For the third episode of our accessible holidays we will tell you about our experience of a nice equipped coach tour through the streets of Scotland in August 2014. Eight busy days, staying overnight in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Fort William and having the chance to reach many important goals; all thanks to the excellent organization of "our" tour operator Movimondo and the Strabordo Association. And let's start with a classic, the boat trip on Loch Ness, an excursion that is still worthwhile even if you are not lucky enough to meet the famous prehistoric monster Nessie (we have not seen it, but we do not know never...).
the castle of Urquart:
A beautiful sunny day enlivened the visit to Elgin Cathedral, or rather what remains of this grandiose building built in 1224, destroyed for the first time in 1390 and then definitively at the time of the Reformation.
And the first drop of whisky of a long series we drank during the guided tour of the Glennfiddich distillery, where we were illustrated the production processes, the history of the company and three different qualities of the famous nectar were submitted to us:
We would like to point out that no advertising revenue was paid to COMMA 2 for this unintentional spot !!!
Another goal reached in our wandering was the Isle of Skye, connected to the mainland by a bridge; first, however, we made a stop to admire the Eilean Donan Castle, a fascinating building overlooking a cove:
But here we are on the Isle of Skye:
the magnificent viewpoint of Kilt Rock, where the rock seems to take the shape of the characteristic Scottish kilt:
the port of Portree:
From Skye, heading towards Edinburgh, you cross the Highlands with their typical landscapes:
But before arriving in Edinburgh, a stop is required at Stirling Castle, one of the most important castles in Scottish history. Begun in the 12th century, its current appearance is largely Renaissance:
Let's take a look at the royal apartments:
We finally arrive in Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland, rich in history and important buildings and characterized by its important slopes, which make electric wheelchairs or sturdy companions preferable for seated warriors. Let's start with a site that does not present excessive difficulties, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, built in 1498 by James IV on the guesthouse of the Holyrood abbey as the residence of the sovereigns; still today the English royals, when they visit Edinburgh, stay here:
And these are the ruins of Holyrood Abbey:
On top of a bastion of basalt rock overhanging on three sides from a height of over 100 meters is Edinburgh Castle, a complex of buildings erected between the twelfth and eighteenth centuries, largely accessible to us, which are the summa of the political and military history of Scotland up to the present day:
And from the Castle you can cross the Old Town going down the so-called Royal Mile, until you reach Holyroodhouse. The Royal Mile is the most important street in Edinburgh, full of buildings, churches and shops:
the cathedral of Saint Giles:
We leave Edinburgh for Glasgow, but first we stop at Rosslyn Chapel, a chapel built in 1446, still open to worship but today a destination for esoteric enthusiasts since Dan Brown set some scenes from the Da Vinci Code there:
And let's close this tour in Scotland with the industrial metropolis that in recent decades has been able to transform itself into one of the most dynamic cultural cities in the United Kingdom. We are talking about Glasgow, of course, of which we begin to see the Cathedral of Saint Mungo, named after the monk who founded it in the 7th century:
A touch of Scottish color caught on the street:
and then a look at the port, where you can perceive the news of recent times:
And we leave Glasgow with the images of the Kelvingrove Museum, which brings together in a cheerful creative disorder works of classical art, contemporary art, design, animal skeletons, Egyptian finds and much more:
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