Scotland Birthday Celebration
Three generations of McAfee men celebrating their heritage in Edinburgh and the amazing father and grandfather, we lovingly call Terry, dad and grandpa. A family vacation and 65th and 66th year birthday celebration for Terry.
Our walking tour of Edinburgh through the ancient alleyways of Old Town, along the Royal Mile, vibrant Grass market and Edinburgh Castle introduced us to the fascinating history and culture of this iconic and beautiful city.
There are so many charming pubs and amazing taverns to explore. The only question is where to begin one's experience. The right answer is with those you love.
No visit to the UK is complete without enjoying high tea at Balmoral. We fulfilled our commitment to trying Haggis by sampling a pastry here made with Haggis and venison. Not bad at all!!
Edinburgh is full of interesting sights, cafes and shops and every corner is full of beautiful churches and buildings.
Clan MacFie, in our family tartan, proudly represented our heritage and lineage with the Edinburgh skyline as our backdrop.
It wouldn't be a McAfee gathering without some healthy competition. This one involves a dispute over the most attractive McAfee legs.
No trip to Edinburgh is complete without visiting the streets and locations that inspired J.K. Rowling to write Harry Potter.
Diagon alley is a charming and mystical street.
If you're a fan of J.K. Rowling's magical world, chances are you've heard of Butterbeer. Stacy was excited to see that butterbeer was available at the Elephant House.
A little Guinness warms the soul on a chilly Scotland night.
We learned that you should order Guinness first with the bartender. If you do, you might be rewarded with foam art on the top of your beer.
The town of Luss was a charming stop on the way to Fort William. Near the bottom right of this picture is a rare Viking gravestone in the graveyard at Luss Parish Church on the banks of Loch Lomond believed to be from the raid of 1263 when Vikings pillaged and settled on the lochside.
Originally a private residence for Lord Abinger, Inverlochy Castle has just 17 rooms and extraordinary grounds. We got to stay in the room that the Queen Mother also enjoyed during her weeklong visit to the castle.
While at the castle, you can master your snooker game on this magnificent table.
The castle's grounds stretch down toward its own loch and it is overlooked by Scotland's highest mountains, the Nevis range.
The Isle of Skye is the location of an impressive number of dinosaur remains. The dinosaur footprints at Staffin are visible at low tide. Our grandson decided to get a closer look.
A family vacation and 65th and 66th birthday celebration for Terry.
While walking the beach at Staffin, we captured this beautiful rainbow during our adventure.
Kilt rock is just one of the stunning natural wonders on Skye.
We were excited to see the furry highland cows of Scotland up close and personal.
Our lodge in Skye sat at the head of Loch na Dal in the Sound of Sleat with a private beach, perfect for strolling.
For many of us the arresting and haunting landscapes were awe inspiring. Quiraing is not to be missed, but be prepared for the winds and pelting rain, but SO worth it!!!
Eileen Donan Castle is a striking sight, sitting out on a promontory on Loch Duich, framed by the Cuillins of Skye and mountains in the distance.
A private scotch whiskey experience with loved ones at the Talisker distillery was a capstone experience on this amazing journey. Within an intimate cask room, we drew our own samples and tasted seven extraordinary scotch whiskeys. Priceless!!
Dunvegan Castle has an expanse of gardens. We captured this striking photo at the entrance to their rhododendron garden.
Enjoying Scotland with our family will always be one of our most memorable vacations.
