Monument to William Wallace, Stirling, Scotland

Scottish Fields

Glencoe

I just returned from a trip to Scotland. I recently discovered that I had family there and the main purpose of my trip was to meet all my long lost relatives. I expected that the experience of meeting family would be rewarding. I had never really had Scotland on my list of must see countries, so I didn't know a lot about it as a destination and didn't know what to expect. I was in for a real treat.
The Scottish landscape is breathtaking: lovely rolling hills, lochs and quaint towns. It is a small country so in a week I was able to visit Glasgow, Edinburgh, the Highlands, the Borders and Loch Ness and Loch Lomond and the Cairngorns. I was impressed by the cleanliness of the towns and cities. Every little stone house had a neatly cared for garden in the front. Stone walls lined the highways. Fields everywhere had sheep and there was one lovely old castle after another along the roads. If asked what the high point of my trip was, I would have to say it was the visit to Glencoe. It is a place shrouded in mystery, sorrow and history. Standing and looking at the beautiful green valley, surrounded by grand hills, I felt I was transported to another time. At this altitude in the states the mountains would be covered with trees, hiding the beauty of the hills themselves. Here the mountains are adorned by exposed rock, low bushes and heather. On the day I visited the sky was blue with great white clouds. I was told I was lucky to visit here on a day of some of Scotland's best weather. I will never forget Glencoe.