It was our third day in Scotland. We booked online with Rabbies tour operators who are famous tour operators of Scotland. Though there are many we chose this one. You can book the seat on link tours@rabbies.com. They operate even in all UK and Europe as well. One ticket cost was £66 for tour from 8 AM to 7 PM pick up and drop at Edinburgh Waterloo Place very near to Edinburgh railway station.
It was a mini bus of about 30 seats and which was almost full with Spanish, French, American, Brazilian and few latin American tourists. I think in all must be 25 passengers.
4 buses were waiting and intially there was some confusion regarding which bus we have to board. The English accent of Scottish is slightly difficult to understand and some even do not know English as I madeout in shops etc. Also keep some £ change with you for rest room etc.
The bus started almost on time. So we should not be late in any case else they will miss you. The month was May mid and a pleasant weather (bit cold for us). After about 50 KM from Edinburgh the Highlands of Scotland started.
The distances of the landmarks is
Edinburgh to Lake Lubinag – 102 KM
Lake Lubinag to Glancoe – 96 KM
Glancoe to Lochness – 105 KM
The driver was well equipped with information about history of Scotland which he sited time to time. But their main objective was just to cover Loch Lubinag, Glancoe and highlands so he did not stop at all at any other place even for a minute though he sited some history about the Sterling palace where Mary, the queen of Scots was born and brought up, her full story full of sorrows and harry potter bridge. This was his professional attitude.
Loch Lubinaig
Our first stop was Loch Lubinaig (Loch means lake) after about 3 hours journey (102 KM. It had started raining and cold had increased much. Inspite of rain we got down from the bus and took photographs and used restrooms by paying some sterlings cash. It was a big and serene lake and did not see any boats here. Bus stopped for 20 minutes.
Start of actual Highlands
Glancoe
Our next stop was Glancoe. Glancoe are the tough terrain of mountains. We can still some sparse trees and vegetation here in valley part. There are some streams of water body here and there.
As told by driver cum guide that a massacre of 38 revoltees by Scottish government forces took place in Glancoe in 1692.
This revolt (jacobite rising) was against William III and mary II as revolytees wanted to crown James VII following his depostion in 1688. Jacobitism was on rise in Highlands of scotland for support of seniors of House of Stuart to british throne.
The habitants who stay in Highland regions are called Highlanders.
The earliest Vikings entered Scotland through Glancoe from 8th century. The indulged in robbings and massacre to dominate the region. They used to travel in summer and raid in night. In Europe they entered mostly from Glancoe mountains while in Russia they entered from East Europe. By 9th century many vikings settled in Glancoe.
Scottish also developed a strategy to tame some Vikings and learn their tactics to counter. By 11th century Vikings were seriously opposed by Scottish locals. Viking influence was to continue as ownership of the glen passed into the hands of his descendants, the powerful MacDougall clan in the eleventh century. The above 38 killed were of MacDougall clan.
Campbells were their neighbors and fought with MacDougall clan to dominate.
The case of revolt was MacDonalds were forever associated with Royalist and rebel causes, whilst the Campbells became increasingly involved with the authority of government.
Lake Lomond
This is the biggest lake of Scotland. But driver showed this from far and dont know why it is not in itinerary map.
Loch Ness Lake
It is second biggest lake of Scotland after Lake Lomond. A river called ness flows into it.
This is world famous lake on account of the rumors of seeing a dianasaur type monster ‘Nessie’. There have been many claims but not yet proved truly. Finally it is said that it is just hoax and exists only in Scottish folklore and not in real.
But truly Nessie made the lake famous and enquisitive tourist attraction. Thats why driver took us to this lake and not lake Lomond which is biggest lake of Scotland?
In itinerary we see a point Fort Augustus but as driver told it does not exist-it is just a school not fort.
Potlochry
From Lochness we took return. Bus stopped here for rest room. Driver showed us some victorian houses from far. On way we saw some typical sheep belonging to the regions of UK. People were so enthusiastic to take photos of these sheep.
It is a Bangladeshi restaurant but run taking advantage of name of India. It is in “Pitlochry town” in Highlands of Scotland. I went there to have a cup of tea like Indian Dhaba but they told they can provide Taj dip tea.
Epilogue
Though this lake is volume wise biggest among Scotland, England and Welsh yet for tourists the bus drops us at a corner of lake. The weather is rainy and cold so not so easy to trail around lake much. There are few medium steamers and boats available but it costs about £30 but gives a we can not resist to boat into mythical Loch Ness lake. Its beauty invokes a sense of pride and thrill while its monster is legendary only. If we take one day tour by bus it becomes somewhat hurry and best way is to spend a night and day in Loch Ness which we could not do. We can get hotels in Loch Ness for about £80 per day. Indian hotel where I took lunch is just beside the lake main market.
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