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Highland Safari Zoo

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Highland Safari Zoo

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Scotland:NC500

We headed north east from Perth and landed in Aberdeen where a random pick from the GPS (after a few misfires) took us to Allans Guesthouse which turned out to be my favorite accommodation in Scotland. We had a genuine pub meal down the road (is there such a thing as too much haddock and chips?) and spent the evening chatting with our lovely hosts and got some hot travelling tips for the highlands. Over the next few days we explored the beauty of Scotland. Ballindaloch Castle was a highlight not just because it is actually lived in currently by a young family but also because we happened to meet the lady of the house out walking her spaniels along the river! She was deliciously posh and had the biggest pearl choker on that I have ever seen - paired with a claret coloured felt hat and Burberry overcoat for schlepping in the rain. We googled her after and she is the Queen's representative in her shire! We stayed at country houses and drove the North Coast 500. A stunningly beautiful and somewhat crazy 500 mile stretch of (mostly single lane) road taking in the northern highlands. We stopped at John O'Groats and peered out beyond the north-western most tip to the Shetlands. We were honorary Scottish for the night when Scotland played to get into the World Cup (winner winner chicken dinner). We attempted the Old Man of Storr walk on Isle of Skye but the weather was very much against us on that one. We stayed in the most beautiful log cabin in the woods of Abercrombie and enjoyed a log fire. Took in the highland safari zoo which had polar bears, wolves and Scottish Wildcats (looked like ferals to me). The beauty of Scotland was absolutely heart melting and I know for a fact that Joel already longs to return. The people and the country make for a very good holiday. Will definitely be returning to Scotland!

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Scone Palace

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Scotland:Perth

Perth was our first stop as we headed north from Edinburgh. We discovered our name sake was a beautiful little town on a riverfront. We found our hotel by typing hotel into our GPS and wonderfully came across a refurbished water mill. We spent the afternoon and following morning taking in the sculpture walk along the river, admiring the heather and discovering a railway bridge walk that crosses over a golf course in an island! On our way towards the north east we stopped in at the Scone Palace where all the Scottish kings were crowned. Best things about palaces? Soup & sandwiches with tea & scones :)

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Scone Palace

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Edinburgh

We landed in a wet and cold Edinburgh late Friday night. We decided to grab a famous black cab to head into town as we were pretty desperate for a shower and some dinner. We stayed with an artist named Ingrid in her Air Bnb and it was perfect on Inverleith Row near the Botanic Gardens. That first night we ambled up the road in search of dinner but as ot was already close to 10pm we struggled. We ended up in a Chinese restaurant if all things for our first night in Scotland but it was delish and the service was great. We both slept so soundly that night snuggled into our doonas (nothing like 40°C Italy!) Saturday we explored and grabbed tickets to Fringe shows. We attempted to go into Edinburgh Castle but the line was about 1km long! Instead we went on the whisky experience tour and left slightly sozzled after 5 tastings. That night we had our first Fringe show and saw Meow Meow in her interpretation of The Little Mermaid (she is actually an Australian cabaret performer) and it was nothing short of brilliant. Sunday we picniced in the Botanic Gardens and Joel was pretty delighted with the squirrels running around. Ingrid invited us to have a family dinner with her but we went out to explore the pubs and restaurants before our midnight show. We drank cocktails at Bramble which is a bar underground beneath a laundromat and dined at Chez Julz which was also quirky and delicious. We then stumbled into an old fashioned Scottish pub to find a band playing traditional music. Finally midnight rocked around (ha we are so old) and we spent the next couple of hours absolutely pissing our pants laughing. I wrote down the comedians names so I encourage you to look up their work because so so funny. Monday was our last morning so we set off to the airport attempting to rent a car....