SCOZIA: un Viaggio Magico tra Castelli, Scogliere e Villaggi Attraverso le Highlands

SCOZIA: un Viaggio Magico tra Castelli, Scogliere e Villaggi Attraverso le Highlands

We’ve wondered many times how to start this video. There’s so much to say… We could tell you about the hours spent in the car and the surreal landscapes we saw, the villages, all the animals we encountered along the way, and the vast, brilliantly green valleys… We’re about to tell you about our itinerary in Scotland, a road trip among cliffs overlooking the sea, castles, and villages that seem frozen in time, all the way to the Highlands, the most authentic and wild part of this country. What we can tell you right away, however, is this: it was all extraordinary, and we can’t wait to share it with you. Sit back and relax on the sofa, let’s embark on this new adventure. We’ve been waiting to take this trip since 2020,
when we had to cancel due to force majeure. But here we are, finally! We’ll be staying for 10 days, and while
we won’t be able to see everything, we obviously have a lot of miles planned. We landed in Edinburgh early in the morning, picked up the inevitable rental car , and began our exploration. We’re in the historic county of Fife, a peninsula less
than an hour from Edinburgh, packed with must-sees, starting with its villages. The first is Culross. A village that can only be described in one word: idyllic! Its low white and yellow houses seem frozen in time, a century ago. The small details always amaze us. Perhaps these are the characteristics that made it the location for the TV series Outlander. I know it by reputation, but I’ve never seen it. Do you think it deserves to be restored? Let me know! We stop for breakfast in the central square, in a recently opened restaurant with a vintage feel. I tried a muffin with frangipane cream and raspberries, which was fantastic. In the upper part of the village stands the historic abbey,
founded in 1217 as a monastery. Some parts have since been destroyed, but the church
can still be visited inside and is very different from ours. I’d say we’re off to a great start. First stop on the trip, this wonderful village. Let’s see if we can find a more beautiful one. We drive along the coastal road until we reach Crail. This fishing village, dating back to the Pictish period,
was built around a natural harbor. The red brick houses are so perfect they almost seem fake. A few steps away is the village beach and a few cottages overlooking the water that are available for rent. We even got a business card, just in case! The area is famous for lobster fishing, and right here at the harbor there’s a small street food stall where you can try the freshest lobsters. We wish we had more time to dedicate to Fife; we hope to return in the future because we have so much to see and so many places already marked that we couldn’t fit into the itinerary. Now, however, something completely different awaits us… We pass through the gate that gives access to Glamis Castle. We walk down the very long central road and at
the end we see the castle looming in all its grandeur. There are two options for entering the castle: the one we bought, which is a £9.50 ticket for just the gardens and exterior, or the full ticket, which includes a guided tour of the interior, costs £18.50. The exterior architecture is spectacular. This is the castle Shakespeare mentions in Macbeth. We find a man painting in the shade of a large tree. We understand why one might feel inspired by all this. Heading toward the Kitchen Gardens, we come across some Highland cattle grazing; we hadn’t expected to see them on our first day. We stroll among the aromatic herbs, flowers, and small ponds. It’s already late, but since it doesn’t get dark until 11 p.m.,
we still have plenty of time to explore the area. We head to check into tonight’s inn in Johnshaven, another small port town. A few kilometres away we visit the Fowlsheugh Nature Reserve, 60-metre-high red sandstone cliffs that are home to more than 155,000 seabirds. It’s the largest colony in eastern Scotland. We’re here to look for puffins, but we know it’ll be nearly impossible; we’ve already been incredibly lucky in Iceland. We see lots of seagulls and an almost endless number of razorbills. We’ve never seen them before, though!
They look like distant cousins ​​of penguins, don’t you think? We walk through tall grass, surrounded by bunnies and the wind but above all, the deafening din of thousands of birds. I’ve never heard anything like it. After about an hour of searching with a couple from London, there they are, sweet little puffins hidden among the razorbills. It’s hard to spot them, but they’re there. We managed to see seven in total, and it was a wonderful treat for our arrival in Scotland. There’s one last spot for today, perfect for sunset. We’ve already been there in 2014, but we’re more than happy to return! We’re at Dunnottar Castle, which in our opinion is one of
the most unique and evocative castles in all of Scotland. All that remains are the ruins of what must have been a magnificent fortress, built on a rocky promontory overlooking the North Sea. It’s beautiful even from the coast, but since we arrived during closing hours, we have the opportunity to fly the drone and show you this place from a different perspective. Prepare yourself for beauty… It’s been a very long day. We return to Johnshaven to rest. The harbor, so quiet at night, exudes a sense of calm. We get in the car early. Today too, we have several stops to make, all near the sea and along the coast. The first short stop is at the Buchan Ness Lighthouse. We discovered it by chance, highlighted on Google Maps, and decided to stop there. Doesn’t it look like something out of a picture book? It’s how I imagine the perfect red and white lighthouse, a sentinel standing sentinel over the sea atop a cliff. We drive for another 45 minutes to some villages we can’t wait to discover. This morning, we set off along the coastal trail north. We stopped at the lighthouse you saw earlier, and now we’ve arrived in Pennan, which is this tiny village. We can probably count the
houses on two hands, but it’s wonderful. It’s in this cove protected by cliffs, and it’s fantastic. A single row of cottages built right up against the sea. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it. There are no tourists, just locals, several children playing around the village and on the beach. It’s almost surreal to be here. It’s so different from what we’re used to. We’d have liked to have lunch at the only inn in Pennan,
but it was closed, so we changed our plans. We head to Gardens Town, 10 minutes from here. We stumble upon a little place run by three very sweet elderly ladies. It feels like being at a grandmother’s house; they make us delicious sandwiches. In addition to selling cakes and excellent snacks,
the shop also sells handmade crafts. Gardenstown wasn’t on the itinerary, but it was a pleasant detour. Before moving on, we stop at a very scenic viewpoint to see Crovie from above, a charming village, very similar to Pennan,
but with an even narrower road in front of the houses. We continue along the Moray Firth, the largest fjord in all of Scotland to Elgin Cathedral, which unfortunately is already closed, but no worries—it’s perfectly visible even from outside the gates on all sides. Built in 1224, it was one of the largest cathedrals in medieval Scotland. In Gothic style, it was called the “lantern of the north” for the light it emitted, I think both literally and symbolically for the faithful. Since the visit to the cathedral took less time than expected, again using the indispensable Google Maps, we discover a nearby beach that doesn’t look bad at all. After crossing a wooden walkway through the low vegetation, an incredible spectacle opens up before us. The colors, in what could easily be a The beaches are some of the largest I’ve ever seen, they’re stunning , and the colorful wooden houses add a touch of harmony. If you’re interested, some are still for sale. We loved it so much we decided to stay a little longer and have dinner on the beach with our supermarket groceries. I don’t know if we’ll be able to convey it to you, but it was a really great moment. Shortly afterward, we reach Forres, our home for the evening. Tonight, too, we sleep above a typical Scottish pub. The room is nicer than we expected. As soon as we drop off our backpacks, there’s something essential we need to do. Could you give me the Wi-Fi password? Sure, but remember to activate Nord VPN! As you can imagine, since we travel so often, Nord VPN is essential for us. In fact, by connecting to public Wi-Fi even without a password, Nord VPN protects us from potential dangers that are increasingly common online.
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and the usual 30-day money-back guarantee. We truly hope this advice is useful. Thanks for listening. We often find ourselves booking affordable
accommodations in places we hadn’t planned on visiting. This is the case with Forres, but as you can see, it’s a beautiful town. How is it possible that every town we passed
through in these first two days deserves a stop? We really haven’t seen a single insignificant town or one with an ugly center yet. Maybe it’s because we love this vibe and this architecture so much. It’s already time to say goodbye to this area and head towards the Highlands. The next place we want to see certainly needs no introduction. It’s the home of one of the world’s most famous legendary monsters, the Loch Ness Monster, known to friends as Nessie. It was first sighted in 1933 by a couple traveling along the lakeshore, while the black-and-white photo we all know with the
monster’s silhouette was taken the following year. The lake itself, we must say, is nothing short
of remarkable. Everything revolves around the myth. One of the places to see in this area is Urquhart Castle,
which we only saw from the outside. We hadn’t booked, and there was no more availability. If you want to include it in your plans, remember to buy tickets online, including parking. We’ve just arrived in Drumnadrochit, which
is one of the most famous towns on this side of Loch Ness and right next to the castle we just saw. Be prepared to find quite a few people, too, as it’s the most touristy village with restaurants and small souvenir shops. It’s still cute, but only worth a quick stop. While we’re having lunch, a boy starts playing the bagpipes. It’s a powerful sound, but also pleasant and super epic. We eat our first fish and chips. It’s made with Scottish Haddock, a fish I’d honestly never heard of, but it’s truly delicious. For dessert, we head a short distance to a farm that also serves as a tea room, entirely themed around Highland cattle, with a unique view of the hills and meadows. We have tea, of course, and a slice of illegally large chocolate cake garnished with raspberries. It’s simply fantastic! If you happen to pass by, don’t forget that you can also meet the Hairy Coos who live on the estate. His name, for example,
is Torin; he’s three years old and very curious. When we get back in the car, the weather gets a little worse as we drive along. The clouds are moving in, hiding the mountain peaks. Arriving at the Glen Docherty Viewpoint, We see the road winding down to Loch Marie ahead of us. From Kinlochewe, we take the A896, the first real road, a single lane we drive on, but we already know we’ll come across many more. There are many lay-bys, the famous passing places, designed specifically to let traffic pass from the other direction. Remember, there’s no need to change lanes to make room. We’ve seen too many people make mistakes, go the wrong way in passing places , and create traffic jams on the small roads. Aside from this little tip, we’ve enjoyed every minute of this road. Driving in these places is an experience… Once we reach Torridon, we discover a quiet village in a bay of wild beauty. Just outside the village, among the expanses of windswept grass, there are more Highland cattle grazing undisturbed. What happens next, however, is unexpected. A herd of deer crosses the road, and others calmly observe us from the fields to the side. It’s not so common for us to see them, and it’s very exciting to think that for the people who live in this area it will be the norm. We leave so as not to disturb them too much, stopping at other splendid viewpoints and crossing unreal landscapes until around a bend, another surprise awaits us. Four deer relaxing on the shore of a lake. Their antlers are impressive. We’d never seen anything like this. How wonderful this journey continues. We arrive at Loch Carron late in the evening. We stroll around the village overlooking the lake of the same name before going to our room. We are Mary’s guests, and this morning she prepared
a traditional Scottish breakfast for us. She was so kind, I don’t know what time she got up to cook everything. We say goodbye and set off immediately. We need to get to Eilean Donan Castle before opening time to fly the drone. What do you think? Was it worth getting up early today? The castle, I know many of you will recognize, is the one from “Highlander,” one of the most famous films shot here, but there are many others. It’s incredibly scenic. We decided to see the castle only from the outside. If you’re interested,
there are furnished interiors in some rooms, but you can’t take videos or photos. The entrance fee is £12 per person. Next stop is Plockton, a village known as the pearl of the Highlands . Nestled in a unique natural setting, it’s protected by a fjord and surrounded by the calm waters of a cove. Despite its small size, it’s a true gem. Its whitewashed houses, built in a single, neat row along the seafront, give this village an almost poetic feel. The tiny café where we drink coffee facing the harbor completes the picture. We loved it and are happy we stopped by. It’s also in the perfect direction, as it’s located a short distance from the Kyle of Lochalsh Bridge, which connects
the mainland to Skye, our next destination. We’re finally on the island we’ve dreamed of visiting. It only takes a moment and we’re already captivated. For lunch, we choose The Noost, an outdoor sandwich bar. While we’re enjoying our delicious lunch under the Scottish sun, something absurd happens that we completely unexpectedly saw. A whale swims in the sea next to us. We only manage to capture it in this brief frame because we’d put our cameras away. It was so exciting, guys, the first whale of our lives. I’d say Skye couldn’t have welcomed us any better. We pass through Portree, the largest town on the island. It’s particularly touristy and crowded, perhaps partly due to the unseasonably hot weather,
so we didn’t get to appreciate it much. We stroll through the town center and the harbor area before continuing on. Along the way, we come across Kilt Rock,
the famous waterfall that flows directly into the sea. It’s very easy to visit, as there’s parking right next door. It’s a stop that will take you a few minutes and is worth it. Not far away is An Corran beach. Here, on the rocks, you can find dinosaur footprints dating back 170 million years. They aren’t marked, and once covered by water,
it’s practically impossible to recognize them. We searched for a good half hour with other people, but there was no way. If you happen to pass by at low tide and spot them, can you send us photos? It’s time to check in. For the next two nights, we’ll be sleeping in Staffin in a super cute and comfortable room. Every time we don’t show you lunch or dinner on video, it’s because we’ve gone grocery shopping. Since we want to save a little, and restaurants are quite expensive, we found this solution, a bit like in Iceland, a bit like on many other trips we take. If you’re interested, the cheapest supermarket of all is Aldi. The window looks out onto expanses of meadows and a farm. Every now and then, a cow pops by. Given the temperature, we decide to stop for today and take a few hours to rest. We hope it’ll be a little cooler tomorrow. We leave fairly early after a quick breakfast. Our hopes haven’t been realized. It’s as hot as yesterday. This weather has caught us completely unprepared,
even though we were hoping for a bit of coolness. We’re walking toward one of the most famous and iconic spots on the Isle of Skye. It’s 8:00 a.m. and there’s already a lot of people. Perhaps we should have come even earlier. The hike we’re doing is to the Old Man of Storr, the rock formation that has become something of a symbol of the island. It’s all uphill, but not particularly difficult. Numerous sheep accompany us on the path as we walk along sections that offer breathtaking views. When we reach the highest point, the view is breathtaking, like a painting. We grab a snack, take a few photos, and then continue on our way back to the car. After a lunch break by the sea, we head toward our next stop. Fun fact: “Glens” are long, narrow valleys, usually of glacial origin. The word is actually of Gaelic origin and means valley. We’re now in Fairy Glen, characterized by many low, rounded hills. The path winds through the green formations to a taller rock called Castle Ewen. Its shape actually resembles a castle. I’ve been dreaming of seeing the energy circles in this place for years and had very high expectations, but unfortunately I found them a bit ruined. I’m a little disappointed, I admit, but with all the interesting places I’ve seen so far, I certainly can’t complain. We then drive towards the ruins of Duntulm Castle. Not much remains of the original structure, but it was built in such a scenic location that it’s worth seeing for that alone. In the bay below the castle, you can see seals, and we were lucky enough to spot one swimming in the calm waters of the inlet. Before returning to our room, we stop by the small
market that has already become our go-to place for food. Groceries done and gelato in hand, we head to the B&B to wait for the sun to set. Now that the temperature is cooler and more bearable, we can head to the beach at Staffin Bay. We have to wait until 11:00 to catch a glimpse of stars and a deep blue sky, but in the meantime, we watch the colors change constantly as we have the beach all to ourselves. A new day on Skye, time to check out of our beautiful room. Another trail awaits us today. We’re in the Quiraing, a volcanic plateau framed by mountains, an expanse of bright green, and small lakes that enrich the already extraordinary landscape. The trail is fairly flat with only short uphill sections. Paying attention to some narrow and exposed passages, after about an hour we reach a panoramic viewpoint among the spires. Even though it’s Sunday morning, there’s no one
on the trail, it’s fantastic, and the views are stunning. In fact, we almost feel like telling you we preferred this to yesterday’s hike. If you ever come to Skye in the future, this is definitely
one of those places you absolutely mustn’t miss. We were also afraid of the Midges, the fearsome Highland midges that sting and create veritable swarms, but fortunately we haven’t encountered any yet. We move on to Loch Dunvegan to visit the castle of the same name. The entrance ticket is £17, and unlike other places, you don’t need to book online. An ancestral stronghold of the MacLeod clan for around 800 years, it’s the oldest inhabited castle in Scotland. The rooms, spread across several floors, are all beautifully maintained and furnished. Just as the fortress has been built and modified over the centuries in various architectural styles, the gardens are also very diverse and vast. Since it’s getting late and there’s not much choice nearby, we grab a sandwich at the Sell Service restaurant in the Castle. It wasn’t that bad. We tried twice this morning and this afternoon to visit Coral Beach but didn’t make it. The parking lot, the only one in the village, is quite small and always packed, so we had to give it up. Plus, today is Sunday, and I think that was the aggravating factor, but we sent our drone to take a look. After a 40-minute drive, we reach the westernmost point of the entire island, also one of the most photographed. We’re at Neist Point Lighthouse, built on the very tip of the peninsula, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean like a true guardian. We’ve always loved lighthouses. I don’t know if it’s just us, but we have a romantic idea of ​​what they represent: freedom and, at the same time, something lasting. Even though we would have liked to stay longer, we still have another hour and a half to go before we reach our accommodation for tonight, which has quickly become our favorite of the entire Scottish adventure. We dine and relax with the sea in the distance and the sunset brightening the colors of the sky. After the days of scorching sun that have just passed,
it’s finally cloudy and a ship is waiting for us. It’s time to say goodbye to Skye, and to do so,
we’ve booked the ferry from Armadale to Mallaig. But before we board, we wanted to mention that
with all the notes we’ve taken over the past few days, we’ve written a practical guide similar to the ones we’ve already created for Japan, Vietnam, and the Cotswolds. In the guide, you’ll find all the useful information for organizing a trip to Scotland similar to ours, including our detailed itinerary, all the costs we incurred, the restaurants where we ate best and where we stayed. If you’re interested, you can find the link below in the description. When we board, it starts to rain lightly. I couldn’t wait to show off my beloved yellow raincoat. As we sail, some dolphins come alongside us and leap out of the water. Arriving in Mallaig, our first stop is Camusdarach Beach. We walk for 15 minutes through the greenery in silence. The dark sky and this mystical light make the colors even more vivid. After a bend, the beach appears, white and deserted, a paradise just for us. There are several small bays connected by narrow passages in the rocks. What an incredible place we are seeing. Now we are about to move to a very specific spot that has something magical about it and that many will immediately recognize. We couldn’t cross the Highlands without stopping at Glen Finnan to see the Jacobite Steam Train, or should I say the Hogwarts Express passing over the famous viaduct. A word of warning: to find parking, arrive at
least an hour and a half before the train passes. Maybe it was the wait, maybe it was because Harry Potter has shaped our generation’s childhood, but when we heard the train whistle, Seeing the smoke, we were genuinely as excited as children. Tonight we’ll be sleeping in a farmhouse. There’s even a restaurant in a separate section of the house. The end of our adventure is approaching, and we’re already nostalgic. Day 8 in Scotland and the last in the Highlands. Today is all about Glencoe. We stop in the village that shares its name with the valley for breakfast. In the place that doubles as a bar and souvenir shop, we eat the best scones ever. We get on the A82, the main road that runs through the entire glacial valley. For many, one of the most picturesque and photogenic destinations in Scotland. Indeed, it’s simply spectacular. There are numerous lay-bys where you can park and explore the surroundings. Iconic and highly recognizable landmarks,
like the solitary cottages nestled beneath the mountain. There are rushing rivers and lakes. It’s a dramatic landscape, which in our opinion is even more so with these low clouds. The road is wide and busy. So we decide to take a tiny, single-lane side road that leads to Glen Etive to seek out less crowded spots. Today, our last day in the Highlands, unfortunately we’re heading back to Edinburgh and driving through Glencoe. More precisely, we’ve now taken a road described as one of the most beautiful scenic drives in all of Great Britain. It’s effectively a dead-end road. It takes 45 minutes, but it ends in the lake car park, and we can’t continue.
Once we reach our destination, we find ourselves alone on this secluded beach, with clouds and a few drops of rain starting to fall. Having these places all to ourselves makes us realize how lucky we are. We head back and drive along the river again, which has created several waterfalls and rapids. We stop for a break and to fly the drone. By the way, Paolo has a piece of advice for you: flying a drone in the UK is similar to the rest of Europe, but not identical. In fact, you have to register
as an operator on a website and check a map that wasn’t easy to find, but we’ll leave all the information and details in the guide. Last stop is Glencoe. We continue to encounter panoramic points and have to stop every 5 minutes. We leave the incredible valley behind us and head to St. Conan’s Kirk, a very special church built on the shores of Loch Awe. Its architectural style is unique, an eclectic mix of Roman, Gothic, Norman, and Celtic. The overall effect, in our opinion, is that of a fairytale place with a magical aura. It seems to have come straight from one of my fantasy books. It’s definitely one of the most evocative churches we’ve visited. Since we skipped lunch, which happens more often than we’d like to tell you when we travel, we decide to stop for lunch/dinner
at 5 pm at a restaurant in Tyndrum. The salmon salad was beyond delicious! It’s time to say goodbye to the Highlands. Our itinerary through the most authentic and wild part of Scotland ends here; unfortunately, we still have so much to discover. We arrive in Edinburgh for our last night in the country. We’d already been to the city in April 2014 and loved it right away. There are many more people around now, but its
atmosphere certainly hasn’t changed. It’s confirmed as one of our favorite cities in Europe. Maybe we’ll put it first! We won’t talk about Edinburgh in this video; otherwise, we’d have to add another good half hour. What do you think of an itinerary just for the Scottish capital? Would it interest you? We’d be happy to return, perhaps in the fall. Let us know in the comments. And that concludes the longest video on the channel. If you’ve made it this far, know that we’re immensely grateful. We hope you weren’t bored, that you enjoyed the scenery, and our story. For us, it was a special adventure, and we hope you’ve felt it. Here on the right, if you like, there is another
road trip I took this year, the one in Iceland, We’re sure it won’t disappoint you. We say goodbye, send you a big hug, and see you in two Fridays. Thanks again, see you soon. Bye! Bye bye!

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