After our incredible journey through Ireland (read Part 1 here if you missed it), it was time to head north for the next leg of our adventure – Northern Ireland and then on to Scotland. We hopped on a train from Dublin to Belfast, which was a first for Courtney – she had never been on a train before! There was even a man who went by, asking if anyone wanted any snacks. He really missed an opportunity to ask, “Anything from the trolley, dears?” but it made her day all the same! It was a smooth and scenic ride and a nice break from driving as we decided to navigate Northern Ireland without a car.

Northern Ireland

Our first day in Belfast began with a tour of the city on a hop-on, hop-off bus tour. The city’s history was fascinating, especially as we learned more about The Troubles, a period of conflict that deeply impacted Northern Ireland. It was sobering but important to understand the history and learn more about the resiliency of the people.

One of the highlights in Belfast was St. George’s Market. It was bustling with local vendors selling everything from fresh produce to handmade crafts. And some extremely talented buskers. I even found some local hot sauce! The owner was a friendly guy and, to our surprise, he knew where Regina was, and he had even spent some time in Saskatoon! Shout out to Rock A Doodle Do Co.

We couldn’t visit Belfast without stopping at Titanic Belfast, an impressive museum dedicated to the ship’s ill-fated voyage. The exhibits were immersive, and we learned so much from the industry of Northern Ireland, to the emigration of Irish immigrants to North America, the building of the Titanic, its tragic sinking, and the stories of the people on board. There was so much to read and interactive exhibits to learn from. It was an incredibly emotional experience, but so well done. Standing on the slip where the Titanic had been built and later launched from was humbling, to say the least. 

From Belfast, we took a bus tour up the coast, with stops at iconic Northern Ireland landmarks. The Dark Hedges, famous from Game of Thrones, was an eerie yet beautiful stretch of road lined with ancient beech trees. We also made our way to Giant’s Causeway, a natural wonder of basalt columns formed by volcanic activity. Standing there, it felt like we were walking on another planet! The tour also included a stop at the vanishing lake- a curious body of water that disappears and reappears depending on the weather (nothing to do with the tides like other ocean-fed lakes) – one of those quirky natural phenomena that still has baffled scientists and left us in awe! Our tour bus driver had been up this same road two days earlier, and the lake was full- covering the stones to the middle/left of the picture!

Scotland

We hopped on a flight from Belfast to Edinburgh, and with a new car rental, we were on the road again. Our first major destination was Glencoe, driving through the picturesque landscapes of Ballychulish. The dramatic valleys and rugged mountains were straight out of a postcard. It felt like every turn in the road revealed a new, breathtaking view. Courtney kept asking if we could get closer to touch it, because it looked like we were in a screen saver! Definitely some of the most beautiful scenery we saw the entire trip – which is saying something – and even during the rain!

Next on our list was the Glenfinnan Viaduct, known for its appearance in the Harry Potter films as the route of the Hogwarts Express. Seeing the steam train make its way across the viaduct was pure magic, especially for Courtney, who is a huge HP fan. I couldn’t believe the sheer number of people that make the trek just for that – and apparently, that’s the case each day and each time it passes by in both directions!

Our next stop was Eilean Donan Castle, one of the most photographed castles in Scotland (and featured in the film Made of Honor). Its location, perched on a tiny island where three lochs meet, was simply stunning. We didn’t spend much time there and didn’t do a tour, but couldn’t resist the photo op of this amazing castle.

Our journey continued to the Isle of Skye, a place that felt like it belonged in a fantasy novel. Our first major stop was Dunvegan Castle, home to the MacLeod Clan for over 800 years. The castle itself was an impressive sight, standing tall on the shores of Loch Dunvegan. We wandered through the beautifully maintained gardens and explored the rich history of the castle’s interior, learning about the legends and lore that surround the MacLeod family. And also learning that the current leader of the MacLeod clan still lives in the castle!

We kept wondering if we would get bored of castles as they are literally peppered everywhere in Ireland and Scotland. Turns out, nope we did not get bored of them. They were all so unique, with such lavish histories that engaged us each and every time.

We adventured into the otherworldly landscapes that make the Isle of Skye so iconic. The Fairy Glen truly felt like we had stepped into another dimension. The small, conical hills, stone circles, and whimsical formations gave the area a magical quality, as though fairies might appear at any moment.

Then came the Quiraing, where we embraced our adventurous side with a challenging hike. The trail wound through dramatic cliffs and jagged rock formations, offering panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. When we reached the summit, we took a well-deserved break, sipping on Cokes and enjoying some candy while soaking in the breathtaking vistas – we are not typical hikers with typical hiker snacks… Again we took some time to recognize, honour and worship God for the amazing creation that He has made.

We had a quick lunch stop in Portree, the largest town on Isle of Skye, for some food and to check out the shops and the colourful buildings that we’ve seen in the movies before heading to The Old Man of Storr. This hike was strenuous with a pretty good incline, uneven ground, large steps, and then a sudden downpour of rain just to make it even more fun. As we continued to climb, we may have even gotten a little delirious on the journey. We were so close to making it to the top but the weather (and our motivation) put an end to the climb and we, unfortunately, made our way back down before reaching the pinnacle.

As we left the Isle of Skye and started our journey toward Inverness, we randomly came across another highlight for Courtney – spotting Highland cows randomly grazing across the road from a café. It was one of her bucket list items to see these iconic Scottish creatures up close, and they did not disappoint – their shaggy coats and long horns made them look like something out of a storybook. A little slobbery, but we enjoyed some time feeding them and getting some pictures with them.

After a quick drive through Inverness, we made a stop at Blair Athol Distillery. Neither of us are whisky drinkers, but the tour was fascinating. We learned so much about the distilling process, the rich history of Scottish whisky and the specific rules that make it Scotch whisky as opposed to others. It might not have converted us to be whisky fans, but it was an experience we won’t forget!

One of the main reasons we went to the Blair Athol area was to go to the Scottish Highland Games in Pitlochry! We had witnessed the highland games in Regina earlier this year and were so excited to see these, in the country where they originated. It was such a fun and lively event! We watched athletes compete in traditional Scottish heavy sports like caber toss, hammer throw, and others like tug-of-war. The atmosphere was electric. It felt like a quintessential Scottish experience. It was amazing to see how many events they had going on at once. They had kids doing foot races, people biking along the outside track, a highland dance competition, a bagpipe competition, tug-of-war, women’s heavy events and the men’s heavy events all happening simultaneously. It was a lot to take in at once! 

As we were nearing the end of our trip, we wanted to commemorate our time in Scotland with another photo session. So our next stop was Culross – a beautiful, extremely well-preserved 16th or 17th-century town (used in the show Outlander) where we had a photo session with the talented Jill Cherry Porter. The town’s old-world charm made for a perfect backdrop, again creating some beautiful memories for us to treasure forever!

Our last official stop was in Edinburgh where we spent a few days exploring the city. We took a bus tour to see all the major sights, from Edinburgh Castle to the Royal Mile. We also visited The Chocolatarium, where we indulged in a chocolate-making experience. The Harry Potter walking tour was another highlight – hearing about the city’s connection to J.K. Rowling and the inspiration for some of the locations in the books – including Victoria Street (the rumoured inspiration for Diagon Alley).

Our trip wrapped up with a quick flight back to Dublin for one last night. As we prepared for our journey home, we couldn’t help but reflect on the incredible memories we had made. From the rolling hills of Ireland to the rugged landscapes of Scotland, this trip was everything we had hoped for and more.

After an incredible journey across 3 countries, 6 flights, 1 train, 46.5 hours of driving (on the other side of the road!), 2 photo sessions, and over 254,000 steps, we’ve returned home with our hearts full, unforgettable stories, and a renewed sense of adventure.

There were too many sights and memories to list, but one thing is for sure: it was an amazing trip with my best friend!

xoxo

Cam & Courtney