Scotland: Cairngorms, Inverness, Culloden, Cawdor Castle, Urquhart Castle & the Loch Ness Monster
This is Part 4 of my recap of my 2024 trip back to Scotland. For Part 1 of this series (Edinburgh) - visit here. For Part 2 (Culross) - visit here. For Part 3 (Bannockburn) - visit here.
(May 2024)
HIGHLANDS/FOLK MUSUEM
For my next leg, I will work my way from Pitlochry up to Inverness. Along the way, I wanted to make a return visit to the Highland Folk Museum. I had visited on my very first trip to Scotland back in 2015. I discovered it while driving through the highlands and needed a spot to stretch. my legs. I stopped by only within 30 minutes of them closing, so I only was able to visit a small portion of their massive property. I have always wanted to revisit so that I could take my time and see all that I could of the exhibitry. The Highland Folk Museum is located in the heart of Badenoch and features an open-air museum that tells the story of everyday life in the highlands from the 1700s to the 1950s. They have living history actors, demonstrations, interactive exhibitory, historic buildings & homes, and an active farm with livestock. There is so much to discover and learn from here and is a great setting for families and groups. Their authentic dwellings and artifacts have been used for filming, and yes, including Outlander.
The museum is expansive with lots of walking involved. Be sure to wear comfy walking shoes (especially for uneven terrain) and a rain jacket. The highlands can be sunny one moment and downpour the next, so come prepared. It is all self-guided, so you can go at your own pace and take in as much or as little as you'd like. There is no charge to visit (only a small fee for parking), however donations are highly encouraged. Please add this to your list of must-see places!
I took a scenic drive up to Inverness from Newtonmore through Aviemore. I stopped at the darling Old Bridge Inn & Bunkhouse for a delicious burger lunch. I absolutely fell in love with the aesthetic of their inn and restaurant - rustic wood, leather seats, warm lighting and cozy nooks. They have beautiful rooms and are also known for their live music performances. I definitely want to return again in the future.
INVERNESS
Arriving to Inverness a bit too early, I had a couple hours to spend before checking into my next Airbnb. Now, back in Edinburgh, I had taken a couple trips to their botanic gardens and glasshouse. Researching, I found that Inverness also has a botanic garden, so I wanted to be sure to also visit theirs. I'm so glad I did - absolutely stunning. I paid a small fee to park and then enjoyed the grounds. They have gorgeous outdoor gardens displaying the wide variety of botanicals and vegetation and featuring various gardening techniques and methods. Then, they have an absolutely stunning tropical glasshouse with jungle-like tunnels, and a desert cactus room. There are several places to tuck away and enjoy a quiet spot as you listen to the water lapping in the water features throughout. If you are a bit hungry or thirsty, there is a lovely cafe on site as well. Here is my TikTok video of my time here.
Being here was a great reminder to why being in nature is so important to us as humans. I felt immediately refreshed and grounded - even more at peace. Going into my second week of traveling on my own, although very liberating and a strong sense of independence, missing home and the people that I love was starting to wear on me. I wanted so badly to share my experience with others in the moment I was experiencing them. And although I never felt any judgement from anyone at any place I visited as to me traveling on my own, I couldn't help but feel a bit lonely. Being here in the middle of this beautiful surrounding of nature, I found peace in being alone so that I could savor every minute reflective and coming back to my center.
I made my way into the city center of Inverness to shop for some necessities for the next couple of days, so of course I had to stock up at my favorite gocer at Sainsbury's. I then headed to my Airbnb hosted by the lovely Angela. I stayed in a studio that is semi-attached to the side of her home overlooking a perfectly quaint back garden. She even popped a welcome sign on the gate for me and stocked a few snacks and teas for me in the unit. I adored my stay here - it was perfectly situation with everything I needed and was super cozy and comfortable. It is still an active place to book on Airbnb, so be sure to add to your list! Here is my TikTok video of my stay here.
CULLODEN
I got much needed rest, fueled up with a homemade breakfast, and head out for my next series of adventures with a jam-packed schedule of places to discover. I went straight to the Culloden battlefield which was only a few miles outside of Inverness. Here on April 16th 1746, the Jacobite Rising came to a brutal head in this final battle against the English where, in just an hour, over 1,500 out of the 1,600 men killed in battle were Jacobites. Several clans were completely ended here on the battlefield. Culloden is a very significant part of Scottish history and you can still feel the emotions from the significant loss they experienced that day. After this final battle (which was the last pitched battle on British soil), Scotland's rich culture and traditions were being erased by the English - it became illegal to wear tartan, play the bagpipes, or speak gaelic, and the clan system was abolished.
Start off your time at the battlefield by first walking thorugh the visitor center which is beautifully done. They did a phenomenal job at explaining the history of the conflict and Jacobite Rising, the battle itself, and the aftermath and affect it had on Scottish lives. Interactive screens, 360 degree battle room, and artifacts are available to view before heading out to the expansive field. Once you step outside, you see what feels like hundreds of acres, of flat grassy terrain. There are marked footpaths to take and you see across the field the tops of large stones placed here and there. As you approach a stone, you find a name, and then realize that each stone represents a clan represented in the battle. For those Outlander fans, of course the Fraser stone gets a lot of attention - but please remember this battlefield is real, and the stone set there is real and a tribute to the lives lost that day - it's not a movie set or a prop, so please be respectful. Here is my TikTok video of my visit to Culloden.
Just a few miles down the road are the Clava Cairns. I highly recommend to add this to your visit to Culloden. The Clava Cairns are over 4,000 years old and were built to house the dead. They are a prehistoric burial and ritual sight and are preserved examples of what death and afterlife meant to the people of the Bronze Age. There are standing stones still erect here on site as well. And, again, please remember that these are real, historic and culturally important burial sights and they deserve the utmost respect when visiting. You'd be surprised how many ADULT MEN were causing havoc and completely disrepecting the sight (I full on witnessed a man in his 40s see if he can 'knock over' a standing stone). Luckily, other visitors intervened. Ugh! Anyhow, here is my TikTok video on my visit to the cairns. They are free to visit and park - the site isn't very big but there are 2 main sections of cairns to view - estimate about 30 minutes to enjoy the location. Come prepared as there were no toilets or a visitor center - it is just a fenced-in rural area next to farmland.
CAWDOR CASTLE
Next I needed a place to find something to eat. I googled a few options and found a cafe on the ground of Cawdor Castle. I hadn't heard about Cawdor before, but figured, why not? So I drove about 18 minutes away from Clava Cairns to Cawdor Castle. This impromptu excursion turned into one of my favorite places I've visited outside of Edinburgh. There was something that was drawing me to this place. Once I arrived, it felt familiar, warm, comfortable... like home. A place I have never been to, but maybe I have in a past life. I started off with a bit to eat in their cafe before heading on a tour of the castle itself. The castle dates back to the 14th century and has been the home to the Cawdors for over 600 years. The grounds are immaculate and very magical - my favorite was the tunnel of yellow blossoms to walk through. They have a 9-hole golf course, gardens, and walking trails to enjoy outside. Here is my TikTok video of my visit.
URQUHART CASTLE & LOCH NESS
I departed Cawdor and traveled towards Loch Ness to visit the very iconic and impressive Urquhart Castle. If you aren't familiar with Urquhart, you have at least seen it on travel sites and postcards featuring Scotland. The castle ruins sit upon a hill overlooking Loch Ness. It served as a fortress and originally one of Scotland's biggest castles for over 500 years. Throughout the hundreds of years of conflict, the castle was picked apart and eventually was destroyed during the Jacobite Rising.
When you arrive to the castle grounds, you will first start your visit in the interpretation center which houses a theatre, cafe and expansive gift shop. You will start in the theatre to watch a quick video talking through the history of the castle, and as it stops, the curtain pull back and they reveal a perfect view of the castle and lake. The walk down to the ruins isn't a short one. You take about a 8-10 minute walk downhill on a paved path. You will pass by a trebuchet, walk through the castle gate and then can climb the ruins. I decided to preserve my energy for the hike back up the hill so I didn't climb too much. Here is my TikTok video of my visit.
LOCH NESS MONSTER
I wasn't going to stop by the next place as overtly touristy spots aren't entirely my jam, but when the highland cow farm was closed for the day I changed up my plans and decided why not check out what this mystery about the Loch Ness monster is all about. So, I swung by the Loch Ness Experience. They have an interactive museum, as well as packages that include boat tours of the loch and prviate guided tours of the museum. The museum itself is focused on wether or not you ended up believing in the legend of the Nessie. You walk through immersive rooms with props and videos playing. There are artifacts along the way, as well as videos, photos and recordings of real-life stories from individuals who claimed to have seen the monster. By the end of the visit, you cast your vote on if you believe. This ended up being much more educational and entertaining than I had originally thought and am so glad that I ended up visiting. It was worth the admission fee, kept me out of the rain... and dare I say, maybe I'm a believer too after visiting!
To finish off my long day of adventures, I stopped for a bit of dinner before heading back to my Airbnb. I opted for Fiddler's Highland Restaurant and had the most delicious white fish with bay shrimp over vegetables and salad. It all melted in my mouth!
Off to bed for another round of sightseeing and exploring as I round out the last few days of my trip.
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