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Glamis Castle | what to see in Scotland


There are so many castles in Scotland, people often think of Scotland as the castle capital of the world! Some are in ruins, some are restored, and others, like Glamis, have been maintained over the years. Glamis is my favorite castle because it is in the area which my family is from, and it is extremely beautiful! There are the most wonderful gardens, several of them, which are home to many different types of pretty plants. There is a lovely forest surrounding the castle grounds with the cutest little creek running through, and there are also many nice animals that live on the property! A visit to Glamis castle is like taking a step back in time.




Unfortunately, there is a strict no photo policy inside the castle, but believe me, it is totally worth it to see all of the wonderful rooms and decorations that they have inside. Each room is in a similar state to how it would have been during the castles prime, and it really does feel like you are walking through someones home. All of the furniture remains, as well as some impressive decor pieces and beautiful paintings. 

There are many tours throughout the day which lead you through the castle and give you exciting information about the history of the castle and its inhabitants. Glamis castle is extremely interesting and has a detailed history which is entertaining to learn about! Their website is linked HERE so you can get a better feel for the tours they do, as well as a sneak peek of some images of the interior of the castle! 



This is the famous view of Glamis Castle - its rich red tone against the vibrant green grass. When I was much younger, around 12 years old, we visited Glamis Castle to attend the Highland Games. I remember it being the most wonderful event in such an enchanting setting! I'm not sure if they host highland games here anymore, but if they do, I highly recommend visiting the castle then, as it is so nice to experience the castle grounds when they are buzzing with local culture and traditions.

There are several different gardens on the Castle grounds which are accompanied by and connected with different 'walks'. There is the Italian Garden Walk, the Nature Trail Walk, the Pinetum Walk, and the River Dean Walk. The gardens showcase different types of plants and different styles of architecture and design demonstrating the different styles and fashions in history.

(Italian Garden)

(Italian Garden)

(Italian Garden)

(Italian Garden)

(Italian Garden)

(Italian Garden)

(River Dean)

(Bridge on the River Dean Walk)

(Walled Garden)

(Walled Garden)


(Walled Garden)

(Walled Garden)

(Walled Garden)

(Walled Garden)

The Italian Garden is a place to showcase the impressive landscaping which compliments the historic fashion of the time. There are sculpted hedges, exotic plants, and other beautiful features like fountains, and statues. 

The Walled Garden is a place where many fruits and other food would have been grown to feed the inhabitants of the Castle. This garden is extremely beautiful, enclosed by a tall stone wall and several large gates. This garden is filled with beautiful flowering plants, a fountain, fruit trees, and the most beautiful greenhouse. 

Walking through the castle grounds are one of the best parts about visiting Glamis Castle. There are plenty of beautiful sights to see and the walking paths are well kept.  




Glamis Castle is a gem worthy of being explored!

Thanks so much for reading,
Madison xx

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Portree | what to See in Scotland


The largest town on the Isle of Skye is Portree - nestled by the ocean, surrounded by rugged hills. Skye itself is a wonderful place to visit, with lots of hikes (see my post on the Fairy Pools), dramatic landscapes, a rich history, and wonderful winding roads to drive on. Amidst all of the nature, there are a few towns scattered throughout the island which provide rich local culture and some great attractions. 


Portree has a plethora of colored buildings which are extremely pleasing to the eye! When you walk around the harbor you can get quite great views of these buildings - opportunities for 'instagram worthy' pictures are plenty!  


When I last visited Portree, the old stone church building in the picture above (directly above the light green and blue house) was open to the public and had a lovely local market going on inside! There were local vendors with their products, lots of knitting, wool, local art, and other goodies! I strolled the market with my grandpa, a memory I will not forget any time soon.

Wentworth Street in downtown Portree is filled with shops and cafes, we ate lunch at "the Cafe" which is the floor level of the Caledonian hotel. I had a delicious milkshake which was topped with whipped cream and other goodies like cookies and sprinkles, it was great! There are only a few major streets in Portree, but they all have some sort of cool shop or cafe.

Another great place to eat, and drink 😉, is the Merchant Bar - located on bosville terrace, which is centrally located and just next to the harbour. This is a cool looking bar with modern finishes that still maintain the charm of an old highland pub. They have local scotch and beer available as well as many other great options.



In a few pictures above, I pointed out the stone church where my grandpa and I visited the market. Above that church, there is a large forested area where this tower is located! If you walk past the church up along the road, there will be a foot path on to the left. That path will take you into the highland games area, which is a large natural peninsula looking over the ocean. If you continue to walk around the forest, veering to the left, you will reach somewhat of a foot path through the trees. The footpath will lead to this stone tower! There is an opening where you can enter the tower and climb stairs to the top! 

(View from the Tower)

While Skye itself is an attraction, Portree is definitely a place that should not be missed! 

Thanks for reading,
Madison xx
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Ring of Brodgar | what to see in Scotland



Located on the Orkney Islands, the Ring of Brodgar is a Neolithic stone henge (2500 BC). It is found on the mainland of Orkney, 6 miles north of Stromess - one of two cities on Orkney. The stone henge itself is really really large - the diameter of the circle is 340 ft, third largest diameter of a stone circle found in Britain. There are 27 remaining monoliths (standing stones) outlining the circle, it is predicted that there would have been 60 during its prime. 



Purple Scottish heather surrounds the area, it is in full bloom during the late summer months. The Orkney islands are extremely windy so there are no trees. Because of this, the dramatic landscape is exposed and all of its rugged features are visible. Compared to the flat land in Alberta, this aspect of the Orkneys is quite special. 


(Scottish Thistle)


The Orkney Islands have been inhabited for around 8,000 years now, and have been under many different regimes. Originally the Islands were under Viking rule, then Norwegian rule, and in the 15th Century they became Scottish. The history is incredibly rich, and I suggest giving it a 'google search,' as there are many interesting facts!





I first visited the Ring of Brodgar when I was 12 years old. It sparked my love for history, particularly archaeology. Even though I study Biological Anthropology, Archaeology will always have a place in my heart. Historic places like this are extremely special to me (especially if they are in Scotland 😊).




Anyone who studies archaeology will know that mounds in historic places are often incredibly interesting, important, and home to a midden or perhaps a burial! I was immediately drawn to this mound next to the Ring of Brodgar. Unfortunately I couldn't find any information on this particular mound, but I do know that not far from this location is another mound called Maeshowe. It is a chambered cairn used as a neolithic burial system. There are many chambered cairns around the islands, perhaps this is one of them??



Not far from the Ring of Brodgar are the 'Standing Stones of Stenness' with only a few erect stones left. There would have been more at one time, but only several remain. Lots of archaeological work has been done at both of these sites, among many others on the Orkney Islands. Anyone who is interested history will definitely appreciate these beautiful monoliths!

(Stones of Stenness)

The Ring of Brodgar is definitely one of the places I recommend to visit if you are in Northern Scotland or the Orkneys - it has inspired me so much and continues to do so! 

Thanks for reading,
Madison xx


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Fairy Pools | what to see in Scotland

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The Isle of Skye: rugged, wild, magical. It is just off the western coast of Scotland and is full of adventures waiting to happen.


The fairy pools are one of many amazing natural attractions on the Isle of Skye. They are located near Carbost, a small village on the western side of the island. There is a small parking lot at the trail head, which is indicated by signs along the roadways. The trail itself is relatively easy to hike, it is downhill from the parking lot and then flat for quite some time. When you begin to see the fairy pools, you start to walk uphill, past several of the waterfalls. Along this path you will notice that there are several pools which are located at the bottom of small waterfalls, most of these are accessible so you can swim in any one of them!





 The pools are surrounded by beautiful rolling mountains - the falls are located in a valley which is quite wide, creating a dramatic landscape.




We were lucky enough to visit the fairy pools on a relatively warm day, so there was no problem with feeling too cold in the fresh Scottish water.






There is lots of folklore around the area, as it is so beautiful and magical looking. The water is so clear and so fresh, perfect for swimming - it is no wonder that the place is home to Celtic myths. The Isle of Skye is full of a wealth of Scottish history, along with lots of rugged beauty begging to be explored. The town of Portree is not far from the fairy pools, offering many great restaurants and accommodations. Swimming in Scotland is something which is not that common, as the weather is relatively moderate and does not usually get warm enough. Swimming in the fairy pools however, is totally worth it, no matter how cold the weather (within reason of course)! 😀

Thanks for reading,
Madison xx

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