This is right next to the train station and we stopped off here to kill some time before our train…read more it is a small mall, relatively speaking, and has a decent selection of stores. They had a KFC and Burger King which we avoided given that we get enough of that back home. The initial plan was to do some window shopping but we ended up getting a snack and some clothes.

The debrnhams in here is the best debenhams in Scotland…read more The eastgate is a new generation of shopping centres. It combines the old with the new seamlessly and has the best selection of shops around. If it's raining, you can get everything you need in here without even stepping foot outside. Heck, if it's blazing sunshine you won't have to step outside. They have every shop you could possibly want in here - new look, french connection, office, Zara, schuh, debenhams, gap and many more. The centre itself is really nice and welcoming and always had a nice atmosphere. There is never any groups of teenage goths standing around either - which I always thought came any shopping centre. The food court is good too, although there could be more seats. They have pizzas, burgers, salads and sandwiches. It's a lovely and clean environment, if I want to go shopping when I'm home I always come here.

These small but stunning ruins are a must if you're visiting the area! The priory was founded in…read morethe year 1230 as a Valliscaulian monastery for a group of monks from France. It fell to ruin during the reformation, like so many others. The priory is unusually long in structure - and there are some rooms off to the side as well. The whole thing is full of ancient tombs - many of which belong to members of Clans Fraser and Mackenzie. There are some lovely memento mori scattered about. And lots of information signs telling you tidbits of the history. There's even an ancient sycamore tree to the left as you enter the grounds - hundred of years old and full of crows nests - definitely adds to the eerie ambiance haha! There used to be a very creepy, 800 year old witch elm out front too but it fell and is no longer there sadly. There's some dispute about who named the town. One story is that the monks named it of course... but another theory is that it was named by Mary, Queen of Scots, on her visit in 1564 - she remarked that the area was "Beau Lieu" (beautiful place") - which is on its crest and all over the signs in town. And it truly is an incredibly beautiful place! The ruins sit right in the heart of this tiny village in the Scottish Highlands. There's plenty of parking and the ruins are free to visit - open to the public. If you're driving, just head to Beauly and you can't miss the ruins. We were on a day tour with Rabbies - which is an amazing option if you don't want to drive. And luckily this was our lunch stop! Just outside the ruins in the parking lot are some lovely world war memorials, a funny monk carved out of wood, and also another ancient ruin - a mercat cross ("market cross") dating from 1420 - a main gathering site for the town folk. Had a fantastic experience here - can't recommend it enough!

We stopped at the Priory on our Outlander Tour. It's an interesting place and it's hard to believe…read morethat it's as old as it is and still in very good condition. This is another good stop if you are in the area.

Parking for cars is £2 for 2 hours and £3 for 4 hours. The trail is 1 mile one way. Along the way…read morewe only saw one sheep. At the end is Castle Ewen, which is a basalt outcrop. You can climb up and into the castle, but I chose not to. There were also large rock spirals cut into the grass, which are man made and frowned upon.

The Fairy Glen became quite popular the past few years. Social Media playing a part....but without…read moreI might have not know about it as well. We actually didn't expect much, but were surprised by this small, but oh so charming area. All the famous spots are only about a 10-15min walk away from the main parking lot. Even some visitors seemed out of breath and calling it a hike (!), it's actually just a short walk with a quick steep section that doesn't take a trained person to climb. It's really easy. Even though I would at least recommend sneakers, not sandals or so. And of course it's a near impossible task for strollers, wheelchairs and visitors with walking disabilities. The "Castle" Ewen is visible from far away. But it's not an actual castle, but a rock formation. Named for its looks, because it really resembles some tower ruins. Arriving on top you will meet the first stone circle and then a large natural platform with wonderful views of the Glen Conon. It was a foggy and cloudy day. But that in my opinion just added to the magical atmosphere. Even though there aren't Fairy at work here. The stones in the circles are place by visitors and this isn't appreciated for many (good) reasons by the locals. And they do remove them from time to time...but they get being put back all the time. If you go back the way you came up (the first path up) you will miss the second and bigger circle. Take the further path down to come across it. There were visitors, but not as many as we thought. And the green glen, the views and all the little sights (including a good number of sheep) were far more impressive than we hoped for. It is indeed an amazing, pretty and magical spot here on Skye. It's a nice little walk. Even our English Bulldog managed fine - walking both ways - up and back down.

When you are in Inverness, Scotland, I recommend dropping by Victorian Market. It is located in…read morethe heart of the city, and it is the home to many shops and other businesses. Do not miss stepping into their Food and Drink Hall. When we were there, it was bustling with activity. Basically, it is a large food court that you would find in a shopping mall in the States only the Food and Drink Hall is better in my opinion. First thing, we did was to try and find a spot to sit. The place was packed! A kind gentleman gave up his table for my wife and I. Thank you good Sir!! There were about a dozen food vendors to choose from. We chose to try Blazin Pizza. What an awesome choice!!! Definitely the best pizza that I have ever eaten in the entire United Kingdom!! We visited July 2024, and they have probably left the Victorian Market by now. The owners were looking for someone to take over their spot at the Food and Drink Hall. Hopefully, the business that takes over makes great pizza too!! Wish we had more time to explore the Victorian Market. We did not have the time to spare to see all that it had to offer. Til next time!

I had time to kill and also needed to use the restroom. The historic covered shopping arcade…read morefeatures a Food & Drink Hall and shops. There are 30 independent businesses, but not all of them seemed to be open. It can be a good place to look for souvenirs or to get out of the rain.

The post office is situated at the bottom end of the high street, and is easily accessible for…read moreanyone as there is steps as well as a ramp. There is a a handy post box sitting right outside the door, so you'll never forget to post your letters after stamping them - may sound silly but i've lost count of the times i've stamped my letters thrown them in my bag and forgotten to post them. Inside it is rather narrow and small. There is a section at one end of the Post Office where cards and stationary are kept, and if customers are lined up waiting, then other customers have to push past to get to the cards. this can be very frustrating, as there is not much room to move as it is. Safety is a huge feature here, and the staff are well protected with safety glass, I know I know, it's not saving us, but to be honest, if i see that a business is taking measures to keep there staff safe then that's good enough for me. Staff are very friendly and do try and be as quick as possible. Overall not a bad little post office, there is limited parking, but you can walk from other car parks that are within walking distance.

The hike was one of the highlights during my trip in Scotland. We got there early enough to secure…read moreparking- £6. The hike is 3.8km on a rocky hill. It's well known for its dramatic pinnacles, especially Old Man of Storr. The Old Man is a 55m high pinnacle of basalt rock. At the top there are also views of the surrounding landscape. The trail is steep and windy in some parts, but it was well worth it!

After driving past the entrance to the physical feature named the Old Man of Storr and seeing how…read morebacked up traffic was, I opted for a different approach to observing the landmark. On the night of Sunday 14 July 2019, I decided to go for a drive and see the sunset (which was about 10:08 p.m.) and see the moon rise. I watched the sun set from the upper West area on the Isle of Skye, then approached the landmark southbound at about 10:48 p.m. The rocks were visible from up the coast, so I pulled my rental car over to the side of the road so see if I could take a few landscape pictures with the protruding rocks visible. Upon exiting my car to find a good angle, I encountered a male urinator in my way. Passing the person, I was able to get the from-afar pictures I was hoping for. The landmark is marvelous up close as well as from afar. Subtracting out the vertical urinator, it was a good experience and lovely physical feature in the moonlight.

We drove on a single-track road to get here. We came in the late afternoon and parked in the lot-…read more£8. It's 2.4km to get to the first main waterfall, which is the highest fall and deepest pool. You can walk further down where the crowd thins to see more pools. The water was nice and clear.

There is no shortage of wonderful places to visit in Scotland. The Fairy Pools are a great option…read morefor those who would like to do some moderate hiking while on the Isle of Skye. The Fairy Pools are on the far side of the valley from the parking area (which is also where you will find bathrooms) necessitating that visitors hike down into the valley and then up on the far side to get to the first waterfall that marks the beginning of the pools. The trail is 2.4 kilometers / 1.5 miles. The steepest portion of the hike is from the parking area to the "bottom" of the valley. This is not a difficult hike for most people, but can be taxing for those who don't get out as much as they might like, and may pose issues for folks with mobility concerns. The valley (Glen Brittle) is at the foot of the Black Cuillin mountains making even the view from the parking area stunning. Things to know: * As you work your way up past the first of the pools, take a moment to look to the other side of the path now and again. If the faeries favor you, sunlight and mist coming off the falls and the mountains may create an ongoing rainbow for your enjoyment. * The toilet facilities have limited hours so plan accordingly. * There is little in the area of the pools, part of what makes them a spectacular visit but means you will want to bring along anything that you might think you need on your outing. * The Isle of Skye is extremely popular during the tourist season, and the Fairy Pools are a big part of that. Plan to spend a lot of time dealing with traffic if visiting during that time. Our visit was early November - cool, typical Scottish seasonal weather, and while a good number of people where there, it was not crowded.