Scotland Bonnie is an understatement (Scotland in general)

Member Name: Mick-Gray

Product:	Scotland in general
Date:	23/05/01 (139 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Beautiful, Peaceful, Relaxing

Disadvantages: None

My first experience of Scotland was as a 15 year old when we went with the school army cadets on our two weeks summer camp, to a cadet camp just outside Comrie in Perthshire. Although at that age I had no great interest in scenery, the spectacular views around the area we were staying always stuck in my mind. Although I was a Battersea lad from South London I had been on plenty of excursions and holidays in England and had never really taken notice of the scenery so I always found it strange that the Scottish trip had always stayed in my mind.

When I first got married, holidays in Spain and daytrips to the South coast with the kids seemed to take precedence over anything else so the thought of going to Scotland did not arise. When the kids grew up and were off doing there own thing we decided to buy a small touring caravan, so as to be able to just go somewhere for the weekend to relax when we could.

Having found that caravanning was something we both enjoyed very much, we started to take longer trips to France, Newcastle where my wife was born and various other places of interest. This was when I first had the idea of going back to Comrie to revisit an area that had stayed in my mind for nearly 35 years. My wife although born in Newcastle had never been over the border so we decided to go.

We had found a little site just outside Comrie and booked in advance. When we arrived for me it was just like being taken back in time. The surrounding mountains and lochs were just as beautiful as I had remembered and the small towns and villages were picturesque and peaceful. We found a great deal of interesting places just in the surrounding area to keep us occupied, the small town of Comrie is very interesting and has a visitor center just outside. Nearby there is a Trout farm which you can visit and even catch a few trout for your meal. Up in the hills is a wonderful bird and animal sanctuary, which you can walk around and even go in with the anim
als. You can take the dog on a lead in with you and the variety of birds and animals including Capercailie, Pheasants, Grouse and birds and animals from all over is facinating. There are also the most amazing signposted walks to go on which can take you alongside fast flowing streams and waterfalls. Another great place to visit is the Glenturret distillery which distils the most wonderful single malt whiskey which you can sample, the standard is twelve year old but they also sell 18 and 20 year old single malt. It is a very interesting tour with a guide who explains the whole process and I believe it is one of the oldest highland distilleries in Scotland.

We visited Perth which is quite an interesting town and whilst there we had a look round the Black Watch regimental museum. This was a fascinating place and we came out with a few tears in our eyes after seeing First World War kilts still with the mud on them from the trenches. The colours of the regiment with all its battle honours and the older ones that had been carried into battle and were ripped and torn with bullet and shrapnel holes. The exhibit that brought the lump to our throats (and still does as I am writing this) were the letters from Mothers and wives to their loved ones and letters from soldiers to their wives and parents which had arrived after the soldiers death in action. Just outside Perth is Scone palace, where all the Scottish kings were crowned; this is situated right next to Perth racecourse. There is a lovely walk alongside the racecourse, which leads to a wonderful river, and it was fascinating to watch people standing in waders in the river fly-fishing.

It was wonderful to take the single-track road around loch Earn and see the Highland cattle in the fields and to look down over the Loch, or walk down to the shore and watch fishermen who sometimes build small fires and cook and eat the fish straight out of the Loch.

A short drive away is the small village of K
illin, which straddles the river and the falls of Drochart this place cannot be described, as it needs to be seen to be believed it is one of the most beautiful places I have seen. I could go on and on.

I do not have to tell you that we have been back now on several occasions and will continue to do so every time the opportunity arises we have visited Loch Lomand where you can walk on the west Highland way through to Fort William. We have visited Loch ness and the Loch Ness visitor center and we have been to Fife and the beautiful coastal villages of East Neuk, which are a must for artists, and photographers the quaint fishing villages are wonderful to see. We have travelled through Glen Coe, which is breathtaking especially as the sun was shining when we visited. All in all Scotland is a place I would recommend to anybody for a wonderful relaxing and peaceful holiday with some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. Don’t just take my word for it go and look for yourself you will almost certainly go back again.

Mick Gray

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