With restrictions on international travel you may have considered Scotland as your destination for the compulsory 2021 staycation.
Glenshee
Scotland has many attractions from history over castles to whisky, remoteness, amazing beaches and gorgeous nature.
Mode of transport and your tour guide
However Scotland’s roads especially up north are not exactly comfortable motorways.
So, if you fancy to explore the North Coast 500 but the thought of driving is daunting you opt opt to hire my services. I offer daily rates from £375 which includes driver fully insured & licensed vehicle for up to seven passengers, complimentary water bottles, fruit basket and if wished a wee whisky tasting.
“If you are depressed you are living in the past. If you are anxious you are living in the future. If you are at peace you are living in the present.”
― Lao Tzu
If you do something you truly enjoy or are very passionate about, like travelling, you will always find yourself in the present- just enjoying yourself -really.
Fife Coastal Path
So every one of us is fully capable of practising mindfulness. However, in our daily life we often try to juggle too many things at once and we start to worry and feeling anxious whether or not we will succeed.
If you are capable in such moments to re-deploy your natural mindfulness it will help you not only to succeed in your tasks but maintaining a degree of happines while performing them, because the tasks are not you.
If this sounds too good to be true you will be happy to hear that mindfulness like fitness exercises can be practiced.
I am currently enrolled in the amazing course” Mindfulness for Wellbeing and Peak Performance” by Monash University in Brisbane and one of the lecturers, Richard Chambers, produced this fabulous video:
For me this video explains crystal clear what mindfulness is and why it matters.
My personal way into mindfulness was actually let by bodily exercise, namely yoga, and preferrably power, sculpt, intense flows and above all Barre (which is maybe not even “real” yoga). I am someone who struggles to sit still so accessing mindfulness through meditation would have only caused legs that had fallen asleep and a fidgety me.
Another door into mindfulness is being in nature, which had been inprinted in me thanks to my parents.
Finally, as stated above you will find anything you are passionate about will make you be fully present in the moment. For me this has always been horse riding, once mounted I forget the world around me and it is just me and my friend, the horse.
Me & My Monkey and myself fully with each other
This website is foremost promoting the fact that I offer sightseeing tours all over Scotland but even before the current pandemic a number of people travelled by the way of “tick-the-box”. You go somewhere your digital friends have been, get out of your mode of transport and take a selfie. Don’t get me wrong I do this myself and my partner can probably barely face up to the next selfie with us kissing each other.
All I am trying to point out in this post is that travelling should be so much more: Engaging with the landscapes and people surrounding you, enjoying time to simply be, perhaps trying some forest bathing, wild swimming, walking, kayaking, hiking or even some yoga in nature.
If you are intrigued I can pretty much include any or all of this into my bespoke tours.
When visiting Scotland you may have noticed the different dialects in different regions and perhaps -like myself- struggled to understand one or the other.
If you travel north-west you will probably have noticed bi-lingual sign-posts. Those are providing English and Gaelic place names.
St Andrews/ Cill Rìmhinn
I am based in St Andrews and the Gaelic name for it is Cill Rìmhinn. If you struggle to pronounce this, so do I. “The town was first called Muckross (boar-wood), then Kilrymont (church on the royal mount), then Kilrule (church of St Regulus) and finally St Andrews after the church of St Andrews” (Quote from Fife Coucil Gaelic language page)
If you try pronouncing Kilrymont Cill Rìmhinn does not seem so far away.
Staying local; Aberdour is Obar Dobhair and means mouth of the river.
Aberdour: Obar Dobhair
If you are looking into something more practical you could try some of these phrases
I am a whisky lover and if you compare the word whisky with uisge you are close though the water of life is properly called uisge beatha.
If you wish to learn more Gaelic or Gaidhlig you could try duolingo, try the official website Learn Gaelic or just find out about your local place names “Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba“
You can also watch television in Gaelic on BBC Alba or listen to the radio.
In my previous post we had stayed two nights in the Glenuig Inn (Arisaig) which we were very sad to leave but we had scheduled another night on the Drimin Estate on the Movern penisula to do our first tour of the new whisky distillery Nc’Nean. The 7000 Hectar Drimin Estate was bought over by Derek & Louise Lewis in 2003 with the aim to serve the community. Their daughter, Annabel Thomas, is the CEO of the rather unusual and very green Nc’Nean distillery, which gets its name from the Gaelic Neachneohain, the Queen of Spirits and a fierce protector of nature.
Like Glenuig Inn Nc’Nean aims to indeed protect nature by using organic barley, being powwered by renewable enery and recycling 99.97% of their waste.
Personally I have to admit that my way to Nc’Nean was purely based on the exquisite inaugural release which I bought after I had already experienced their aged botanical spirits which I also highly recommend.
However, before all this we had an amazing drive to Morven. We had planned to walk in the Ariundle Oak Forest, but as we were on holidays we got distracted stopped too many times and ended up walking elswhere so by the time we arrived in Strontian we felt the need for a cup of coffee and a scone which we had at the Ariundle Centre which again is a fantastically friendly place with amazing produce.
From there we had an amazing drive over to Morven.
As always there is too much to see on the way so we only just made it for our 2 pm distillery tour to Nc’Nean. Even the drive up to there is an adventure as the road is tiny and steep but very well maintained and so beautiful.
Idylic location for Nc’Nean whisky distillery
Made by nature not by rules
PIONEERING SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION
Sustainability runs in our veins. We believe it is our responsibility to constantly improve our impact on this earth in terms of carbon footprint, pollution and biodiversity. We use organic Scottish barley in a distillery powered by renewable energy and recycle 99.97% of our waste. We plan to bottle our whisky in a 100% recycled clear glass bottle (a first in Scotch whisky, we think). Find out more about sustainability and how it drives us here.
Amy welcomed us and provided a very insightful tour. We tasted a surprisingly delightful new make spirit, the botanical spirit and the 6th batch of whisky which was even better than the already amazing inaugural release. I had to buy it it was that good. We also learned a lot about the process and the engagement with the local community. Besides all this the distillery is located heavenly. The paintings on display took our interest and as per usual were locally produced by Alan B Hayman, who lives on the estate. To sober up we took a walk to the Hayman Gallery. We realised that we had seen his wonderful artwork when he was still located in Glen Lyon, Perthshire. We were warmly welcomed by the artist’s wife and actually meet the artist himself and disturbed him in his work briefly.
We eventually made it to our B&B, Achnacriche Bed and Breakfast and we made very welcome by our host, Janine. She made some amazing suggestions to what to do on the estate, thanks to her we took a sunset walk to the chapel and she is a fantastic cook!
Beautifully located Achnacriche Bed and Breakfast.
Janine is not only an amazingly welcoming host full of advice for things to do but also a fantastic cook
Before dinner we had some time to spare and as it was a gorgeous day went went for a swim.
Sadly the following day we had to return home but I will leave you with some impressions from our evening walk and return journey to Fife:
I am a great believer in recommending accommodations, restaurants, whiskies, attractions I have actually experienced. Therefore me and my partner (in love and all things fun) booked ourselves for two nights into the Glenuig Inn and added a day of sea kayaking.
After a drive in the rain and being late for our booked dinner we were welcomed by Rona who immediately provided us with the option to settle in first and than return for dinner. We were quite happy to begin with dinner nonetheless and what amazing food this was. It is a small menu but the contents are of such high quality and well prepared that I would not mind eating the same dish more than once.
There were a number of other guests and the atmosphere was lovely and we really enjoyed the Glen Spean beers too.
The Inn welcomes walkers, hikers, families, motorbikers and dogs and the rooms are family friendly, nicely decorated and super clean. The emphasize to use local products even made it into soap and hand sanitizers.
After dinner we went for a walk and due to the beautiful surroundings hardly noticed it was raining.
The following day started with fresh fruit yoghurt followed by an amazing cooked breakfast, again using local produce from Ardshealach Smokehouse and eggs from the resident chickens.
It was a dark morning and windy and we were not really convinced that sea kayaking would prove to be much fun, but we were so wrong. We were picked up by Arisaig Sea Kayaking/Rock Hoppers and Ben & Cal took us to Loch Moidart which was very sheltered and once on the water the day turned into a perfect adventure which we both whole-heartedly recommend.
Castle Tioram Ideal stop for lunch
When we approached the shore at 3 pm it began to rain but had stopped by the time we reached Glenuig Inn. We went walking before dinner to the left of the Inn and after another delicious meal right of the Inn past a camping spot we had used years ago. Up a hill we found the perfect sunset spot.
If you love nature you will definitely find it in Arisaig.
After the Covid-19 pandemic we should all focus on the clima issues we are facing.
Quite some time ago we went to a Fife Council event on electric cars as taxis in Glenrothes. Back then the cars shown were not really practical due to the limited reach (mileage) and the time it took to recharge.
As my current vehicle happens to be an eight seater I did not engage further regarding the option of a electric alternative to my current Viano MPV. Not that long ago Mercedes started advertising an electric version of the Vito and I got all exited until I read the mileage 93. This even with a good infrastructure of charging points just does not seem enough.
I had obviously heard of Tesla but never considered them due to the lack of seats. However, they do produce the current Model X as seven seater and the new Model Y will also come as seven seaters. Also both of them do come with tow bars (Golfers I see you nodding).
Tesla Model 3
My test vehicle was this beautiful, blue Model S3 today and driving it really blew my mind away. First and foremost the car is so silent, such a delight. The road handling even across Edinburgh’s potholed roads was amazing. The acceleration put my former Lotus Elise to shame and can be envied by most motorbikes. Even more amzing is the negative acceleration which again compares well with a motorbike.
The interior, storage capacity and screen are all very refined and the entire handling of the car is purely intuitive.
Bottomline I really did not want get back out (and back in my until now as comfortable considered Viano).
Both Model X & Y are currently not available and rather costly and even the two secondhand Model Xs were not cheap. However, both exceeded the 93 mile reach even five year old.
Now, let me ask you how would you feel if I could offer you a ride in a fully electric car?
Test vehicle Tesla Model S
I will go ahead and test drive some other electric vehile options and make a plan for the future….
After months on end in lockdown due to the Coronavirus pandemic mental health has come to the forefront of attention in society in general and life has still not returned back to normal and perhaps never will. Whether this is for the worse or the better remains to be seen.
Meanwhile booking holidays abroad remains risky and holidaying at home (here in the UK) might even add to your depression if you expect sunshine.
Getting away from it all is probably more important than ever but doing so seems equally more difficult than ever.
Bench in the forest
So if you need to opt for a staycation as at least it can be guaranteed to actually happen (Covid-19 permitting) what are your options?
I offer bespoke tours (currently up to six people of one household) all over Scotland from half a day to as many days as you like. I will take care of all your bookings (if you wish), all the planning and provide worry-free travelling.
I am obviously aware that this offer is not particularily special, BUT while you can just opt to visit popular visitor attractions you can also request something quite special.
I am a Scottish resident by choice and live here because Scotland is my dream.
Garden bench at Kellie Castle near Pittenweem, Fife
I love the vastness of landscapes, the fairy-tale like character of many wee villages, the fact that places often relate to Gaelic and their names mean so much more. I love the friendliness of her people as much as the all evident story-telling. In some of the remoter places time has just stopped (and technology has not reached them). If you choose so you can go about not meeting anyone for days but if you do they will be friendly and in no way scary.
Bench near Braemar
So Scotland heavily volunteers to connect with nature and go about life in a mindful manner, even if it does rain for days on end and the midges are after you.
During my tours I share with you my love for this country and equally all the places I have grown so fond of.
If mindfulness is something you would like to try you can pretty much literally go anywhere in Scotland.
All you need to do is open your eyes and take a deep breath. If you like more guidance I can assist you with yoga if you wish.
Most travellers will be required to test upon arrival at the airport in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen or Dundee . A further test is required five days later and can be done in the St Andrews Walk In Centre. From 8 am to to 2 pm you can walk to the centre and obtain a booking for the same day for a PCR test. After 3pm you can walk in and pick up up to two box of Lateral Flow Tests containing seven tests each. All of this is provided free of cahrge and should hopefully make it a lot easier to adhere to the applicable rules.
With the current Covid-19 restrictions gradually easing it is perhaps time to reflect on how our future staycations could be more than just a break from our routine.
A vacation in Scotland will most likely be more expensive than your packaged trip to the canary islands and sunshine, sadly, is not guaranteed either.
Scotland is my home of choice rather than birth the main reasons for this are:
-> Her people; the Scots are incredible nosy and welcoming
-> Scotland’s breathtaking beauty
-> The fact that you can escape from it all by a short walk or drive. Scotland is magic!
I would like to bring this magic to you by offering different alternatives so you can choose your very personal vacation.
It is common knowledge that Scotland is rich in history, beauty, castles, the home of golf and location of many movies and TV series. Beyond this Scotland and her people are authentic and equipped with a variety of lanscapes you will struggle to find elsewhere.
So, instead of rushing through the popular visitor attractions maybe you would like to explore and learn a bit more, make a connection to the land and her people and perhaps think regenerative tourism:
You can access off the beat, unusual attractions and learn how Scotland functions, based on her past, current population and future ambitions. I benefit as you pay me for my expertise but on top of that local people and businesses benefit because they are part of your (and mine) experience. Even if this is just a quirky farm, which sells out of a wee cottage: Pittormie Fruit Farm.
So for instance if you would like to engage in mindfulness and wellbeing I could offer my own services as I am a qualified yoga teacher and we could go and aim to have a wee yoga session on the beach or in the forestry.
But if you want to venture into geology and follow James Hutton’s footsteps I will probably book you onto a tour of Edinburgh with HARP Archaeology. If you want to spot whales I would get in touch with Steve from Sea-kayaking or the Basking Shark.
Darach Croft
If you want to learn about social crofting , animal husbandry, forest bathing or crafting I recommend Darach Croft. I have several contacts for wild swimming and so the list goes on. Have you ever tried foraging? There are many local guides, such as:
The Centre of Stewartship in Falkland offers a variety of unusual experiences and education linking to land and people, history and wellbeing. You can of course also delve into history, golf, cricket, tennis and Outlander if you wish. Additionally, you may like to purchase their local produce or even enjoy a meal in the keeper’s flat of the palace.
We have been having some amazing sunny weather and as I am allowed to move around Fife I took the opportunity to stop at the local Adross Farm Shop and took the chance to take some shoots.
St Monans Old Kirk
Sightseeing in Fife. Between St Monans & Elie & Earlsferry you can enjoy walking along the coastline using the stunningly beautiful Fife Coastal Path, which run all the way from Kincardine to Newburgh taking you along the First of Forth, next to the North Sea and
