SCOTLAND, Part 1: GLASGOW AND THE HIGHLANDS, Guest Post by Steve Scheaffer and Karen Neely

Scottish Highlands.

In October 2025 my brother Steve and his wife Karen visited Scotland, touring the Highlands and also visiting Glasgow and Edinburgh.

“We found Scotland a very pretty country and the people were very kind. The biggest drawback was that there  were so many tour groups as well as individual tourists. As we headed into the highlands a big storm, Amy, blew in, making a lot of our outdoor activities uncomfortable.  Our tour leader did a good job but you can't change the weather!”

Despite the raindrops, Steve and Karen managed to take a lot of excellent photos. They have graciously shared them with The Intrepid Tourist. (Part 2 will post next week.)

Gothic tower of Glasgow University.

Mural, Glasgow.

Another one of many public murals, Glasgow.

Old Packhorse bridge, Carrbridge, Scotland.

Celtic Cross.

Herding sheep.

Scottish longhorn cattle--on a rare sunny day.

Large copper pot used for distilling spirits at a whisky distillery. 

Bag piper.

Part 2 of Steve and Karen's trip to Scotland will post next week.

SCOTLAND: Edinburgh, Loch Ness, Glasgow and More, Guest Post by Tom and Susan Weisner

Tom and Susan Weisner at Edinburgh Castle, Scotland

In early September our friends Tom and Susan Weisner took a trip to Scotland and Ireland and have graciously agreed to share a few of their photos and thoughts about the trip. Here is their report from their week in Scotland.

Edinburgh Castle is the historic anchor at one end of the “royal mile” road in Edinburgh, Scotland. There are beautiful views of the city from the top. And of COURSE there is an historic dog cemetery near the top of the castle!

View of Edinburgh and Firth of Forth from Castle

And a tour of the Glenfiddich whiskey distillery in the North of Scotland was essential, near The Cairngorm National Park, where we stayed in the very nice local “Boat Hotel.”

Susan at the Glenfiddich whiskey distillery

A visit to Loch Ness and the Urquhart Castle tour and boat excursion are only an hour or so from the National Park. Look cold and windy? Yep. Apparently the Monster kept out of the wind that day.

Urquhart Castle and Loch Ness

In Glasgow we visited the Cathedral - representing the Catholic - Protestant conflicts and the separation of the nobility and commoners within the cathedral.

Interior of the Cathedral, Glasgow

There is an historic Merchants Row tour in central Glasgow, where we found this nature mural in a parking lot.

Mural of Scottish animals near Merchants Row in Glasgow

And then we found this plaque along the wall of the nature mural, documenting that Frederick Douglass came to Scotland. It pointed out that much of the wealth on display came from the slave trade and he wanted the money refunded!

"Send Back the Money" plaque on Merchants Row in Glasgow

Next week on The Intrepid Tourist: Tom and Susan's report on their week in Ireland.