Carrbridge, Scotland

Carrbridge is one of those serendipitous moments on a trip: we had just driven through the Cairngorms, and were looking for a place to stop for the night. This was just a sweet village with an array of B&Bs and a nice pub for dinner…nothing special.

But then…we decided to take a stroll. Not a long one, either. Just down to the end of the road and back.

Turns out there’s a stream that flows through town. That was pretty. But as we walked closer, we finally saw it: this large stone bridge gently curving over the stream. Large enough to drive a horse and buggy over, anyway.

Just one of those casual moments you’ll remember forever.

Eilean Donan Castle I

Eilean Donan is regarded as the most romantic of Scotland’s castles, and it’s easy to agree with the sentiment.

Surrounded on four sides by water, the castle is only accessible by its stone bridge.

The views from the towers are amazing, and the inside rooms are basically unchanged from when the last owner lived there. Corridors and hidden alcoves are found on every floor.

The bridge that leads to the castle is a solid stone bridge with set spaces for observation and contemplation.

Took four visits to Scotland to finally get here, but it was worth the wait: Eilean Donan is definitely one of my top five favorite Scottish castles.

Eilean Donan Castle II

These were taken from the grounds of the castle.

St. Andrews Cathedral

What is it about St. Andrews that makes it so awe-inspiring and enthralling? I have been to several ruined cathedrals, and few are as spectacular and full of spirit as this one.
I enjoy every visit, but this time was particularly poignant due to the time of day. Some pictures take better at certain hours than other times, of course.