society but not in any major guidebooks.

 

 

 

Ancient and Historical Sites and Museums

 

 

 

 

 

The Stirling Area

Stirling is near and dear to all Scots. It is a town and surrounding plain on the Forth River and Bannockburn stream. It is the place where the Highlands and Lowlands meet. For most of recorded time, he (or she) that controlled Stirling was in control of Scotland.

 

 

 

Animals and Wildlife

There are 60 official (pure) breeds of Sheep in England.  There are 90 when mixed breeds are considered. It is believed the UK has more breeds than in any other country in the world. The list is [here].  For me, the most common breed in Idaho is the Targhee.  It was developed in the early 1900’s in Dubois.  The Black Hawaiian Sheep is the most common in Kauai (a cross between a Mouflon and Black-Haired Sheep).

 

 

 

 

Sea Cliffs, Vistas, Sunrise, Sunset, Beaches & Waterfalls

 

 

 

 

The story of The Girl on a Beach is located [here].

Single Track Roads with Passing Places

The vast majority of the trip was spent getting to and from places that are accessed via Single Track Roads with Passing Places.

Driving these roads can be fairly simple and stress free.  The Rules of the Road are easy to follow.  1. Drive on the single lane road and be aware of any oncoming traffic. Acknowledge their presence with a quick flash of your headlight.  If oncoming traffic presents itself, drive to the next designated Passing Place and no further.  If the Passing Place is on your side of the road, pull into it and let traffic pass, finishing with Shaka wave.  If not, drive on the road to the point of the Passing Place, and let the oncoming traffic pull into the Passing Place, and continue on, finishing with a Shaka wave.

There is No Place Like Home

For this trip, as with almost all, we conducted home exchanges.  We have been members of HomeExchange since its beginning about 30 years ago.  To conduct an exchange, you have to be a certified paying member, who is a real-person, and demonstrate your place is yours and it is real as well.  No monies are to be exchanged.  You can also exchange vehicles and the like if desired.

For this trip we exchanged with Val & Steve in Edinburgh (Dalgety Bay) and Bryan on the Sleat Peninsula on Isle of Skye (Teangue).  Both homes are fantastic in superb locations.  We find trips are much more enjoyable and relaxing when staying in someone’s home versus a place setup for a short-term rental or a Hotel Room.

 

 

 

Flowers and Trees

My passion for photographing flowers is endless.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Churchill Barriers, Scapa Flow, and HMS Royal Oak

In World War I and World War II Scapa Flow of the Orkney Islands was the United Kingdom’s chief naval base. Home to the British Navy’s Grand Fleet and Home Fleet.  The HMS Royal Oak was sunk in October 1939 while anchored at Scapa Flow by German Submarine U-47. 835 of the ship’s 1,234 men were killed. The Churchill Barriers were created as a result.  Today the Churchill Barriers are four nicely paved causeways that make up part of road A961.

For information on the Churchill Barriers look [here].

For information on the Scapa Flow look [here].

For information on HMS Royal Oak look [here].

 

 

Start Early, Finish Late & Take the Scenic Route

By choice, most of the days started before sunrise and finished with a home cooked meal just as sunset approached.

Therefore, Western Scotland, Loch Lomond, The Trossachs, Glenn Garry and Eastern Scotland through Perth were also experienced.  Travel through these areas included an unexpected amount of change in scenery and setting in the space of a few miles.

 

 

Everyday places in a Remarkable Country

The transit system in Scotland (Scottish Railway, Subway, Tram, and Bus) is outstanding.  We used Scottish Railway for the trips into Edinburgh and to Glasgow.  We used the Tram for the Airport.  The longest any of them were off from schedule, was a couple of minutes time. Staff for these organizations were friendly and helpful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I Always Like a Map

*** Jeff’s Thoughts and Other Worthless Trivia ****

Scotland, my oh my… what a place and what a people.

I recommend Rick Steve’s Travel Guide for preparation and planning.  By following his recommendations you can avoid (if you desire) Tourist Traps. A link to his website is [here] and the link to his book is [here].

Being a member of HomeExchange and conducting a HomeExchange is a material difference maker as it relates to the enjoyment on the trip.  A link to HomeExchange is [here].

The Ground Rule as it relates to photography for this trip. 

I photographed as a tourist, not a professional. I felt like a kid in a candy store. While my shots are captured using some of the very best photographic gear in the world, they are made as part of a trip operating as a tourist. 

Light and the angle of light are crucial to my professional work.  Time of day, time of year, and weather are of similarly importance.  However, these aspects were not considered, or adjusted for at any time during the trip for any image captured.  In short, no special side shoots were conducted. The shot was the shot at the time we visited.  However Linda did let me take my time on the shot if I desired.  There was no Shot-Clock enforcement.

During our travel adventures, the weather was great, often with clear skies and the sun high in the sky.  More often than not, these conditions do not create conditions for an artistically compelling image. None-the-less it was wonderful to see Scotland with such ideal conditions as a visitor.  Given the great weather, the best images were captured in my mind.

Photographic Gear Used On This Trip:

• IPhone (14)
• Sony RX1r
  • Zeiss 35MM F2.0 lens
• Nikon Z9
  • Nikkor Z 70-200M F2.8 lens
• PHASEONE IQ150 Digital back.
• CAMBO WRS 5000 Technical Camera
  • Schneider 60MM f5.6 Lens
  • Rodenstock 90MM f5.6 Lens
  • Schneider 120MM f5.6 Lens
• GITZO G-LOCK ULTRA Tripod
• ARCA SWISS C1 Cube Geared Panning Head

I did perform one key aspect as it relates to planning. All of my gear, 42 pounds worth, was packed in the special camera bag created by my son Kyle for me in 2013.  The full bag was at-the-ready in the car on every drive or on my back for every hike and walk.

Each of the photographic devices mentioned above are terrific for capturing images. I like and use them all with confidence.  However, each are different in terms of their capability, strength and weakness.  The differences between are difficult to demonstrate via a website and a computer monitor display.

For example:

The IPhone is a rather magnificent device.  It’s normal output can produce some great work at 300 dots per inch (DPI) in 11″ by 14″ (100% size) and 8Bit Color (256 colors per channel).

At the other extreme is the PHASEONE IQ.   Combined with the Cambo and the lens’ listed above, some of the images captured on this trip are 48″ by 80″ in their native (100%) size and 16Bit Color (65,536 colors per channel).

Note:  Most Computer Monitors display in 8Bit Color and at 72DPI.

Note:  I receive no compensation for making recommendations.