A Scottish homecoming: Rediscovering family roots
3 Minute Read
On July 1, 2023 — my father’s 85th birthday — he told me his one regret was never visiting Scotland, the birthplace of his parents.
It was also the day I vowed to make his dream come true with an ancestral trip to the “land of cakes and castles.” This June, my elderly parents (Don, 86 and Edna, 81) and I boarded a flight to Edinburgh for a seven-day bus tour with Trafalgar, highlighting “The Best of Scotland.”
We could never have imagined how strong a connection we would feel to this beautiful country and the many people we met along the way.
The backstory
I never knew my Scottish grandparents, Martha and Robert Turner. My grandmother (nee MacIntyre) grew up in Glasgow, now Scotland's largest city (population 600,000), known for its dynamic art murals, historic Victorian architecture and industrial past as a shipbuilding and trade hub on the River Clyde.
About 100 kilometres west, my grandfather was raised in Perth, located in central Scotland on the banks of the River Tay.
In 1929, the young couple and their firstborn, Margaret, immigrated to Canada and settled in a small rural town outside Ottawa, where they raised six children. Dad was the second youngest of five sons. Reserved, strict, devout Presbyterians, his parents rarely spoke about their homeland.
Step back in time
With its rugged coastlines, lush Highlands and centuries-old castles, Scotland is a diverse country with a rich history of heroic battles, legendary kings and queens, stunning cathedrals and a mysterious creature believed by many to lurk in the depths of Loch Ness.
Our goal: To see and experience the Scottish culture, food and landmarks in the native country of my paternal grandparents. This wasn’t about retracing their steps. We simply wanted to visit the quaint cities, scenic mountains and hilltop fortresses that were the backdrops of their upbringing more than 100 years ago.
Why a bus tour?
Travelling to Scotland with seniors, especially if they have mobility issues, like my mother, can be challenging. Cobblestone streets, steep hills and stone staircases are the norm, so long walks were out of the question. We also had no interest in renting a car — they drive on the left! — and taking a self-guided tour along Scotland’s narrow, winding roads.
Getting on and off a luxury coach bus at handpicked sites, tourist attractions, and restaurants in Edinburgh was the easiest, most comfortable mode of transportation. It was also a lot of fun with 44 passengers from around the world and a travel director who cranked up the song, I’m Gonna Be by the Scottish band, The Proclaimers, whenever we needed an energy boost.
Except for a few optional outings, everything was prebooked before we left home and included airport transfers for added convenience.
Haggis, bagpipes and hairy cows
Narrowing down the highlights of our Scotland adventure isn’t easy, but topping the list:
The Highlands: This mountainous region in Northern Scotland is absolutely beautiful. Every shade of green covers the peaks and valleys of the sprawling landscape. The Cairngorms National Park sits in the centre surrounded by fields of grazing sheep, long shaggy-haired cows (coos) and more than 30,000 freshwater lakes (lochs). It’s also the country’s largest whiskey producer. We enjoyed a “wee dram” outside Eilean Donan Castle, one of more than 2,000 castles in the Highlands.
Speaking of castles: Perched high above Scotland’s capital city on top of an extinct volcano, the Edinburgh Castle (circa 1103) has a long, storied past as a royal residence, fortress and military garrison. It’s also home to the Scottish Crown Jewels, known as the Honours of Scotland (Mary, Queen of Scots, was the first to be crowned in 1543) and a cemetery for soldiers’ dogs dating back to 1837. Stirling Castle, one of the country’s largest castles, is an imposing stone palace built in the early 12th century. It features lavishly decorated rooms and stunning panoramic views from the upper lookouts.
Dreams do come true
As we boarded the plane home following our jam-packed visit to Scotland—yes, we even ate haggis and danced a Scottish jig—our hearts were full. I asked my father what he liked most about the trip. A man of few words, he said empathically, “Everything.” That’s all I needed to hear.
Want to explore your family history with a trip to Scotland and beyond? Book an appointment with a CAA Travel Consultant to start planning.
