Remembering the Queen

As we all pause to remember the wonderful life and legacy of Queen Elizabeth II on the news of her passing this week, my mind goes back to my visit to the United Kingdom in September of 2016. I spent time exploring both England and Scotland on that trip.

My trip began in England. While staying with friends in Crowthorne (just west of London), we spent one day exploring Stonehenge. Another fantastic spot to explore was the glorious Hampton Court Palace, one of Henry VIII’s favorite residences. After spending a few days in the greater London area, we drove out to Norwich and checked into to the Dunston Hall Hotel and Country Club, which dates back to 1859.

From Norwich, I boarded a train and headed north to Edinburgh, Scotland. Train travel is a fantastic way to see the gorgeous countryside in Northeastern England.

Once in Edinburgh I had several days to explore many fantastic sights. My first stops were Edinburgh Castle and a walk down the Royal Mile.

Edinburgh is, of course, full of royal spots as well. I had the opportunity to explore the Palace of Holyroodhouse (the official residence of Her Majesty The Queen in Scotland) and had a wonderful tour of the Royal Yacht Britannia. Scroll through the slideshow below to see some highlights from both tours.

I also took a day tour up through the Scottish Highlands, where I toured the Deanston whisky distillery in Doune. It may have been early in the morning, but it is never too early to enjoy a wee dram o’ whisky, now, is it?

Also in the Highlands I marveled at the breathtaking views in Glencoe, enjoyed a boat tour on Loch Ness (where I had the great fortune of spotting Nessie!), and explored the quaint villages of Fort Augustus and Pitlochry (which has a lovely corner shop with the most delicious salted caramel ice cream!). The day started out rather foggy and dreary, which just lent to the mystique of the tour, but the sun finally came out later in the afternoon.

Edinburgh is a very walkable city, so most of my exploration was done on foot (and I can definitely recommend wearing sturdy and comfortable shoes as the city is rather hilly and full of cobblestone sidewalks!). But I also took advantage of the convenient Hop On / Hop Off buses that are everywhere…such a convenient way to see the city and to get to some of the attractions that are a bit too far to walk to. Scroll through the slideshow below to see my different transportation options while in Scotland.

And no journey is complete without enjoying the local food! Scroll through the slideshow below to see some of the wonderful food and drink I sampled in England and Scotland.

I thoroughly enjoyed exploring a small portion of the United Kingdom in 2016 and look forward to spending more time there in the future. What parts of the UK have you explored? Share your thoughts in the comments below.