On Tour with Jim and Susie Malcolm in Scotland

I just returned from a fantastic tour of Scotland with the two best tour guides in the country, Jim and Susie Malcolm.

If you're a fan of Celtic music, you may have encountered Jim on one of his tours of the US (and you'll be excited to learn Susie--and perhaps his brother, Scott--will be touring with him in the future!). Their Scotland tours are full of history and charm, music, and a wee dram or two.

If you're interested in how I spent the tour, read on and check back for new episodes, as I couldn't possibly put everything into one blog post. You'll find photos of the places we visited, notes about the tour, and maybe a giggle or two.

Let's get started! Enjoy!

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Day 1: Edinburgh
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After a fairly uneventful flight, we all stowed our luggage at our hotel, and set out to take in the sights. We had an hour or so until lunch at a delightful pub across from the hotel, where we all met for the first time. This tour was rooted in music, and our first concert was the best accompaniment for our meal. Afterward, we jumped on the bus and took a tour of Edinburgh, stopping at Holyrood Palace. It was such a beautiful place to begin our tour!
Unfortunately, no photos are allowed inside the palace, but you can view a few photos here: https://www.rct.uk/visit/palace-of-holyroodhouse
Holyroodhouse, built in 1128 by David I as an Augustinian Monastery, was stunning. It's difficult to comprehend the architecture without seeing it firsthand, but take a peek at the photos and see for yourself.
Holyroodhouse soon became the Scottish kings' preferred residence, as Edinburgh Castle was a bit austere and sat high atop the hill overlooking Edinburgh. Holyroodhouse, by comparison, was comfortably situated at the end of High Street and surrounded by lush parkland. In 1501, James IV began transforming Holyroodhouse into a palace, and the structure has seen many additions and modifications since, even as late as in the twentieth century when King George V and Queen Mary added bathrooms, electricity, and lifts. Holyrood Palace is still the official royal residence when the Queen is in Edinburgh.

How could the tour of Holyrood Palace and Abbey be better? By visiting the Palace Gardens, of course! Every curve in the path, every shift of sunlight, was better than the last. The rhododendron were in full bloom, and the hostas were huge, though I somehow failed to get a photo. Enjoy the garden tour.
Join me tomorrow for a visit to Rosslyn Chapel.