Off to the Scotland, to the Edinburgh Festival and to meet up with Alex’s niece Anna Sloan studying for her Masters in Public Policy at the University of Edinburgh.

Alex has Scottish ancestors on both sides of her family, the Sloan’s from Ayrshire and the Farthings from Leith, the port of Edinburgh.

Anna met us for dinner and then acted as tour guide as she walked us through to our first festival show in the Old Town.

Rob asked why the Scottish capital was in Edinburgh? Anna Sloan always truly succint said “because there’s a ruddy great rock with a castle on it“. At that exact moment we looked up to see the castle. Hard to get a great photo of it. But it leaves a lasting impression.

A couple of Sloan girls out on the town in Edinburgh

One of Alex’s favourite children’s stories

Our next wedding outfits, I think Rob can carry off a sporran?

The Scots love a pun, irony too, notice the Thai and Indian food sign.

Beautiful lunch spot and loved the outfit on the man behind Rob

Scottish Singer Songwriter Mairi Campbell took us to dinner on Portobello beach

With Anna Sloan and Cesca Gordon so lovely to see them

The Highlands

We were heading to The Findhorn Community which is on the coast near Nairn in the Highlands. More on Findhorn soon,

We travelled via Perth, Dundee and finally Aberdeen. Built from granite, people described it as a bit gloomy. We had booked the Hotel Athol, and the staff couldn’t have been warmer and kinder, with porridge and black pudding for breakfast.

Aberdeen

Nairn

From Aberdeen we took the coast road through Fraserburgh and Pennan where parts of the film Local Hero has been filmed. It was a gorgeous drive.

Fisherman Dennis pointing to a dog and children swimming near the boats

The pub at Pennan right on the beach featured in “Local Hero”

The Wendy Hoose Nairn

We stayed at The Wendy Hoose Bed and Breakfast which is on the same grounds as Don and Wendy’s beautiful 5 star hotel Boath House a grade A Georgian Mansion. Wendy and Don run the garden restaurant and also have people to stay in their gorgeous house, hence The Wendy Hoose. Wendy has an incredible eye and aesthetic, she is a superb cook, talented gardener and lovely person. Don an all rounder, he greets you at the restaurant, charms, vacuums and went the extra mile and made Rob a true hot toddy to cure his cold. Thanks to Wendy, Don and the dogs Pip and Squeak it was a rare treat to stay with you.

Boath House in the background, beautiful old walled garden and restaurant

Proper Scotch porridge, note the butter.

Wendy, like Rob loves a map, look at that room!

The Findhorn Foundation

Rob was really keen to visit The Findhorn Community. In part, the philosophy and vision had influenced his own vision for Currajuggle Creek.

Here is a little of the Findhorn History:

The Findhorn Foundation is a dynamic experiment where everyday life is guided by the inner voice of spirit, where we work in co-creation with the intelligence of nature and take inspired action towards our vision of a better world. We share our learning and way of life in experiential workshops, conferences and events that take place within a thriving community and ecovillage.

The Foundation has two main sites. The Park, nestled amidst dunes and forest, bay and beach, is an ecovillage that is home to many of our staff and a larger community of people living with shared values. Cluny Hill is a stately Victorian former hotel, five miles away from The Park, which houses staff and welcomes participants in our workshops and events. Our retreat house on the island of Iona, and the satellite community on the neighbouring island of Erraid, also welcome participants for life-changing experiences on the wild, wind-swept west coast of Scotland.

The Findhorn Foundation is an NGO associated with the United Nations Department of Public Information, holder of UN Habitat Best Practice designation and is co-founder of the Global Ecovillage Network and Holistic Centres Network. The Foundation is at the heart of a community of more than 500 people who every day support and live the vision of creating a better world by starting with themselves.

Rob finds a spiritual home, Alex worried she may be reaching “peak hippie” (we did not go to Taize Singing)

The Lochs and Highlands

Plockton

As we had visited the village where Doc Martin was filmed in Cornwall we thought we’d continue the TV theme and visit Plockton which became “Lochdubh” for Hamish Macbeth

Plockton main street, had a beef pie in the pub

Kyle – Duirinish. Had this beast distracted the driver of the car?

On the road from Mallaig to Glasgow

Rob takes in the grandeur of Kinlochleven

Bridge of Orchy (Alex obsessed with the light and sky)

Glasgow

“People Make Glasgow” was chosen following a consultation which saw ideas submitted from more than 1,500 people from 42 countries.

The slogan chosen in 2013 is said “reflects the Glaswegian character.”

“It’s bold, friendly, confident, and it evokes a real sense of pride.”

Our guide Emma, began with the line “You know a Glasgow funeral is more fun that an Edinburgh Wedding!”. She set the tone of friendly rivalry and a city with real heart.