Castles and Hills and Sheep, oh my!

Hello dear reader! Or should I say “Halo ma dear reader!”

I recently returned from a trip to Scotland and I wanted to share some thoughts about my experience.

I’ve talked before about getting out there and experiencing as much as you can. I think this is really important not just for writing, but for life in general. It helps foster empathy, understanding, and compassion. It is so neat to go experience a different culture, learn some history, experience a different climate/biome, see different clothing and fashion styles, try new foods, and so on. (Yes, we ate haggis, and actually, it wasn’t bad at all. It was surprisingly tasty.)

Scotland is an absolutely beautiful country. The pictures don’t do it justice. The people there were just as lovely.

Eilean Donan castle, situated on Loch Duich

The view from Eilean Donan castle.

The Old Man of Storr on the Isle of Skye.

A view of the coast line on the Isle of Skye.

Aside from getting to look at some stunning landscapes, we got to see some amazing architecture. It is always fascinating to me to stand in a building that has been around for longer than The United States has been a country. Stateside, I have been to some of the ancient cliff dwellings and other Pueblo constructions that pre-date the founding of the United States, and I’m always filled with a sense of awe and reverence that things built so long ago can withstand the test of time. European constructions that date back as far as the 1200s always give me a similar feeling.

Go spend time in old places. Take some time to sit and just absorb the ambiance. Bring a sketchbook and make some doodles. I truly believe there is something special about places like this where you can feel echoes of our past.

Dunkeld Cathedral in Dunkeld. Construction began in 1260 and was completed in 1501.

The cathedral is currently undergoing restoration efforts. The back part is in pretty bad shape, but the front is still maintained and actively used as a place of worship today.

Scotts Monument to honor Sir Walter Scott, built in 1844. Sir Walter Scott was a famous writer, poet, historian, and playwright.

Getting to walk around in some of these older stone buildings, be they castles or churches or underground vaults, always provokes a sense of wonder. I try to be really present when I’m there. You get a whole new host of sensations. These places are sometimes damp, they smell kind of funny, and the spaces are often small and cramped. It really gives you a lot to consider in terms of how much life has changed for people in certain regions over hundreds of years.

And of course, these are always fun details to add to writing. I think we tend to have a bit of a romanticized vision of what the past was like. But going and spending time in these places helps bring into focus things we may simply not even know or realize.

I didn’t know this before, but Scotland has a really rich history of writers, poets, historians, and playwrights. I learned the origins of the stories A Christmas Carol, and The Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

The Writer’s Museum in Edinburgh.

We saw lots of plaques and areas set aside to honor Scottish writers and poets. They even have a writer’s museum, which made me nerd out a little bit. (Pictured above.) Sadly, we didn’t have time to go in and check it out. (We passed it while we were on a walking tour of the Royal Mile.) But I’m inspired to dive in and explore the history of Scottish writers and read some Scottish poetry. :) You never know what you’ll find or learn when you’re adventuring.

Obligatory sheep photo. :)

We saw and experienced way too much to cover in one post, and this isn’t a travel blog, so I’ll wrap it up here. Suffice it to say that travel always gets me thinking and gets my creative juices flowing!

Even if you can’t travel internationally, I strongly recommend trying to get out and go explore someplace new when you can. Watch a documentary on a culture you know nothing about. Walk a new trail or visit a different park. Try a new restaurant. Visit a neighboring town or state. In my humble opinion, I’m a fan of collecting experiences, not stuff. Your life will be richer for it.

Till next time dear reader, get out there and expand your horizons! <3 Tiff