Scottish Roadtrip

It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey.

Ever heard that one? Ever read it on a not-so-inspired Instagram post?

Although I try to avoid ready-made expressions, I find this one interesting. During the journey, you are active, having to make decisions on what to do next, even ask for directions if you are nothing like me. On the other hand, arriving at destination is a passive state.

When you are traveling, you have to remain alert because every minute is a step further into something new. There is only one Taj Mahal but billions of ways to reach it.

In that respect, a roadtrip is the epitome of travelling.

Our starting point was Edinburgh. My expectations were built up by all the great reviews I had heard. I was not disappointed. Dominated by the castle, the city has a lovely gothic/Harry Pottery feeling, the cloudless sky helping. We strolled in the city center, climbed Calton hill and enjoyed the many restaurants options with a big vegetarian range.

Then the driving starts. Getting used to the car, the road signs or the miles system is part of the thrills. After leaving the city, we drove across the Cairngorms National Park. I had preconceived ideas about what a Scottish National Park looked like: wild, untouched, green and windy. We drove for hours on a smooth concrete road surrounded by burnt land and windmills. Kilometers went by fast. Leaving the main road, we slowed our pace and weaving through hidden lochs, stopping for picnic and pictures. The roads got smaller and we lost the middle white demarcation. Confusing for someone used to drive on the other side of the road.

It is not easy to photograph while driving and that is when the camera betrays the eye: while we could fully enjoy the panoramic view, the lens could only capture blurry pictures of trains and mountains along the way.

North of the park, two things were waiting for us: a castle stay for the night and Glennfinnich whisky distillery to visit. We saw the traditional side of Scotland involving fireplace, wooden floors, kilts and single-malt. There, aging is not a threat. Time is an ally which makes properties and bottles better.

It was not long before we were hitting the road again. Through the National Park again and down to Loch Lomond and the Glencoe. I found there what I was expecting from the Scottish countryside. Discovering a small loch suddenly after a turn and stopping to take pictures of the wildlife i.e. sheeps and ducks. By that time, we had mastered the particularities of our vehicle. We were accustomed to driving on the left, having the steering wheel on the right, respecting British road signs, driving automatic, understanding miles…(delete as applicable).

Our last stop, Luss, self-proclaimed ‘Scotland’s loveliest village’ was as charming as promised. We had Loch Lomond and a colorful sunset in our backyard. From the cute houses to the gift shop filled with adorable and useless items, the whole place is meant for tourists like us to feel like they discovered a secretly hidden yet slightly corny gem.

Travel was truly made easy, we only had friendly encountered. Because we were hitting the popular spots, we met people who were eager to share what made them proud Scots. Not going to lie, it took us a few days to get used to the accent. My favorite interaction was  the last one before boarding. The security agent, a red-headed Hagrid, finally found the reason for my bag being searched : “Oh, it’s a wee pot of jam !”

Photos : Shubham Sarvaiya