Roadtrip in Scotland | Glasgow, Fife & Inverness

Hello,

My fascination for Scotland is nothing new for those who know me... and even if you don't, you probably have noticed from my previous articles on the blog (when we went to Edinburgh, the Outer Hebrides or on Arran... but also my article where I tell you what to pack and what budget to expect...).

This year I was lucky enough to go back for a very special roadtrip in Scotland with my mom, from Glasgow to Skye through Fife and the NC500. This itinerary is a dream come true for me, so you bet I'm going to write at least 3 articles about it ! ;)

Scotland welcomed us with the most beautiful sunset while landing in Glasgow. We ubered (super easy, quick and cheap compared to the bus!) to our hotel, the Z hotel Glagow, which is my favorite place to stay in the city. Right in the center, unbeatable value, and a selection of cheese and wine upon arrival ! Our belly filled with cheddar and tomato chutney, we walk around the city center and enjoy the beautiful light of dawn.

We stumbled across a restaurant that looked insane : Chaakoo Bombay Cafe. It's right on my Glasgow bucket list !

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The next day, it is time to head to Avis to get the rental car that will become our trusty steed for the rest of the trip, a Fiat 500. The real adventure begins, as my mom had never drove on the left (nor used a manual car for years!). It is filled with a mix of fear and excitment that we drive to our first visit : Midhope Castle, the real life Lallybroch (Jamie Fraser's castle in Outlander) *cries in Sassenach* This is pretty much the holy grail of tourism as an Outlander fan. And honestly, it did not disappoint !

Then, it was time to head to Dundee where we stayed for a couple of nights, where we pet sitted three lovely dogs in exchange of accomodation with the most stunning view of the river Tay. We had found our lovely pet parents through TrustedHouseSitters, a great platform to find a house or pet sitting. (You can get 25% off through this referral link)

Before going to meet our hosts, we had a quick lunch at the Tatha Bar & Kitchen, the restaurant on the top floor of the V&A Dundee Museum. We then strolled around the museum and discovered all kinds of designs Made In Scotland, from fashion to architecture.

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After walking the dogs along the river Tay, we had dinner at Korean BBQ Dundee (pretty unusual but we loved it!), we then continued on a more local experience with a drink at the Bird & Bear pub. I had probably what was the best cider I've ever had in my life (no, I'm not being dramatic!!), the Thistly Cross elderflower cider.

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It's day two in the Kingdom of Fife ! After a slow morning at home and a walk with the dogs, we went up the coast to find the perfect spot for a fish & chips. What we found was pretty close to that as we enjoyed and fresh and crispy fish with beautiful views on the water and harbour in Arbroath, at the Old Boathouse Restaurant.

What was supposed to be a digestive walk ended up, somehow, with us attending a football game. We were walking along the coast when we were lured by the sound of bagpipes in a stadium, the air was vibrant, the street filled with locals wearing Arbroath FC merch, and we could tell something BIG was going on. We decided to attend the football game, and it was indeed the finale to some local cup that Arbroath won.

Next, it was time for us to discover the beautiful city of St Andrews! We were only there for a couple of hours before dinner, so we walked along its narrow streets, visited the beach and harbour, strolled around the Cathedral ruins and the castle... From what we saw, St Andrews is a very vibrant, young and dynamic city full of history (winning combo if you ask me!), and I wish we had more time there. We had a dinner reservation at Forgans', a really cool place to eat but, most importantly, dance! That's right folks, we attended our first ceilidh ! (they have one every friday and saturday) That was another dream of mine and it made me so happy!

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The next day, it is already time to head north. We had booked a distillery visit as the Spirit of Speyside festival was on, but unfortunately we were running late. Instead, we stopped on the way to Inverness to see Dunnotar Castle which was very impressive, perhaps one of Scotland's most stunning castle.

Continuing north, we stopped to visit Culloden Moor Battlefield, a must see if you are a fan of history like I am. I highly recommend doing a guided tour of the moor, as the guide will tell you how and why the battle turned to be one of the deadliest for Scotland, as well as the outcome for the people and the culture. It was as moving and emotional as the first time I visited it.

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We ended the night in Inverness, after a quick walk around the center and a delicious plate of local cured meats and cheeses at The Walrus and Corkscrew. And of course, I had to have another eldferflower cider !

After that, it was already time to get to our hotel in Muir of Ord, called Muir Bank. It was simple (a bit loud as it is near the road) but perfect for a quick stop before heading on the North Coast 500 which I will tell you all about in the next article !

See you soon sous ma loupe,

Lou