Wow, it was another busy summer in the Mitchell household this year. We had our calendar so full with our many houseguests and adventures that we are finally getting around to working on a few blogs.
We started our summer off with a 2 week visit from CJ's best friend, LoriAnna, visiting us from Tennessee.
Our first day we enjoyed a sunny afternoon in the garden, then a walk downtown for dinner and drinks.
The next morning we got up early for a road trip, then hopped the ferry to the Isle of Mull.
We took a scenic drive around the Isle, stopping in Tobermory for lunch. Tobermory is the very picturesque capital of Mull with a population of 700.
After lunch we continued on our road trip around the Isle enjoying the beautiful sights.
The next morning we headed to Fionnphort for a boat trip to the Isles of Staffa and Iona.
The Isle of Staffa is an uninhabited island, home of the famous Fingal's Cave and a nesting site for Puffins.
The island’s distinctive six-sided columns of rock are formed from basalt, the same as the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland. After seeing Giant's Causeway last year, it was really great to be able to see "the other side of the causeway" as the legend states.
Staffa was an amazing, beautiful and peaceful sight to see. We were all very excited that we got to see the puffins. (That's another item checked off of our bucket lists.)
Our next stop was Isle of Iona. Iona is a small island in the Inner Hebrides off of the Isle of Mull, currently inhabited by around 130 people.
Our next stop was Isle of Iona. Iona is a small island in the Inner Hebrides off of the Isle of Mull, currently inhabited by around 130 people.
Iona Abbey
Maclean's Cross
Iona Nunnery
Iona is thought to be the first Christian site in Scotland. Christian Saint Columba arrived in 563 AD, exiled from his native country of Ireland, as a result of his involvement in the Battle of Cul Dreimhne. Columba and twelve companions went into exile on Iona and founded a monastery there. The monastery was hugely successful, and played a crucial role in the conversion to Christianity of the Picts of present-day Scotland in the late 6th century and of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Northumbria in 635.
Iona stole a piece of our hearts, we truly enjoyed the relaxing sunny afternoon on the tiny island and couldn't get over how amazing the scenery truly was.
Isle of Mull Hotel and Spa
Rest and Be Thankful is one of our favorite stops along they way.
The remainder of the week was spent hanging in Helensburgh with friends, a train trip to Edinburgh and a shopping day in Glasgow.
Edinburgh New Town
Highland Coos, puffins, sheep, castles, waterfalls, lochs, mountains, trains, ferries, kilts and bagpipers.
Our week had come to an end and the Scotland bucket list had been checked off. It was a wonderful week of adventures and making lifetime memories with such a great friend.
Catch our next blog as CJ and LoriAnna head to Paris and London as they continue on their "Best Friends Adventures in Europe."
John and CJ
The next morning we headed out to explore a little bit more of Mull before hitting the ferry back to Oban.
Our first stop was Durart Castle.
Durart Castle dates back to the 13th century and is the seat of Clan MacLean. The castle was used as a location in the 1999 film Entrapment, starring Sean Connery (who has MacLean ancestry on his mother's side) and Catherine Zeta-Jones, was featured in the 1971 film When Eight Bells Toll, starring Anthony Hopkins, and is also the setting for the base of Buffy Summers in the first half of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, season eight.
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| 20+ ft tall Rhododendrons along the side of the roads |
We really enjoyed exploring the Isles of Staffa, Iona and Mull, they are all absolutely beautiful. It was a very peaceful, relaxing and disconnected kind of weekend, but now it was time to head back to the mainland.
Oban
We had lunch and browsed a bit in Oban, before hitting the road to continue the way back home. (Of course with a few stops along the way.)
Our next stop was Dunstaffnage Castle. It is a partially ruined castle with an irregular quadrangular structure and is surrounded on three sides by the sea. The castle dates back to the 13th century, making it one of Scotland's oldest stone castles. It was built by the MacDougall lords of Lorn, and has been held since the 15th century by the Clan Campbell.
Inveraray Castle
The remainder of the week was spent hanging in Helensburgh with friends, a train trip to Edinburgh and a shopping day in Glasgow.
This was LoriAnna's first train trip.
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh New Town
Highland Coos, puffins, sheep, castles, waterfalls, lochs, mountains, trains, ferries, kilts and bagpipers.
Our week had come to an end and the Scotland bucket list had been checked off. It was a wonderful week of adventures and making lifetime memories with such a great friend.
Catch our next blog as CJ and LoriAnna head to Paris and London as they continue on their "Best Friends Adventures in Europe."
Sending love to our family and friends,
Cheers!John and CJ
When people ask me what was my favorite part of Scotland - I can never give a complete answer. All of it was absolutely breathtaking and amazing. The Coo's, the roads, the funny accent's, the puffins (the roads were not my favorite but they were memorable!). The magic of Scotland can never be actualized in words.. its on my bucket list part 2.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that you also found Scotland to be amazing. It is hard to explain to people, just how breathtaking and amazing it is. We are looking forward to your Bucket List Part 2 visit!
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