Magic Made Real - September 18, 2017
One of my favorite quotes is from A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness, “Much of what qualified as magic was simply desire in action…Magic is desire made real.”
What I desire I can make real. And so, after reading the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon, the desire to travel to Scotland sparked. I set my intention, started a specific savings account, created and accepted opportunities to fill that account, and designed my own self-guided tour of Scotland.
And before long, my daughter and I embarked on a marvelous journey this summer to a land full of magic and awe.
Royal Mile was built on lava flow and goes from Holyrood Castle to Holyrood Palace
We met up with my in-laws in Edinburgh, and the four of us took in as much of this beautiful country as we could. Together we explored Edinburgh, London, England’s Lake District, Inverness, Fort William, and the Isle of Sky. In the country, we traveled on trains, buses, and boats. We rented a car for the majority the trip and bravely drove through England and Scotland. We saw two stone circles, my daughter and in-laws watched Highland Games while I hiked the Great Glen Way from Inverness to Drumnadrochit (yep, I can pronounce that). We toured castles, Loch Ness, whiskey distilleries, Culloden Moor, rode the London Eye, learned to navigate the London Tube, and successfully adapted to drive on the left side of the road (it is helpful to have a navigator remind you that when you make a right turn to stay in the left lane!). At one point in our travels, my daughter turned to me and said, “Mom, this is like driving through a postcard.” The countryside was stunning everywhere we went. (Please see pictures at the end of this post)
Our accommodations were fantastic. I highly recommend:
Straven Guest House in Edinburgh along Portobello Beach.
Herdwick Inn in Pennruddock, England, located in the Lake District. This is a quaint 18thcentury Inn and Pub that has been sympathetically modernized with plumbing and electricity.
Tigh-na-Bruaich, with Eolas Holiday Cottages, was an incredible cottage just outside of Beauly, Scotland. It was a perfect getaway after a busy day of touring, hiking, driving, and sight-seeing.
Hawes Inn, built in 1793, was our last stop in South Queensferry, a small town to the west of Edinburgh. This Inn is where Robert Louis Stevenson started his novel Kidnapped.
On Loch Ness
Everywhere we went, the people were friendly and welcoming. The food was always fresh, made to order, and served piping hot. I learned that I like the local dishes of haggis and black pudding (I will let you look up the exotic ingredients).
But here is the thing…I made it happen. I turned a desire into a reality and created a remarkable experience. And once I told others my intention, I had help. More opportunities to earn extra money started to flow in, and friends shared their travel experiences so I could consider options and be more prepared. The magic began with an intention which was realized with deliberate steps toward my goal. And before I knew it, I had enough saved up to pay cash for the entire trip, which made the trip even more relaxing and amazing.
Magic truly is desire made real, and I have enough life experience to believe anyone can weave some magic into their lives. You just must know what your heart really desires (think about Captain Jack Sparrow’s compass) instead of what you think it wants (authentic vs. superficial). Once you understand that desire, you can set your course to make it a reality.
Sunset on Portobello Beach June 14, 10pm
Trafalgar Square London
City of London taken from the London Eye
Castlerigg Stone Circle at dusk, June 20. Many have camped out to celebrate the solstice at sunrise.
Hike along the 6th leg of the Great Glenn Way
Urquhart Castle overlooking Loch Ness
Queensferry - Firth of Forth Bridge at Sunset approximately 10:30 pm
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