Scottish salmon at Tolbooth
Seafood Restaurant
Cawdor Castle and
Gardens near Nairn
SEE IT WITH
ScottiSh caStleS
Self-Drive tour
Exotik JournEys
see scotland at your
own pace on a self-drive
holiday, including eight-
day car rental and seven
night’s accommodation
in castle hotels, plus
daily breakfast. you’ll
also receive a seven-
day Historic scotland
explorer Pass, which
includes access to
edinburgh, stirling and
Urquhart castles. in
the capital, be sure to
take the mercat Ghost &
Ghouls walking tour to
see the haunted side
of scotland.
From $1,643/pErson (land only)
Flights From $1,254/pErson
JunE–octobEr 2018 dEparturEs
call a traVEl spEcialist
1-866-667-4777
32
Summer 2018
AMA InSIder
Loch Fyne Restaurant & Oyster Bar
belongs to the Cawdor family, who
are probably fed up with Macbeth
questions by now: The fifth Earl of
Cawdor once famously said, “I wish
the Bard had never written his
damned play!”
From Cawdor it’s a 15-minute drive
to the most historically significant site
in the Highlands: Culloden. In 1746, it
was the site of a bloody battle between
British troops and the Highland
clansmen of the Jacobite army. Out-
numbered, the Jacobites lost, and
the British enacted laws—including a
ban on tartan—to integrate Scotland
with the rest of the kingdom. Today,
Culloden stands as a monument to the
end of Highland clan culture.
You can’t visit the Highlands without
touring a whisky distillery—there
are nearly 100 active malt distilleries
in Scotland. The Glenlivet Distillery
is en route to Cawdor Castle from
Stonehaven, and you can enjoy a
guided tour with a dram of the spirit.
From there, head to Inverness, con-
sidered the capital of the Highlands,
for a night of dancing at Hootananny.
The tavern features live music and
a menu of Scottish fare like cullen
skink—a smoky soup of haddock and
potatoes in a wine broth. If you’re feel-
ing brave, try classic haggis, neeps and
tatties—a minced-meat dish made with
sheep or lamb lungs, onions, oats and
seasoning, served with mashed turnips
and potatoes.
highlAnd, ContinuEd
Eilean Donan Castle is often described
as the most photographed castle in
Scotland. Located on its own little
island (Eilean Donan means “island
of Donan”), the castle lay in ruins for
hundreds of years before being rebuilt
in the early 20th century.
Treat yourself to a stay in the luxe
Inverlochy Castle Hotel. The 19th-
century Gothic Revival mansion has
been operating as a hotel since 1969.
The ornate rooms overlook the mag-
nificent castle grounds and striking
mountains in the distance. Pack your
Sunday best: Gentlemen still require
jackets to dine in the castle’s upscale
restaurant.
RestaURant;
AMA