I had plans when I was thinking of my year off of continuing travel in Eastern Europe and Turkey, but then had my 81-year old father ask if I would join him as a driver on a week in Scotland. For the past week I have had the fun of driving on the left hand side of the road and taking my Dad, his wife Marion, and my sister Fiona to a few sites near Pitlochry, Scotland.
Pitlochry is a small town with a bit of a tourist feel. It has a lot of walking routes connected to it, is close to the Cairngorm Mountains, and has fostered a local tourist experience with stores, spas, and local activities to appeal to a range of tourists.
My dad is waiting for a hip replacement and was in some pain following his flight. This made is mobility somewhat limited, but he still wanted to ensure he got out to see as much as possible.
Our first full day we went to see Crieff and Aberfeldy. Crieff was a town where my Dad went to school as a boy. It was interesting to hear of the sites he had spoken off including his old school and boarding house. It was a great chance to hear about his experience and better picture his stories. Aberfeldy was a small town that we stopped in for lunch (haggis bon bons were on a few menus but this was where I first tried them). Just outside of Aberfeldy was Castle Menzies, the ancestral home of the eponymous family. It had fallen into disrepair after the start of the 20th century and had been fixed up over the past half century by a group trying to preserve its history. It was an interesting example of how a 16th century keep could be reinforced and redeveloped overtime to create a stately home. The lower level was in its rougher more original feel, but the upper floors had been returned to their condition as they would have been in the late 18th to mid-19th century. One of the tower rooms claimed that it had been where Bonnie Prince Charlie spent a time on his way to Culloden in 1745. On the way home we made a quick stop at the Dewar’s distillery. Although all the tours were booked it was good to see the site and their store.
My Dad’s cousin’s wife and her daughter came up from Glasgow on Friday evening to join us to watch a pipe band parade that was occurring on Saturday morning. I had met Dorothy and Claire on a previous trip to Scotland, but it was good to see them after all this time. It was good to spend time with them. The pipe band parade was relatively short with only about ten bands marching. It was good to see the crowds and hear the music as they marched past. My Dad had a hotel room looking out on the Main Street where the bands were marching past and was excited to be able to watch them from the comfort of his own hotel room. After a nice lunch with the cousins we bid them adieu with the plan to meet the broader cousins the following day.
On Sunday, we drove out to Drymen to meet the Cousins at The Clachan, a pub that claims to be the oldest in Scotland. On their sign they indicated a 1734 incorporation as a public house. It was a cool little pub and allowed us a great opportunity to connect with our cousins over a Sunday Roast. It was also fun to see some more of the Scottish countryside, including a drive past Stirling Castle. Although likely not the highlight of the trip, once back in Pitlochry, I had the opportunity to try haggis ice cream. Surprisingly better than I expected, but likely a one time thing.
The next day we had a more relaxing day. Fiona and I explored a bit of the area around Pitlochry before she left to return to Romania. Dad, Marion and I went to see Blair Castle. It was about 12 kilometres from Pitlochry and was the home of the Dukes and Earls of Atholl. It was a very stately home that had been maintained in great condition along with significant gardens and grounds. The house included an audio tour that helped to explain the castle and its history. It was a good experience to explore the home.
Pitlochry was also a great town to just wander around. Its scenic environment and picturesque setting made it enjoyable to wander and take pictures. It had an extensive array of eating establishments with good food and drinks. It added to the enjoyment of spending time with my family in Scotland.
BorealHiker 