Megan Mullin—an 11-year O.A.T. associate and Senior Copywriter—was captivated by the shimmering lochs of Scotland during our Scotland Revealed: Legends, Lochs & Highland Landscapes adventure.
By Megan Mullin, Senior Copywriter
Overseas Adventure Travel has always been the leader in solo friendly travel, long before I began my 11-year tenure here. This past April, I decided it was high time for me to experience traveling solo firsthand. I chose Scotland Revealed: Legends, Lochs & Highland Landscapes as my first solo trip. I was a little nervous as I headed out on my own, but all fears dissolved as soon as I touched down in Glasgow and was welcomed into a lively group of travelers all eager to make new friends.
Dramatic Landscapes
For a relatively small country, Scotland boasts a wide variety of landscapes. We began our cross-country journey driving through the imposing peaks and rugged hills of its legendary Highlands, stopping along the way to sample our first "wee dram" of local whisky as the winds whipped around us. Amid these cascading cliffs lay glens (valleys) and vast, sparkling lochs. We boarded a cruise across Loch Lomond and kept an eye out for a certain legendary cryptid at Loch Ness. Scotland is also blessed with myriad seaside locations—from remote, scenic islands to picture-perfect bays like Oban.
Creatures Great and Small
One Scottish beastie I was excited to meet was the famous Highland cow—locally known as a "hairy coo." My wishes were granted during A Day in the Life of a Highland cattle farm. Farm owners John and Queenie, along with farm manager Stuart, introduced us to their award-winning herd who spend nearly all their time grazing in their natural habitat, the hilly Highlands. As it was April, we also got to meet a handful of calves, curious little creatures who—without their iconic horns—looked for all the world like living teddy bears.
While I expected to see the coos, our group was also fortunate enough to encounter two more groups of local fauna. First, we were practically bombarded by a friendly pack of dogs that belonged to the ghille (deerstalker) of a local laird’s estate. Then during a walk on Newburgh-on-Ythan Beach, we witnessed the largest colony of grey seals I have ever seen.
An Assortment of Castles
If there is one sight synonymous with Scotland, it’s castles. They dot the landscape, popping up on hilltops and in the middle of empty fields. It wasn’t just the quantity of castles that amazed me, but the variety. We saw the medieval ruins of the once mighty Urquhart Castle, left to crumble by the shores of Loch Ness. Then in Aberdeenshire, we explored the meticulously restored Fyvie Castle—originally built in the 13th century and updated over the centuries as it passed from family to family (and collected a fair number of ghosts along the way). And of course, we marveled at the famous Edinburgh Castle, whose perch high atop Castle Rock made it a sight to see for miles around.
The Soundtrack of Caledonia
My fellow travelers and I may not have been able to carry the Munros (mountains) of the Highlands back with us, or hide a hairy coo in our carry-ons, but one thing we all left with was an appreciation of Scotland’s rich musical culture. An enthusiastic duo entertained us in Aberdeen with traditional fiddle and Clarsach (Scottish harp) music. After dinner in Inverness, a few of us nipped into a local pub to hear some live "trad" (traditional) folk music. In Edinburgh, we sat down to a private bagpipe presentation. And throughout our journey, Trip Experience Leader Dominic played a variety of Scottish tunes on the bus—from classics like "The Bonnie Banks o’ Loch Lomond" to the more modern "Sweet Dreams" by Aberdeen native Annie Lennox. Finally, at our Farewell Dinner, our group came together one last time as we sang "Auld Lang Syne"—hands clasped. I may have embarked on this adventure solo, but I never felt alone!
Experience Scotland’s dramatic landscapes, beasties, plethora of castles, and rich musical culture during our Scotland Revealed: Legends, Lochs & Highland Landscapes adventure.
