Scotland, Aye!

Hadrian’s Wall

An early start to the day, we made our first stop in Heddon on the Wall in the north of England to view the World Heritage site of Hadrian’s Wall, which I might add, was a bit anti-climactic for me. I had envisioned this great wall, an impenetrable Roman fortress, but after almost 2000 years, it’s surprising that any section of the wall remains at all. I was honestly more amused and entertained by the horses in the neighbouring farm that were nuzzling and biting at each other’s necks than the wall itself, but I could at least appreciate this ancient legacy that has survived the ages.

Welcome to Scotland!

After our stop at the wall, we continued on to Scotland (Aye!) where my obsession for all things tweed and tartan immediately rekindled. Along the way we passed lush fields painted in an endless array of emerald shades, dotted with countless fluffy sheep, and the occasional golden sheet of wild mustard blooms. Crossing the border was like something out of a picture book. A large stone marked with England on one side and Scotland on the other, welcomed us into the country. Standing before it was your typical Scotsman, all decked out in his kilt and clan colours, and of course, playing the bagpipes. It was quite magical. Dark clouds loomed overhead while the strong wind tossed me about (definitely not a good hair day for me), and excitement filled the air. It was everything I thought Scotland would be – rugged, raw, strong, and spirited. It’s no wonder its people have been described similarly, having been moulded and influenced by this spectacular terrain.

Scottish Countryside

Our next stop was the little town of Jedburgh, where we got out to stretch our legs. I strolled down to the river to admire the wildflowers and watch the ducks idling in the water and then walked over the bridge and up to the abbey to peer through the iron gates.

Jedburgh

Finally, having reached Edinburgh, we checked into our hotel, Melville Castle, an old Gothic castellated mansion on the outskirts of the city. I was looking forward to staying at the Airth Castle Hotel as previously outlined in the brochure, but there was a last minute switch, of which we were only notified that morning, and so we were moved to this sister property. Although not as grand as Airth Castle, Melville was still quite delightful. My room was large, the beds were super comfortable, and the view of the grounds and fountain from my bedroom window was much more inspiring than the hideous brewery the night before. So, after enjoying a tranquil evening stroll about the property and a picnic dinner in my room, I was eager to fall asleep in my comfy bed and look forward to my day in Edinburgh the next day.

Melville Castle