My First Trip to Scotland

(16 Reviews)
100% Recommended

Patrick McGill

Jamestown, NC

Europe and United Kingdom Travel Specialist

Welcome! I'm Patrick McGill, your dedicated travel expert specializing in custom-crafted journeys across Europe and the United Kingdom. My unwavering passion for exploration and deep appreciation for the rich and diverse cultures of these magnific...

A Unique Perspective on European Travel:

Traveling to Europe is not merely about "getting away"— it's about "getting in touch" with the world and the people around us. Connecting with different cultures helps us better understand ourselves and enriches our lives. This is the true essence of European travel: making meaningful connections that leave a lasting impact.

A Lifelong Journey of Exploration:

My love for travel began with a three-year military assignment in Germany. This journey continued throughout a dynamic career in international business, allowing me to live, work, and travel extensively across Europe and the United Kingdom. Over the years, I've come to know and love these places deeply.

Experience the Magic:

Whether you're dreaming of the picturesque streets of Paris, the ancient wonders of Rome, or the mystical landscapes of the Scottish Highlands, I've been there and experienced it all. Each destination has deepened my understanding and my passion for these magical places.

Specializing in Tailored Itineraries:

We all have our reasons for making our way to Europe. Maybe it is art and architecture, or maybe it is history, heritage, or faith. Or maybe it is even to embrace the culture, landscape, and lifestyle of Europe. Whatever your reason may be, I will work with you to have the experience you seek.

Tailoring Your Ideal Getaway:

With Patrick McGill Travel, the focus is on creating seamless, stress-free experiences that are truly memorable. It’s not just about the journey; it's about the incredible value these enriching experiences bring to your life. Whether your passion is art, history, cuisine, ancestry, or simply soaking in the charm of historic towns and beautiful landscapes, I’m here to help. My in-depth knowledge of Europe’s vibrant culture, art, architecture, and cuisine ensures that every itinerary aligns with your unique desires and preferences.

The Where and Why will determine the "How":

I believe that what you want to experience will have a large impact on how you travel. So whether your travel plans include a river cruise, ocean cruise, escorted tour, or a custom independent travel, I will create the itinerary that best meets your needs and desires.

Let’s Make Your Travel Dreams a Reality:

My goal is to help you make meaningful connections and ensure your European adventure is everything you've imagined and more. Let’s create priceless memories and enrich your life through extraordinary travel experiences.

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Looking down the Royal Mile in Edinburgh Scotland

Our first trip to Scotland will always stand out as my favorite travel experience. There is truly something for everyone here.We arrived in Edinburgh early in the morning, and made it easily through Customs. There was a mix-up with our transfer, but this actually worked out for the best because we learned that getting a taxi is not only very convenient but also inexpensive.

The first day after an overnight flight, I always recommend making the first day a very casual, easy day. So, we dropped our bags at our hotel and took the time to just walk around the city. Our hotel was very conveniently located on the Royal Mile, just a 10-minute walk from Edinburgh Castle. So, we took the opportunity to walk up to the castle entrance, and part of the way down the Royal Mile. This was in August, when both the Fringe Festival and the Military Tattoo are taking place, so Edinburgh will be very busy. Later, we walked down to the Princes Street Garden and got a glimpse of the New Town section of Edinburgh.For two days of our visit we got a hop-on, hop-off bus pass that included entrance to Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Place and the Royal Yacht Britannia. The buses run continually to each of these locations, originating from Waverley Bridge, near the main train station. While each of these were visits on your own, we purchased a guided tour of Holyrood Palace. Visiting the Britannia and the Castle are easily done on your own, as they have plenty of information signs to tell you what you are seeing.

As I mentioned, the Edinburgh Royal Military Tattoo was going on while we were there, and I recommend that you see this if you are in Edinburgh in August. This is a full evening concert of military bands and drill teams from all over the world, held at the Castle. The dancers, drill teams and bagpipes are excellent. We purchased dinner with our tickets, and we were treated to traditional Scottish dinner in the castle, complete with Whisky, Haggis, Roast Beef, and Tatties and Neeps.

We took several excursions outside of Edinburgh. On one trip we visited Glencoe and Loch Ness. This trip gave us an appreciation how rugged and majestic the Highlands are. On the second trip, we visited Loch Lomond and Stirling Castle. And on the return to Edinburgh, we stopped at Glengoyne Distillery for a tour of how whisky is made, and a “wee dram”. The third trip we visited Alnwick Castle in Northern England, stopping on the way back at a little town called Dunbar, with a castle ruin dating back to the 11th century. On our last excursion, we went fly fishing on the River Tweed. For this trip, we took a very comfortable train ride from Edinburgh to Tweedbank. It took about 90 minutes and we enjoyed going through the Scottish countryside.

The personal connections that we made in each of these locations are unforgettable. At Stirling Castle, they have a place where you can learn the origins of your name. It turns out that my name - McGill - is actually Scottish. They provided me with a very nice summary of the origins and history of my name. Dunbar is on the eastern coast of Scotland, looking out over the North Sea. For me, this was personal as 39 years earlier I stood in the Netherlands, looking out west over the same body of water. It was on our fishing trip that we met our guide, John. John was a retired police officer. One of his duties as a policeman was to be a driver for the Royal Family when they were Edinburgh. His stories about this experience were priceless.

Back in Edinburgh, we experienced several excellent restaurants. My favorite was “The Devil’s Advocate”, located on Advocate’s Close. This is a Pub type of restaurant and very popular, so I recommend getting reservations. They have over 300 whiskies in the restaurant. When asked what I would like to try, I told them I wanted a whisky that I can’t get in the US. Even though the restaurant was at capacity, the Bartender came to our table, and we talked about the kind of whisky I liked. He came back with a whisky and said, “this one is so special, we can’t even get this one here anymore”. It was excellent. Another very good restaurant on the Royal Mile is called “Angels with Bagpipes”. This restaurant is a little more upscale than the Deveil’s Advocate, and the food is excellent.

One other thing we did while in Edinburgh was to visit “The Whisky Experience”. Here, I learned about how the flavors of whisky are developed. You can also see their collection of whiskies, which is the worlds largest collection.

We were blessed with very nice weather on this visit, with temperatures in the upper 60’s and low 70’s with very little rain. But you should be prepared for changes in the weather while there.

With two travel days, our total trip was 10 days in length. We could have easily spent another week in Scotland, to visit the Islands and western Scotland. This is on our list for a later trip.