So, I've returned to the bucket lists of my friends to start 2022, and this one is for Jenn and Merle as we talk a little bit more about Scotland. Today, I want to discuss two of the most famous things about the country; castles and whiskey. They go hand in hand in Scotland, so I have to discuss them together.
There are over 3,000 castles in Scotland from Aberfeldy to Wolfburn. There are castles that you can rent, visit, or stay in because they are now a hotel. They have castles that are ruins, landmarks, museums, tourist attractions, hotels, private residences, armories, and home to the Queen herself. They are dated anywhere from the 1100's to the late 1800's and have a thousand different styles. Unless you have unlimited time, choose your castles carefully. It would take years to visit them all.
I will touch on a few highlights of castles in no particular order. Let's start with Balmoral, as it is the one and only castle that you will find Queen Elizabeth II and her family living in. This estate is one of the Queen's favorites. It is amazing. It is partially open to tourists from April to July. Check the website for hours and days.
If you are particularly influenced by literature, you should make sure you visit Cawdor Castle and Abbotsford. Cawdor is proclaimed to be the location of Shakespeare's Hamlet and Sir Walter Scott built Abbotsford.
If you want to visit the notorious, then you must visit Stirling Castle. Famously the prison and death location of William Wallace, it was also a historic spot for several Scottish Royals including Mary, Queen of Scots. Stirling is one of the best preserved castles of its era and there are many things to see and do there.
Edinburgh Castle actually sits on an old volcano in its elevated position above the city. It is probably the largest of the castles and has so much to see. Edinburgh is the capital of the country, which means that it is a rich and busy location to visit and you will never be bored.
Jedburgh is another must see, as is the Abbey at the location. Religion is part of the country's rich history and should not be overlooked. The more you learn about a people, the more you will enjoy a historic country like Scotland. Religion is an enormous part of that history.
Culzean Castle is a national landmark and was once a part time residence to Dwight D. Eisenhower. The residence was partially gifted to him for his use because of his contributions to winning WWII.
Dumbarton, as well as other castles have been used as armories for centuries. As some of the castles that were built to be fortresses in the early years became public property, the government began to store munitions and cannons there. Several of the fortress like castles in the country are still used for this purpose. This doesn't mean that you can't visit them. They have guides who are happy to tell you the history of how they became a storage space.
Scotland has been inhabited for 12,000 years or more. The Celts and their ancestors are some of the oldest lines of people on Earth. Scotland is home to ruins of castles dating back to the 1100's. Places like The Ring of Brodgar allude to a history far beyond that. We all know about Stonehenge in England, but there are stone formations all over the British Isles that tell us that there were significant amounts of people there before Christ was born.
For this reason, you will find castles of all styles in all kinds of places. Most castles are not in the city. Just putting that out there. Most of them are country homes and fortresses. You will find several that are nothing but ruins. You will find some of them hanging out on cliffs along the shore. You will find some of them on the islands that belong to the country. Some of them will look like fancy mansions. They are of all kinds and come from several centuries.
Some of the castles are huge mansions. Some of them look like they came straight out of a Disney fairy tale. Glamis Castle is considered the most beautiful castle in Scotland. It's rustic look and the many towers give it a look that you would only normally see on TV or in Vegas. It's open to visitors and shouldn't be missed.
So, there are over 3,000 castles in Scotland of various styles, ages and uses. They are all worth a visit, so choose carefully which ones you really wish to see. I would talk more about them, but it would take years for me to research them all. I would have to learn as much about Scotland as I know about Russia.
I do have some advice. As always, check the Department of State for any problems, restrictions, or covid issues with visiting the country. Know before you go. You also might want to take a tour, since there is so much to see. If you want to take a tour, choose carefully. I recommend with this country to take a tour provided by a British company. I don't think that foreign companies will do this one justice. Try and find something more local.
And this brings me to the other part of the story. The Whiskey business and its distilleries in Scotland. There are over 300 Whiskey distilleries in Scotland. Speyside is the region with the most whiskey to try. Over half the distilleries in the country are found in that region. Also in the Highland Region, Lowland Region, Islay Region and and Campbeltown Region. They all have tasting rooms. You can tour most of them. Most of them have open hours. You can check several sites that will help you find them and decide which ones to visit. They date back hundred of years, and it is the one and only place that you can try the real deal of Scotch Whiskey.
Whiskey is as big a part of who the Scottish people are as kilts and woolens. It's part of their history, and families can be profoundly loyal to their particular brand of Scotch Whiskey. It's a cultural journey to go and investigate the history of whiskey.
That being said, why did I combine these two things in this blog? Simple. Because I believe that taking a tour for either one of these things is wise. Taking a tour of castles gives you information. Your guides will know all the things that you want to learn and made you come to Scotland in the first place. As far as whiskey goes, just like wine in Napa Valley, you should have a driver. By taking a tour, you can visit several distilleries and not have to drive. It's wise.
The best part about castles and whiskey is that they come together. A lot of companies will offer whiskey and castle tours. That's why I brought them both up. When you book a tour, and I don't mean with a foreign company or to take a cruise, you can do both things and have a great time. You won't have to figure out your itinerary, or worry about renting a car or finding your way around the countryside of Scotland. With the proper tour, and there are many, you can visit castles, stay in castles, taste whiskeys and see how whiskeys are made. You will also get to enjoy meeting a lot of locals that way and have a chance to check out the scenery along the way. It's the best of everything, and you don't have to do all the work.
So, if you ever wanted to see castles, Scotland is your Mecca. There are so many to see. I recommend buying a book on Amazon that's written by a British Author that tells you all about the castles. There are several to choose from. I recommend that you talk to a tour company that hails from Britain or specializes in Britain only. I recommend that you talk to your tour company about times of year and locations to visit. There are a lot of options, and you may want to pick a summer month in order to visit while there is a highland festival or other festival going on.
All that being said, Scotland is one of the most mystical countries in Europe. Castles are something that should be experienced. Whiskey is a national drink that has an amazing process and hundreds of different flavors. So, take your time and choose the right trip for you. Don't try to do it alone if you've never been to Scotland. Take a tour. Pick the right one and enjoy!
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