Scotland, UK (2014)

Smooth sailing on the North Sea out of the Netherlands towards the United Kingdom. The clear sky made for a really nice sunset on board the DFDS ferry.

After spending a night on the ferry from the Netherlands, we were passing the Tynemouth lighthouse in the town of Tynemouth, England, United Kingdom. From here on it was just another half hour before we could leave the ferry and start our Scottish adventure.

We wanted to visit Alnwick Castle in the town of Alnwick, England, United Kingdom. Parking was a bit of a problem as it was very busy, so we had to walk quite a bit to get there. The advantage was that we could experience the local charm of the town.

We were quite surprised to encounter snow in summer while walking towards Alnwick Castle in the town of Alnwick, England, United Kingdom. It turned out to be a set for the production of the Chistmas episode of Downtown Abbey.

We both loved spending time at the castle in the town of Alnwick, England, United Kingdom. So much history preserved in great condition. We even met Harry Potter himself and watched a game of Quidditch.

While walking up to Holyrood Park we had an excellent view over Edinburgh Castle on the hill as well as the city of Edinburgh in Scotland, United Kingdom.

Croft-An-Righ is just one of the many small streets we encountered in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom.

How to get there is what we were wondering when we planned to visit Edinburgh Castle in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom. Luckily we had Granny's Steps nearby but it was quite a strenuous walk up.

We really liked the well maintained Governor's House on the Edinburgh Castle grounds in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom.

Next to the castle in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom. Edinburgh Castle wasn't just a castle, it also contained the Governor's House, a prison, living quarters and even a hospital.

A gorgeous view like any other over the city of Edinburgh in Scotland, United Kingdom. The redhead in the corner makes it a bit more interesting in my opinion.

The view from one of the battlements at Edinburgh Castle over the city of Edinburgh in Scotland, United Kingdom. This is how attacking enemies could be spotted and targeted.

Except for the guy wearing a kilt, this street performer sounded far from Scottish. He presented himself as a pig in a kilt, playing on the Royal Mile in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom.

This is as Scottish as it gets, someone playing the bagpipes on the Royal Mile in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom.

If you ever wondered where the end of the world is, it's on the Royal Mile in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom. Lovely delapidated entrance to an enclosed garden.

I was specifically waiting for someone to pass while hiding under an arch on the Royal Mile in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom. Using a longer exposure time I could capture this passing woman which gave the ghostly girl effect.

We had a very nice visit to Dunbar's Close Garden which can be easily reached from the Royal Mile in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom. Very well maintained garden and this here is the dark end.

Jacob's ladder is a wonderful staircase in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom. A lovely little piece of nature amidst roads and railway tracks.

We loved the wavy look on this pedestrian bridge at the St. James shopping centre while walking around in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom.

After checking out of our hotel we went for a short visit to Portobello Beach in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom. Given the rain it turned out to be a rainy day at the beach.

We can definitely recommend visiting Blair Castle near the town of Pitlochry in Scotland, United Kingdom. When we arrived it was raining a bit, but after a while it cleared up just enough for the sunshine to highlight the white castle.

We went on a walk through the forest surrounding Blair Castle near the town of Pitlochry in Scotland, United Kingdom. After a while we stumbled upon the ruins of St. Brides Kirk, a small church from the past. Rest in peace.

We really loved driving through the Scottish highlands with all its rolling hills and countless sheep roaming the fields. On Schiehallion Road we noticed a couple of sheep that were going for a walk.

Passing lots of lakes while driving through the highlands in Scotland, United Kingdom. Here we are overlooking Loch Tummel.

We really loved the feeling of tranquility while strolling around in the small village of Cromarty in Scotland, United Kingdom.

Driving back from Cromarty towards Inverness and stopping to admire the view on the misty hills in the distance. The hay bales in the front made the atmosphere complete.

While walking along the river Ness we witnessed a lovely sunset on Inverness Castle in the city of Inverness, Scotland, United Kingdom.

While driving around in the area around Inverness we ended up in the lovely seaside town of Lossiemouth in Scotland, United Kingdom. Getting across to the beach area was by an old pedestrian bridge crossing the river Lossie.

A trip to Scotland in the United Kingdom is not complete without a visit to the famous Loch Ness. We did not witness the appearance of the famous Nessie, but loved the castle by the lake, Urquhart Castle.

A true joy for the eye is what we called Eilean Donan Castle near the town of Dornie in Scotland, United Kingdom. The setting in the surrounding landscape is truly breathtaking.

We spent a decent amount of time at Eilean Donan Castle near the town of Dornie in Scotland, United Kingdom. It happened to be a great day so we could enjoy the reflections of the moss in the waters around the castle.

Colourful Quay Street as seen from the 'beach' in the town of Portree on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, United Kingdom. The pastel coloured houses attract many tourists and are host to some lovely shops.

Perfect view from a bench by the sea near the ruins of Duntulm Castle on the Isle of Skye, Scotland, United Kingdom.

Scotland is definitely the land of castles although not all are in perfect condition. There is not much left of Duntulm Castle on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, United Kingdom.

Sunset in Uig on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, United Kingdom. Our hotel provided an excellent view of the bay near the small village of Uig.

Beautiful view of the Fairy Glen on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, United Kingdom. Despite the cloudy conditions there was no wind and thus the green hills reflected nicely in the water.

Truly looking like the scene from a fairytale we loved The Fairy Glen on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, United Kingdom. Lucky for us there were not many people around so we could really take in the beauty of this small valley.

One of the most dramatic and incredible landscapes we saw was the Quiraing on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, United Kingdom. Insanely green rolling hills combined with steep cliffs.

By following a rather flaky path we got a great view on Kilt Rock on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, United Kingdom. It was wet and slippery but the views made it all worth it.

It's amazing to see sheep walking the ridges on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, United Kingdom. How they managed to not fall off remains a mystery.

A quick stop at the Sligachan Old Bridge on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, United Kingdom. Even though there was a light drizzle the bridge looked great.

It was a fairly long walk through the mud and the rain but it was really worth visiting the Fairy Pools on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, United Kingdom. Really beautiful set of waterfalls.

While driving to the town of Oban my son wanted to take a small detour to Glen Etive which we were passing. He knew that a scene from the movie 'Skyfall' was filmed here. So we parked the car at the exact same spot, and with the windows wide open we played the song as loud as we could. Really fun moment.

The Connel Bridge spanning Loch Etive near the town of Oban in Scotland, United Kingdom. Depending on the tide the water going out flows so fast, the Falls of Lora can be seen, basically a horizontal waterfall.

The intense blue colour really draws attention to the St. Andrew's bridge in the city of Glasgow in Scotland, United Kingdom. This bridge spans the River Clyde between Glasgow Green (to the NE) and Hutchesontown (to the SW).

Playing with my zoom lens at the train station in the city of Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom. Keeping the focus on the clock in the centre it appears everyone is rushing to the trains.

Amazed by all the marble everywhere in the City Chambers in the city of Glasgow in Scotland, United Kingdom. We almost didn't visit this particular building as we thought it would be boring. Very glad we did it anyway.

Back in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne in England, United Kingdom. Here standing on the Gateshead Millennium Bridge overlooking the river Tyne and the many bridges crossing it.