SCOTLAND

Ahhhhh! Scotland!  The land of rolling hills with heather and peat, red haired deer, squirrels, cattle, and humans.  The land of countless distilleries, round-abouts, and small cars root-beer colored streams and rivers, and huge blue firths and friendly people.  And, of course, golf courses like we know Starbucks.

Our first stay was at Aberfeldy, home of Dewar's single malt scotch,  We stayed at a timeshare on the golf course and it was a sweet cottage that was very comfortable and close to whatever we wanted to do.  We hiked through the Burk of Aberfeldy...............a fantastic walk beside a stream that tumbled over many rocks and falls of different sizes.  There was a bronze monument of Robert Burns at one point.  Evidently, he liked to go to this area when he wanted to relax and get inspired.  He had a favorite spot up on one side of the stream that had a cave-like rock indentation where he sat to write.
Also, I found it interesting that it was a place where Mendelssohn liked to go for relaxation and creative inspiration,  If I lived  there, I am sure I would hike/walk this place several times a month.
On the first Monday of the month there is a bagpipe concert at a park in nearby Pitlochary, so we took that in and were delighted in hearing a young bagpipe band, a local vocalist and a great MC that kept the crowd laughing and interested.  This is a common community gathering during the summer months. Different bagpipers host the evening.  It was festive and fun we felt very welcomed and part of this small community's gathering.  We even knew some of the songs that we joined in singing upon request of the evening's program.
AWenother hike we did was to go up into a forested area above Aberfeldy to see the variation of the trees planted upon the order of King George I.  Much of the vegetation there is much to the same as we know in the Pacific Northwest.  Hydrangea, Rhododendron, Ferns, some pine and we were delighted to learn that Douglas Fir seeds were planted and the forest was heavy with these beautiful trees brought to Scotland from America.  At one point were surprised to see a Totem Pole carved into a standing Douglas Fir.  The Squamish First Nation of Canada ( Vancouver ) made it,  That hit close to home.  We were able to speak with a couple about it and they seemed very pleased to know we lived so close to the makers of this grand item gracing their park trail.
We had super hot chocolate at a special chocolatier's,  we shopped at a renowned book store, we got soaked by rain, and we slept soundly in our quiet cottage.  A very good beginning to our visit to Scotland.