224. Loch Lomond

What is Loch Lomond?

Loch Lomond is a 23 mile-long freshwater loch that is considered to be the boundary between the Highlands and the Lowlands of Scotland. 

What's Loch Lomond like?

It's stunning. We only spent one day there but it's a hiker's paradise.

Where is Loch Lomond?

Near Glasgow, Scotland

When did we go? 

April 2007

How did we get there?

We drove up on a family tour to visit my dad's aunt - she lived in Glasgow and loved a drive out to Loch Lomond. 

Worth noting: 

The author of the song "The Bonnie Banks o' Loch Lomond" is unknown. The version you need to listen to is the Runrig one.  

Where was Loch Lomond in the Lonely Planet Top 500 2015 edition?

394

Does Loch Lomond deserve its place in the Lonely Planet Ultimate Travel List 2020?

Yes - it's beautiful and it's iconic. 

248. Royal Mile

What is the Royal Mile? 

It's a series of streets that run from Edinburgh Castle to the Holyrood Palace, home of the Scottish Parliament, with St Giles Cathedral in the middle. There are loads of shops and pubs and little side streets. Underneath the cobbles are medieval catacombs - it's very touristy and there are a lot of Ghost Tours and suchlike on offer.

What's the Royal Mile like?

It's very touristy and yet still so evocative of olden Edinburgh at the same time. Make sure you see it in the evening/at night as as well as during the day.

Where is the Royal Mile?

Edinburgh, Scotland

When did we go? 

March 2008

How did we get there?

We went up to Edinburgh for a weekend for the Scotland vs England rugby match. Pete subsequently refused to take me to any more rugby matches as I complained a bit. We also visited Edinburgh Castle (removed from the 2020 list).

Worth noting 

I failed to get a picture of the Royal Mile so the picture below is actually of Greyfriars Bobby. He didn't make it into the Top 500, so I'm smuggling him in here. He's definitely worth a visit.

Where was the Royal Mile in the 2015 edition of the Lonely Planet Top 500? 

169

Does the Royal Mile deserve its place in the 2020 edition of the Lonely Planet Ultimate Travelist? 

I think it deserves this spot - as a fulcrum of Edinburgh history, it definitely deserves a place.  

Edinburgh Castle

What is it: There has been a royal castle on Castle Rock in Edinburgh since the reign of David I in the 12th century. It was a royal residence until 1633 after which it was mainly used as a military barracks. Castle Rock is actually the plug of an extinct volcano.
What's it like: The Lonely Planet says that it looks like it 'grew' from the rock and it really does - it's a true part of Edinburgh. 
Where: Edinburgh, Scotland 
When: March 2008 
How: We flew to Edinburgh for a weekend for the Scotland vs England rugby match. Pete subsequently refused to take me to any more rugby matches as I complained a bit. We also saw the Royal Mile (248). 
Worth noting: The One O'Clock Gun fires every day except Sundays, Good Friday, and Christmas Day. It originally let ships in the Firth of Forth know the time, although it did fire at a Zeppelin once in 1916, its one and only act of war. 

Place in the 2015 edition: 58
Did it deserve to lose its place in the 2020 top 500: Probably not.