First day we started on our tour to the Bonny Bonny banks of Loch Lomond.That is the way it is referred in the scottish folklore and songs.The itinerary included a day spent in the land of scot heroes rob roy , william wallace and robert the bruce, a visit to the medieval stronghold of stirling castle and the beautiful nature and forests of Scotland's first national park- the Trossachs and finally the bonny bonny banks of Loch Lomond.
Our tour bus was a top of the range Mercedes minibus 16 seater. Rabbies tour - our tour operator - said a small number provides for a more personal touch to the tour experience. and they were true to their words.The tour started at 9:15 morning and was to end at 6 in the evening covering some 250 miles.The weather was cold at 5-6 degree.
We started from Royal mile and travelled to the north of edinburgh. It just takes a 20 minute drive to come out of the city; edinburgh being a small city.I forgot to mention that just the last day the weather had turned very cold.But still we were not expecting any snow in the scottish highlands. But as soon as we were at the foot hills crossing the farms and Bingo!!..we saw snow all around.The snow that had eluded us in london. Finally we saw it though at a speed of 50 mph..nonetheless the scenery had its effect on us. In an instant we forgot the tiredness of the 9 hour bus journey we had just finished 3 hours earlier.
Only the road stood out in contrast black colour. Everything else was covered in a thin blanket of scottish snow.We very much wanted to go out and play but that was not to be as we had a plan to be executed. Wifey dear got busy in clicking photos and saving for eternity of whatever little beauty we could capture. The pine trees, the farms , the sheep both white and pink!! all were covered in snow and i realised how beautiful mother nature could be. That's the effect the beauty of nature has.One feels humbled by the sheer beauty and grandness.
Our first stop was at Loch Lomond.This is the biggest Loch in Great Britain by surface area at 71 sq km.It is 39 Km long and 8 km wide.Wow..what a size.I wondered whether scotland has the world's largest reserves of fresh water and could become the next superpower with this abundance!!! what a thought. I being an ardent environmentalist was astouded to see the endless lake.We had a stop of 2 hours there and the driver advised us to take a walk by the bonny bonny banks of loch lomond and climb a small hill. There was a small walkway just wide enough for one person to walk, carved on the sides of the hillock by the shore of the lake.
Amidst so much natural beauty the child in me gets the better of me and i try to see as much as possible and do as much as possible.Despite the weather at 4-5 degrees i put on the jacket and took my bag and with all eagerness started amidst the small village where our bus was parked. All around it felt as if we were in heaven.Everything looked just precisely in place and all playing there part in completing the harmony played out before us.
We started on the small winding pathway along the banks of the Loch and took pictures of all we could. There were not many people around and we had the surroundings all to ourselves.There were many boats and ferries parked in the banks as is the case with any scottish village as they are traditionally fishermen.
The walk amidst the forests of Trossachs national park was great .We walked as far as we could all alone and drank the cold water of the lake which was very sweet. I make it a point to drink natural water of any natural body to witness the purity that only nature is capable of and we humans can only dream of. Then we returned back to our starting point and started climbing up a small hill that had stone steps all the way to the top numbering 100. In no time we were at the top and had full view of the mountain ranges and the entire lake. From there we could atleast get some idea of the grandness of the lake. As far as the eye could see Loch lomond kept going on and on and on. The Scottish Lochs are actually formed from the melting of the icebergs of the last ice age and hence the enormous sizes. The trees were in all colours of green, yellow, red and orange and the cool breeze making it a moment that should last for a lifetime.
The time was fast passing by and all through the walk i bored my wife with my praise for the place and the moment we were witnessing.I told her to look at the scenery as much as possible as these were going to be our fondest memories. Now that i am writing about the place that i visited some 4 weeks back and already i find most of the magic missing.Only fond memories and some pictures.At least i got to thank my wife dear who makes it a point to take as many pics as possible in a day.Now these are all i have to relish the experiences gone by.That's why the time currently going on is known as present 'coz it is a gift for all of us.
Our tour bus was a top of the range Mercedes minibus 16 seater. Rabbies tour - our tour operator - said a small number provides for a more personal touch to the tour experience. and they were true to their words.The tour started at 9:15 morning and was to end at 6 in the evening covering some 250 miles.The weather was cold at 5-6 degree.
We started from Royal mile and travelled to the north of edinburgh. It just takes a 20 minute drive to come out of the city; edinburgh being a small city.I forgot to mention that just the last day the weather had turned very cold.But still we were not expecting any snow in the scottish highlands. But as soon as we were at the foot hills crossing the farms and Bingo!!..we saw snow all around.The snow that had eluded us in london. Finally we saw it though at a speed of 50 mph..nonetheless the scenery had its effect on us. In an instant we forgot the tiredness of the 9 hour bus journey we had just finished 3 hours earlier.
Only the road stood out in contrast black colour. Everything else was covered in a thin blanket of scottish snow.We very much wanted to go out and play but that was not to be as we had a plan to be executed. Wifey dear got busy in clicking photos and saving for eternity of whatever little beauty we could capture. The pine trees, the farms , the sheep both white and pink!! all were covered in snow and i realised how beautiful mother nature could be. That's the effect the beauty of nature has.One feels humbled by the sheer beauty and grandness.
Our first stop was at Loch Lomond.This is the biggest Loch in Great Britain by surface area at 71 sq km.It is 39 Km long and 8 km wide.Wow..what a size.I wondered whether scotland has the world's largest reserves of fresh water and could become the next superpower with this abundance!!! what a thought. I being an ardent environmentalist was astouded to see the endless lake.We had a stop of 2 hours there and the driver advised us to take a walk by the bonny bonny banks of loch lomond and climb a small hill. There was a small walkway just wide enough for one person to walk, carved on the sides of the hillock by the shore of the lake.
Amidst so much natural beauty the child in me gets the better of me and i try to see as much as possible and do as much as possible.Despite the weather at 4-5 degrees i put on the jacket and took my bag and with all eagerness started amidst the small village where our bus was parked. All around it felt as if we were in heaven.Everything looked just precisely in place and all playing there part in completing the harmony played out before us.
We started on the small winding pathway along the banks of the Loch and took pictures of all we could. There were not many people around and we had the surroundings all to ourselves.There were many boats and ferries parked in the banks as is the case with any scottish village as they are traditionally fishermen.
The walk amidst the forests of Trossachs national park was great .We walked as far as we could all alone and drank the cold water of the lake which was very sweet. I make it a point to drink natural water of any natural body to witness the purity that only nature is capable of and we humans can only dream of. Then we returned back to our starting point and started climbing up a small hill that had stone steps all the way to the top numbering 100. In no time we were at the top and had full view of the mountain ranges and the entire lake. From there we could atleast get some idea of the grandness of the lake. As far as the eye could see Loch lomond kept going on and on and on. The Scottish Lochs are actually formed from the melting of the icebergs of the last ice age and hence the enormous sizes. The trees were in all colours of green, yellow, red and orange and the cool breeze making it a moment that should last for a lifetime.
The time was fast passing by and all through the walk i bored my wife with my praise for the place and the moment we were witnessing.I told her to look at the scenery as much as possible as these were going to be our fondest memories. Now that i am writing about the place that i visited some 4 weeks back and already i find most of the magic missing.Only fond memories and some pictures.At least i got to thank my wife dear who makes it a point to take as many pics as possible in a day.Now these are all i have to relish the experiences gone by.That's why the time currently going on is known as present 'coz it is a gift for all of us.
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