Scotland – Land of Amazing Grace: Bagpipes, Castles, Lochs, Highland Cattle & Reindeers

Queen’s View, Scotland

If you have read my book  The Same Moon, or if you are my friends on Facebook or Twitter, you’ll know how dearly I love a country called Scotland. In today’s picture video blog, I’ll show you some of the amazing sights and you’ll find out exactly what have captured my heart and soul many years ago, and made me fall in love with her on first sight. Follow me and be enchanted!

I was once tempted to learn to play bagpipe but guess I wouldn’t look the part

Isle of Skye at the background

My very first visit up there dated back in the winter of 1988, a few short months after my arrival in the UK. To someone from one of the ‘fire furnaces’ in China, the west coast of Scotland was as different and mysterious as it could get. Try imagine a December day in Glasgow – the mighty northern wind could easily blow you away if you were not careful, not to mention the constant downpour of rain, the imminent threat of snow and the day became dark at 3.30 in the afternoon!

Feeding Time: Reindeer in the Cairngorm Mountains in Scotland

Plockton, an Idyllic Scottish Village in the Highlands

But no, that was not the Scotland I remember. It was the the wonderful warmth of the Scottish people, the New Year Eve’s friendly kisses at George Square, the powerfully haunting sounds of bagpipes, the legendary castles and Loch Ness Monsters, the haggis and Ceilidh dances on Burns night, and awe-inspiring nature beauty that welcomed me and embraced me in her lasting memory.

Highland Cattle in Kinlochroag

Have you seen the monster lurking? That’s me

Lucky me, I went to study in Glasgow in the summer of 1989 and stayed for four memorable years. Although I have long relocated to different parts of England, dear old Scotland has kept a part of me, alluring me back time and again. The pictures here are from our two recent trips in 2006 and 2009, when we ventured further, up through the Highlands, stopping at various spots en-route and witnessed awesome beauty which Scotland is abundantly blessed with.

Tongue, a coastal village in northwest Highland of Scotland

I hope you have enjoyed the fabulous pictures and please click on the short video below for more scenic shows of this beautiful land. Or better still, go visit, and see for yourself .

Highland Fling, Scotland