Visiting Scotland

A couple of years ago, we took a British Isles cruise. My only requirement was to visit Scotland. Scotland is, after all, my heritage – my roots. My dad’s family was from the McNabb clan, and my mother’s family were Nicholsons. I felt drawn to Scotland, and seeing it for the first time, I understood why so many Scottish families settled in Tennessee and North Carolina.

Our terrain is much like Scotland, except much hotter in the summertime. The rolling hills of Middle Tennessee look so much like the highlands in Scotland. It was paradise. Traveling to Scotland is traveling to a land of mountains and hills, of poets and warriors, where a drive to remain free from domination by others never failed its people. Even our bluegrass music and “clogging” are similar to that we heard and saw in Scotland.

It’s kilts and clans, bagpipes and Braveheart. You go to the United Kingdom the first time for England, but then return for Scotland. More than two-thirds of Scotland is mountainous and the Highlands remain a rural setting for unspoiled lakes and valleys.

Scotland’s national drink, whiskey, is uisge beatha, meaning “water of life” in Gaelic. Distilleries abound, and one which we visited reminded us of the Jack Daniels Distillery in Lynchburg.

Homecoming Scotland is celebrating the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, the national poet of Scotland in 2009.

For the golfers, we can’t forget the national sport of Scotland. Even if you don’t get to play St. Andrews, a visit there is worth the time. Golf courses are everywhere, but must be booked in advance.

The freshwater lakes in Scotland, or “lochs” as they are known, are major attractions scattered throughout the country, with ancient castles overlooking the mysterious deeps. You will definitely want to search for the “Nessie”, the monster, at Loch Ness.

You can walk Edinburgh’s fashionable Royal Mile and visit Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace, the royal family’s residence in Scotland. The Royal Yacht Britannia is there as well.
Throughout the summer season, the Highland Games take place. Historic and modern track and field events, piping and Highland dancing competitions are the major attractions for visitors from around the world.

There are five times more people of Scottish descent in other countries than there are in Scotland itself. Genealogy is one of the most often cited reasons for travel to Scotland. You can learn more at Ancestral Scotland

By the way, the picture is of Holyrood House, Queen Elizabeth's residence in Edinburgh. So, crank up the bagpipes, put on your kilt and head on over to Scotland. But, tell them to keep the haggis.