To the West! Of Scotland!

 

I'm back to the bucket list that my friends made with Merle's choice, Scotland.  I also have Jenn's list that includes the Lochs of Scotland.  Well, Scotland is a big topic, so I've been breaking it down into parts, and some of the Lochs are in this part.  

We're talking about the Western Highlands of Scotland today.  This is not about Glasgow.  That will come later.  This is not about the islands.  That will come later.  This is about the area that is quite sparsely populated west of Glasgow to the coast and a little bit north as well.  It's the home of some very interesting areas, and a lot of outdoor activity.

So, here you go girls!

Let's start with a landmark.  Ben Nevis is the tallest mountain in Great Britain.  It is a famous and popular hiking spot with amazing highland scenery along the way.  The summit has a great view on a good day, which brings me to the practical side of visiting this area.  

Scotland and the whole United Kingdom are an ecosystem.  We run into the same problem with the Pacific Northwest in the US.  The United Kingdom sits on the west coast of Europe and is in fact, a series of islands in the Atlantic.  This makes an ecosystem of wetness.  A lot of people will tell you that the sun never shines, it never really gets warm, it doesn't snow except in the higher locations most of the time.  Sound familiar?  It's the same basic thoughts that you hear in Seattle, Washington.

So, when you travel in this area, it's wise to have a backup plan for the outdoor activities.  The problem in the Western Highlands is that most of the area is wide open wilderness.  Therefore, this area is not for the city folks.  This area is more adaptable to Braveheart for a long period of time.

That being said, there are always towns.  There aren't a lot of cities in the area.  Most towns like Fort William, Tyndrum, and Glencoe are small.  They will have a small place to stay and some pubs and stuff, but they are not cities.  You will have to adapt.  

Now, if you like that, you will love this area.  There's a 96 KM hiking trail called the West Highland Way.  For hikers, this is an amazing trip through mountains, lochs, tiny towns and back roads.  There are even a few castles out this way.  Bring your camera.  There's a lot to take photos of.

The wildlife is gorgeous, and you can book a tour just to go out on a highland safari and see the animals.  

Another spot in this area is Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park.  All around the Loch is a protected area with beautiful wildlife, scenic vistas and views, the West Highland Way goes right through it and there are a couple of castles in the area.  Everything is gorgeous and worth a drive, hike or bike.

Doune Castle and Eilean Donan Castle are two of the better known castles in this region, but there are some other ruins around to see as well.   There are a lot of castles in Scotland, and this area is one of the more sparsely populated with castles, so if that's what you're there for, this may not be your area.

I won't lie, if you've never been to this area, your best bet is a tour.  There are some very abandoned feeling areas, it's very rugged, and it can all look alike.  So, that being said, if you want to take a tour of the west coast, a cruise is a great way to go.  Like it's northern neighbor, Norway, Scotland has a dramatic western coast and a ton of islands, which I will discuss later.  A boat or ship isn't a bad way to go.  However, don't go calling the regular cruise lines.  Call a Scottish or British company to get the best times to travel, the best way and the best bang for your buck.  They know the land.  This isn't for Celebrity or Disney to handle.

While in the area, enjoy the culture.  These folks are known for it.  You can drop by the Ben Nevis Distillery and try the whiskey.  Don't forget, Scots are known for their whiskey.  When in Rome, I always say.

The other thing besides golf and highland games, like caber toss, is Shinty.  Shinty is a time honored sport in Scotland, dating back long before its cousins that its compared to like Field Hockey.  The sport is similar, but far more contact and a blast to watch.

Then, there is the one positively universal reason to visit the Western Highlands.  Harry Potter.  That's right, fans, this area is full of movie sets and movies sites.  Even the train travels along the route to Hogwarts.  There are many ways to take on the challenge of looking at all the movie spots.  You can do it yourself with a car and a map.  You can take a tour that will help you find all the spots.  That's always my best advice, because frankly, they didn't film most of that movie in big cities.  They put Hagrid way out in the middle of nowhere by Glencoe.

As I said, for an area that appears to be full of nothing but space, the Western Highlands of Scotland have a lot to offer.  It has rugged beauty, small villages, wild animals, castles, lochs, some hard liquor, and magic.  It's a great place to get away from it all and have an amazing time.  That about wraps it up for this section of Scotland.  Just make sure you check travel rules for Covid-19 before you go and enjoy!

https://www.visitscotland.com/destinations-maps/fort-william/see-do/

https://www.visitscotland.com/see-do/unique-experiences-map/boarding-a-famous-steam-train/

https://shinty.com/ 

https://www.visitscotland.com/see-do/iconic-scotland/ben-nevis/

https://www.visitscotland.com/info/see-do/ben-nevis-distillery-p421401 

https://www.visitscotland.com/info/accommodation/search-results?prodtypes=acco&loc=Glencoe&locplace=7621&locprox=1&areaproxdist=10&stay=&endDate=&r1a=2&r1children=0&r1infants=0&r1c=0&avail=off

https://www.vrbo.com/search/keywords:glencoe-ballachulish-scotland-united-kingdom/arrival:2021-10-06/departure:2021-10-15/filter:76?petIncluded=false

https://www.kilcamblodge.co.uk/blog/around-scotland/wild-scotland-10-magnificent-animals-to-spot-in-the-highlands

https://www.wildwest.scot/ 

https://www.westhighlandway.org/accommodation/

https://scotland.nordicvisitor.com/travel-deals/highland-tours/?rf=m61226-04&utm_source=msn&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=accommodations%20western%20highlands%20scotland&utm_content=scotland+highlands+accommodation+04&utm_campaign=SC+m61226+scotland+highlands&msclkid=48ec4e4eeece1bfbe0462f0d71266869 

https://www.getyourguide.com/-l1934/-tc12/?cmp=ga&cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=377151729&cq_con=1250145192458199&cq_term=scottish%20highlands%20castle&cq_med=&cq_plac=&cq_net=o&cq_pos=&cq_plt=gp&campaign_id=377151729&adgroup_id=1250145192458199&target_id=kwd-78134308688009%3Aloc-190&loc_physical_ms=44755&match_type=e&ad_id=&keyword=scottish%20highlands%20castle&ad_position=&feed_item_id=&placement=&device=c&partner_id=CD951&msclkid=c6990491d35819486f4165d24d5583a2&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=dc%3D35%3Agb%7Clc%3D1934%3Ascottish%20highlands%7Cct%3Dcore%7Cln%3D29%3Aen%7Ctc%3Dus&utm_term=scottish%20highlands%20castle&utm_content=lc%3D1934%3Ascottish%20highlands%7Cfn%3Df4%7Cci%3D969%3Acastle%20tour

https://www.rabbies.com/en/scotland-tours/from-edinburgh/day-tours/west-highland-lochs-castles-day-tour 

https://www.eileandonancastle.com/visit/

https://www.scotlandwelcome.com/tours/castles-lochs-of-the-western-highlands/ 

https://www.goscotlandtours.com/popular-search/5-day-scottish-highlands-tours

https://scotland.nordicvisitor.com/travel-deals/highland-tours/?rf=m61226-26&utm_source=msn&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=tour%20western%20highlands%20scotland&utm_content=scotland+highlands+western+26&utm_campaign=SC+m61226+scotland+highlands&msclkid=dcc6b0f8b09e158c4694d1bb2d331296 

https://www.argyllcruising.com/

https://highlandlassiecruises.com/ 

https://www.themajesticline.co.uk/

https://www.visitscotland.com/info/tours/skye-western-highlands-cruise-17035e04

https://www.theroyalscottish.com/ 

https://www.expeditions.com/destinations/scotland?utm_source=OLAMK%7CBing%7CTextAd&utm_medium=paidsearch&utm_campaign=US%7CScotland&utm_content=246078373%7C442672336%7C0&utm_keyword=scottish%20travel&&msclkid=e5917c47ea2215d25d031d0476def045&gclid=e5917c47ea2215d25d031d0476def045&gclsrc=3p.ds

https://handluggageonly.co.uk/2016/09/27/10-beautiful-villages-visit-scottish-highlands/ 

https://www.glencoescotland.com/see-do/

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g551927-Activities-Loch_Lomond_and_The_Trossachs_National_Park_Scotland.html

https://www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/things-to-do/south-scotland/stirling-and-falkirk/tyndrum  

https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductReview-g186534-d20002881-West_of_Scotland_Cultural_Tour-Glasgow_Scotland.html

https://www.visitscotland.com/destinations-maps/loch-lomond/see-do/ 

https://www.visitscotland.com/info/see-do/loch-lomond-pony-trekking-balloch-p1058501

https://www.lomond-ponytreks.co.uk/ 

https://www.visitscotland.com/info/tours/search-results?prodtypes=tour&origins%5B%5D=loch-lomond-area&source=tms

https://www.visitscotland.com/info/towns-villages/west-highland-way-p1417731 

https://www.westhighlandway.org/the-route/

http://www.inverbeggallery.com/ 

https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-international-travel-quarantine/

 

Taking a Turn at Some Practical Thoughts

 

For the last couple of years almost, I've spent a lot of my travel time and leisure time outside and away from crowds. Not that I mind, I've always spent a lot of my travel time in the wilderness. Haven't we all been spending time in the wild these days? We call it Covid-19. I haven't said much about said pandemic, because I hate to be volatile in my blogs, but there's been a couple of developments that I've been reading about in the news that really set me off. Let me begin by saying that I do not watch news reels or news on television. There is no real news there, only sensationalism, drama, and opinion. Print is much less skewed.

 

I work with otherwise abled people, and my company has been extremely careful during the pandemic. Did it help? Some. The biggest problem that they had was that people didn't follow the mandates, rules and guidelines. There were outbreaks within my company because selfish people didn't follow the safety rules regarding the pandemic, went out and participated in crowds and other such things and brought it into where we work and where our people live.

I've watched for over a year, nearly two, as people didn't believe it was real, didn't believe it was a pandemic, didn't believe that people would really die, and didn't believe it would happen to them. I've seen a lot of those people die. Food for thought.

I've heard all the arguments for and against getting a vaccine. I heard about the supposed benefits of a regimen of hydroxychloroquine. But now, I now hear that people are taking Ivermectin instead of a fully approved vaccine. Really? I read that one patient drank fluid that was made as an injection for an animal. I hear that hospitalizations are through the roof in some areas because people are taking doses meant for a horse. Do you not realize, people, that a dose of anything designed for a horse is designed for an animal that weighs upwards of a ton? 2,000 pounds. Think about this. There is a reason that baby aspirin is far less potent than regular. Babies are smaller than adults. Size is relevant. Species is relevant. What are you thinking?

If your doctor is prescribing this med and advocating it instead of a fully approved vaccine, maybe you should get a second opinion.

Will the recommended course of vaccine make you sterile in the distant future? Will your muscles disintegrate in the next 5 years? Will your periods become so awful that you can't stand it? I've heard all of these questions and concerns. You know what? We don't know. The vaccine hasn't been around for 5 years yet. There is some risk, but will it keep you from dying? Statistics say yes.

I hear that pregnant women don't want to get the vaccine, so get it after you have the baby. Adjust. The vaccine has been around a while now. Just get it post baby. Stop making excuses! If you've already had your child, your exposure could be endangering your child. This is serious business, and it will never stop if we don't take action.

Here's the thing. I used to boss around a bunch of college kids that worked for my swimming pool as lifeguards. During their January terms, they liked to go on trips with the school. A lot of them went to central and South American countries to clean teeth or whatever. These students had to get Cholera shots. This was a vaccine regimen. This was a 3 shot series. Sound familiar? This was a vaccine series that you only had to get if the country you were visiting required it because of the sanitary conditions there. You do not ever have to have this vaccine series in this country. These kids got the shot voluntarily to go on a trip. The shots made them sick. I mean puking, fever, aches, pains, nausea, and other bad things. The side effects lasted almost until the next shot. The shots came two weeks apart. The kids were basically sick for six weeks in order to go on vacation.

It was voluntary. They didn't worry about being infertile, having bad periods, muscle degeneration. They never even asked.

When did it all get so crazy? Everyone is fighting over the greater good. Do you have kids, grandkids? Are they too young for a vaccine? Do you go out to work every day and come home with the potential of giving those kids this virus? Everything we do effects others. That used to mean something. I've done more things that I will ever be able to count for others. I have no regrets.

As a traveler, I've been close to home for way too long, but the world is crazy right now. I still travel, but differently. Why is it a war? My kid had every vaccine available to him in his lifetime, and he's a very healthy man now. Why did I have my kid shot up with all those vaccines? Because I had all those diseases as a child. I wish I'd had vaccines. I didn't want him to have a childhood filled with mumps, measles, chicken pox, and whatever. I had something called The 5th Disease when I was six. Covid-19 is frankly no different. The process used to make a vaccine was no different, albeit they were in a bit of a hurry. All shots have side effects. This vaccine had mild ones for most of us. I slept for a day after my second shot. But, the process is the same. Take a shot with some mild side effects rather than potentially die of the disease.

Vaccines have been around for over 100 years. Millions of people get flu shots every year, and they are only marginally effective, because they are a prediction. Aren't you all saying that Covid-19 is just a flu? Then, get a flu shot. It's called a Covid-19 Vaccine.

Watch the United States as it becomes a poster child for what not to do during a pandemic. Vermont is the only sufficiently vaccinated state in the country. Guess what? They have the lowest positivity rate. Almost half the states are at less that 50% vaccinated. Several of those states are in the news as hot spots. It's logic. It's math.

I now make my travel plans based on the Covid-19 statistics. That's right. If you're a hot spot, I'm going elsewhere. No tourism money for you. I still haven't flown, taken a train, been out in a crowd. Not because I'm unvaccinated. I was one of the first in line and will be getting my booster soon. I don't go to crowded places because of unvaccinated people.

It seems to me that being frightened because of what you've heard online is a poor excuse for not protecting yourself against a plague. I've heard lots of people who don't want to believe what the CDC is saying. Wise up people. The CDC is run by doctors. Social media is not. Choose wisely where you get your information. If the Mayo Clinic and John's Hopkins aren't saying it, it probably isn't real.

Like many travelers, I want things to get better so I can comfortably go out into the world again, go to events, fly on a crowded plane. There are several countries that are at a higher vaccination level than we are. That's embarrassing. We like to be cutting edge, but we are too scared to buck up and get a fully approved vaccine. We will never get on with it, if we don't do what is right for us, our families, our children, our elderly, and our society as a whole.

I've heard a lot about rights too. Just one thing to say about that. My dad used to say that you do have the right to make your own decisions and do what you want...until it effects someone else. I'm someone else, so think about that. Your kids are someone else, so think about that. How selfish are you, and are you willing to die or kill someone you love for your selfishness?

Every week it seems that there is a new variant. These variants will never stop if we don't fight back with vaccinations. The only other way is to let it run its course and kill a lot of people. Do you want to end up on that list? Do you want to be one of these people that thought it was a hoax and died? Do you want to be killed by something called Mu? Do you want to be one of these people that end up in ICU and then ask for the vaccine?

The rate of people who for medical reasons cannot take the vaccine is small, and in no way will hurt the idea of herd immunity if all the rest of us take part. It will protect the few who cannot have the vaccine, the kids who are too young, and all of us.

What can I say? When we go to war, we're in it together. When we need to take action as a nation, we work together. When we are attack by a foreign entity, we work together. This is a foreign entity, this is a war, this is something that we need to take action about. It's time we quit fighting and work together. This is how Small Pox, Polio, and Tuberculosis were all but eradicated. Think about the future. Think about the world in a few years. Think about all the reasons that you don't want to get a shot, and then think about all the reasons why you should. Think about the kids and the world that they're going to have to live in if this doesn't end. The only way to end it is to work together. The future is ours and our children's. Make it a safer place for them.

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/mu-covid-19-variant-symptoms-132600244.html?fr=yhssrp_catchall

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/index.html

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccinations_vacc-total-admin-rate-total

https://usafacts.org/visualizations/covid-vaccine-tracker-states/

https://graphics.reuters.com/world-coronavirus-tracker-and-maps/countries-and-territories/united-states/

https://www.statista.com/statistics/1109004/coronavirus-covid19-cases-rate-us-americans-by-state/

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/mu-covid-19-variant-symptoms-132600244.html?fr=yhssrp_catchall

https://graphics.reuters.com/world-coronavirus-tracker-and-maps/

https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/data/new-cases

https://covid19.who.int/

https://news.yahoo.com/efforts-grow-stamp-parasite-drug-205644850.html 

 

Please be aware that my opinions are based in fact, but nonetheless are my opinions.