Mr Tattie Heid

2024a Nothing Like The Sun. Pt 1:Magog, total eclipse, St-Jovite, Ottawa, Rideau Canal, Westport, North Hero. Pt 2: Dingle, Tralee, Edinburgh, Den Burg, Texel, Hoorn.

2023t Prince Edward County and the Rideau Lakes. Gananoque, Kingston, Picton, Wellington, Sandbanks Provincial Park, Westport, Bastard Township, Wolfe Island, and a whole bunch of Rideau Canal locks.

2023f Return to La Gaspésie. Fredericton, Carleton, Percé, Grande-Vallée, Matane, Rivièere du Loup, Tadoussac, île d'Orléans, Magog.

2023s Dingle Dunquin & The Great Blasket. Eleven nights in Dingle under the guidance of Bobby, with visits to various archaeological sites, insights into Bobby's family history, and a memorable trip to the Great Blasket.

2022f Slow Boat to Lofoten. Rainy Keflavík, Bergen, tram, Bergenhus Bryggeri, Henrik Øl & Vinstove, Fløibanen, Nordnes, Byparken, disco at Joe & the Juice, delayed departure, MS Nordnorge, Richard With and Hurtigruten, Hjørundfjord; Ålesund, Molo Brew, Aksla, bacalao, the great fire, Aalesunds Museum, ferry/bus/ferry; Ona, northern lights, Husøya, Steffågarden, Storsanden, three ferries and six buses, Molde, Atlanterhavsvegen, burrito in Kristiansund, Smøla; Veiholmen, morning walk, no restaurants open, RIP QEII, bus/ferry; Trondheim, Habitat, Gamle Bybro, Bakklandet, Den Gode Nabo, aquavit, Nidarosdomen, Archbishop's Palace, regalia, King Haakon VII, Trondhjem Mikrobryggeri, MS Polarlys, Havila, Arctic Circle, the children of Ørnes, Neptune, Bodø; Svolvær, Bacalao, rorbuer, shopping; Henningsvær, Tobiasbrygga, footy pitch, the lady of the light, Rambergstranda, Reine, Å, Anita's, Lofotr Viking Museum, Hauklandstranda, Leknes, Trevarefabrikken, Trollfjord, Håvard Svendsrud and Øivind Farmen, Stokmarknes, Sortland, farthest north, flight south; Bergen, Bryggen and the Hanseatic League, Bergenhus Festning, Stølen, Art Themis, Vetrlidsallmenningen, bad news from home, Fløibanen again, tram/flight/tram; Edinburgh, Bow Bar, BrewDog; Seahouses, the Olde Ship, walk to Low Newton, Ship Inn, walk to Bamburgh, wet floor at the Castle Inn, Craster Arms, bug bites; Edinburgh, the Ox, National Museum of Scotland, Mark and Willie at the Jolly Judge, Kays; Glasgow, Shilling Brewing Company, a cosmopolitan evening at the Pot Still, Glasgow Subway, the Bon Accord, the Flannan Isles.

2022s Six Ways To Fundy. Portsmouth, New Hampshire taphouses (Liars Bench, Loaded Question) with Scott; Saint John, New Brunswick, Bigtide Brewing, the siege of Fort La Tour, Dave Shoots Bookseller, Picaroon's General Store, the Fundy Rose, Digby Loyalists; Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, Fort Anne, Garrison Cemetery, Annapolis Brewing Company, Rose Fortune, Melanson Settlement, Port Royal Habitation, dubious routing, Shore Road, Bridgetown, Annapolis Valley; Wolfville, Church Brewing Company, looking for Seamans, Grand-Pré, le Grand Dérangement, Horton, Evangeline Beach, Horton Ridge Grain & Malt, Cape Split trail, Borden Brook, Wayfarers Ale Society, Port Pub and Bistro, The Odd Book, Wolfville Old Burial Ground, Windsor, Schoolhouse Brewery; Halifax, Tusket Falls Beer Project, Good Robot Brewing Company, Narrows Public House, dead battery, pointless drive to Peggys Cove, Halifax (condo tower) explosion, Argyle Street, generic sports bar, the Old Triangle, Historic Properties, Duc d'Anville Expedition, Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, Halifax Explosion, Dartmouth, Brightwood Brewery, Battery Park Beer Bar & Eatery; Parrsboro, Bingo night at Two Islands Brewing, view of Cape Split from West Bay, Advocate Harbour, Cape Chignecto Provincial Park, Joggins Fossil Cliffs, Beaubassin and Fort Lawrence National Historic Sites, revisiting Shy Ben; Moncton, New Brunswick, Tide & Boar Gastropub, Happy Craft Brewing, tidal bore, Bouctouche, Irving Eco-Centre, Pump House Brewpub, Riverfront Park, Settlers Landing, Matthias Sommer, Cape Enrage; Alma, Holy Whale Brewery, Hopewell Rocks, Alma Lobster Shop, dandelions, St Martins; St Andrews, the Algonquin, William Cornelius Van Horne, Ministers Island, Saint Andrews Brewing Company.

2021 Out Of Springfield. First trip post-pandemic. Montreal, T Westcott Used Books, pub crawl with Marc, Ottawa pubs, Rideau Canal, the O Train, Byward Market, Doug after all these years, Mackenzie King estate in Gatineau, Merrickville, Burritts Rapids, Almonte, Dr James Naismith, Kilmarnock, Perth.

2020 A winter week in Quebec City, with the shadow of Covid looming.

2019 From La Gaspésie to the Mull of Kintyre. Brewpubs galore in Québec: Chambly, Sutton, Quebec City, Tadoussac, Rimouski, Ste-Anne-des-Monts, Rivière-au- Renard, Percé, Île Bonaventure, Bonaventure, Gîte du Mont-Albert, Carleton-sur-mer, Rimouski again, St-Jean-Port-Joli, Grosse-Île, Quebec City again.

Scotland: Workin' on it.

2018 From the Baltic Sea to Loch Indaal. Under Construction.

2017 Friends In Three Countries. Two weeks in Iceland with Marc: Reykjavík, pub crawl, Gullfoss, Strokkur, Þingvellir, the tourist hordes, shopping for rain pants, National Museum, Kaffihús Vesturbæjar, lost phones, Snæfellsnes, Kirkjufellsfoss, Stykkishølmur, ferry Baldur, Flatey, Patreksfjørður, gas station burgers, Látrabjarg, Brunnar, Breiðavík, the road to Kolsvík, Rauðasandur, Northern Lights, the Westfjords, Dynjandi, Hrafnseyri, Vestfjarðagöng, Ísafjørður, Húsið, Hølmavík, Hvammstangi, Sjávarborg, pasta disaster, Hvítserkur, Borgarvirki, Sauðárkrókur, Siglufjørður, Ólafsfjørður, Akureyri, R5 Micro Bar, Eastfjords canceled, Goðafoss, Mývatn, Hverir, Dettifoss, The Road To Destruction, Rub 23, winter tires, Grábrók, Borgarnes, return to Reykjavík, Bryggjan Brugghús, lazy day, drive and ferry to Vestmannaeyjar, exploring Heimaey, Brothers Brewery, stranded tourists, remembering Tiff, the Heimaey eruption, Stórhöfði, Eldheimar, dance on a volcano, Kerið, Garður, farewell to Marc, charmless Keflavík, early morning airport rush.

Scotland with Ron, England with Win, under construction.

2016 Return To Føroyar. Medical issues and delayed departure, WOW, Base Hotel, Reykjavík, too long in Micro Bar, Bryggjan Brugghús, Skúli Craft Bar, flight to Føroyar, rental cars, Tórshavn, Hotel Streym, Írska Pubbin, Café Natúr, ferry to Suðuroy, smørrebrød, Tvøroyri, Sandvík, Hvalba, Pubbin, Sinklars Visa, walk to Hvannhagi, t-shirt weather, Beinisvørð, Akraberg, Fámjin, Kirkjubøur, Tørshavn, Burger King, Tinganes, Tórshøll, TUTL, Tjørnuvík, Risin og Kellingin, Saksun, Vestmanna, Oyggjarvegur, Rúsdrekkasøla Landsins, Norðoyatunnilin, Viðareiði, Kunoy, Klaksvík, Klakkur, Eysturoy, Shetland tunes, Eiði, Gjógv, Funningur, Oyndarfjørður, the National Museum of the Faroe Islands, pew ends, the grindadráp, Gásadalur, Bøur, flight to Edinburgh, Sula Sgeir. UK segment under construction.

2015 2015 From Saguenay to Øresund. Part 1, Québec: Lake Champlain, Hero Islands, Richelieu River, Chambly, cidreries, Sorel ferry, le d'Orléans, Sue, Marc, Charlevoix, Le Massif, Baie-St-Paul, Isle-aux-Coudres, Fjord Du Saguenay, Chicoutimi, Saguenay flood, fjord cruise, La Petite Maison Blanche, Lac St-Jean, Tadoussac, whale watch, north shore towns, Baie Comeau, ferry to Matane, Reford Gardens, Rimouski, Le Bic, the Empress of Ireland, Rivière-du-Loup, south shore towns, ferry to Quebec City, the long drive home; plus seventeen (count 'em) seventeen brewpubs and many, many pints of beer.

Part two, Sweden, Denmark, Scotland, England, Iceland. Under construction.

2014 A Year in Scotland and Incidental Passages. Chester, journals, Flight to Brussels, Bruges, Belgian beer, moules et frîtes, 't Brugs Bertje, De Garre, canal trip to Damme, gin joint, jazz bar, 't Poatersgat, canceled trip to France, train to Amsterdam, Caf 't Smalle, Gollem's Proeflokaal, hat search, Vondelpark, ferry to Newcastle, Seahouses, the Olde Ship, beach walking, Warkworth, Church Hill, Alnmouth Beer Festival, rain day, shopping in Edinburgh, Stirling, Cambuskenneth Abbey, the Portcullis, Stirling Bridge, Wallace Monument, Stirling Castle. Ron arrives; Firth of Clyde, Inveraray, Glen Coe, Plockton session, Calum's seal trip, Raasay, Brochel Castle, Screapadal, Calum's Road, Old Man of Storr, the Quirang, ferry to Harris, Tarbert, Harris tweed, Rodel, Harris beaches, MacLeod's Stone, Lewis, Stornoway, Tolsta, the Bridge to Nowhere, Lord Leverhulme, Dun Carloway, Callanish, Uig Sands, Lewis chessmen, Abhainn Dearg, glimpse of St Kilda, Callanish again, Cross Inn, Skigersta, Ness, the Butt of Lewis, St Moluag's Church, the sea god Seonaidh, Steinacleit, Clach an Truiseil, the Iolaire, crossing to Ullapool, Kylesku Hotel, Sir John A Macdonald, Dornoch Castle Hotel, the Clootie Well, Fortrose, the Fairy Glen, the Anderson Hotel, Fort George, Dalmunach, Craigellachie, the Highlander, Gorm and Big Mac and Ian Logan, the Speyside Way to Aberlour, the Penny Brig, the new Quaich Bar, Cairngorms National Park, Braemar, Anstruther, Cellardyke, Anstruther Fish Bar, Crail, Queensferry, Forth Bridges, Edinburgh, the Bow Bar, Willie and Bud Light and Gorm and Big Mac, the Cumberland Bar, a year in Scotland, hazy day in Edinburgh, Glasgow Botanical Gardens, Byres Road, Tennent's, Kelvingrove Park, Inn Deep, the Sanderling, flight to Iceland, Reykjavík, Microbar, Nora Magasin, Dillon Whiskey Bar, National Museum of Iceland, suburban mini-mall, Hallgrímskirkja, Harpa, Þufa, hot pink panties, Caf Loki, flight home, ode to Chester.

2013 From the Border Lands to Snæfellsnes. Boundaries, Icelandair, Edinburgh, Scotland Street, pub crawl, shopping day, Willie in the Bow, New Town ramble, the Stockbridge Tap, Musselburgh, Soutra Aisle, Kelso, the Cobbles, Kirk Yetholm, the Border Hotel, Town Yetholm, St Cuthbert's Way, Wideopen Hill, Morebattle, the Plough Hotel, Cocklawfoot, Dere Street, the Pennine Way, Chew Green, darkness and blisters, sandwiches at the Plough, three border crossings, the Kielder Water, Corbridge, a creepy B&B, the Angel Inn, lazy day at the Golden Lion, laundry in Hexham, Allendale, Allenheads Inn, Saturday night in Corbridge, Wall country, Morpeth, Newbiggin-by-the-sea, Alnwick, the John Bull, Barter Books, session at the Fleece, Alnmouth, the Sun, the Red Lion, Rothbury, the Armstrongs, Seahouses, the Olde Ship, the X18, a walk from Alnmouth to Low Newton-by-the-sea, the Black Swan, a walk to Bamburgh, the Lowther Hills, Moniaive, the Craigdarroch Arms, the George, Sanquhar, Wanlockhead, Glasgow, Byres Road, the Lismore, Brewdog, Inn Deep, Òran Mór, Kelvingrove Park, Kelvingrove Gallery, Peter Gabriel, the Ubiquitous Chip, the Battlefield Band, Gourock-Dunoon ferry, Glen Coe, rain in Fort William, Plockton, Skye, Glen Brittle, Lochcarron, Bealach Na Bà, Lochcarron Hotel, Commando Memorial, more rain in Fort William, Glasgow, Tennents, the Red Sox win the Series, last pint in Scotland. Win meets me at Keflavík, West Fjords lost, Reykjavík, MicroBar, Iceland Airwaves, Cafe Babalú, Hallgrímskirkja, Maritime Museum, Harpa, Dillon Whiskey Bar, Þingvellir, Vík, Halldórskaffi, glaciers and stuff, loads of scenery on the Ring Road, Jökulsárlón, Reynisfjall, Dyrhólaey, Hvalfjörður Tunnel, Borgarnes, Snæfellsnes, Stykkishólmur, Kirkjufell, Saxhóll, Laugarbrekka, Guðríður Þorbjarnardóttir, Reykjavík again, farewell party, a lot of down days and way too many naps.

2012 From the Gulf of St Lawrence to the Sea of the Hebrides. Part 1, Canada: Canadian reverie, the Airline Road, border improvements, Île Sainte-Croix, St Andrews-by-the-sea, the Algonquin, reversing falls, Saint John, the Acadian Princess, Digby, Brier Island, Joshua Slocum, Margaret Davis, Lavena's Catch Café, Balancing Rock, crossing Nova Scotia, Lunenburg, the Bluenose II, bumps, St John's Anglican Church, Ironworks Distillery, Burncoat Head, Pictou, the Hector, Myriad View Distillery, ferry to les Îles-de-la-Madeleine, an awkward start, Cap-aux- Meules, Belle-Anse, L'Étang-du-Nord, À l'Abri de la Tempête, Aux Pas Perdus, Red Josée, Île du Havre aux Maisons, Dune-du-Sud, Île Boudreau, Grande-Entrée, Plage de la Grande Échouerie, Plage de la Pointe aux Loups, the Ivan Quinn, Entry Island, Big Hill, Craig Quinn, the Corfu Island, Île du Havre Aubert, La Grave, Café de la Grave, election night, Musée de la Mer, Pointe des Canots, Dune de l'Ouest, Bassin, ferry to PEI, East Point Light, Prince Edward Distillery, Charlottetown, Pilot House, Japanese girls, St Dunstan's Basilica, The Bookman, Port-la-Joye/Fort Amherst, Confederation Bridge, Cape Jourimain, Bayfield Cemetery, Baie Verte, Shy Ben, Sackville, Fort Beauséjour, Tantramar Marshes, Riverview, St Martins, Lubec.

Part 2, UK: Hexham Abbey, Hadrian's Wall, Seahouses, the Olde Ship, a long walk to Craster, missed taxi, Ketley Ridge, Duddo Stone Circle, Edinburgh, a literary pub tour, Calton Hill, Scott Monument, perpetual tramworks, Coda and Cadenhead's, Willie at the Bow, Win departs. Oban, Ferry to Coll, Coll Hotel, Hogh Bay and Ben Hogh, CalMac vs RSBP, Sorisdale, Dùn Morbhaidh, Tràigh Garbh, Breachacha Castles, Crossapol, Feall Bay, Arinagour, ferry to Tiree, Dùn Mòr, two chapels, two hotels, the Tiree Wave Classic, Millton, the seal of disapproval, Balephuil Bay, MacLean's Cross, memory loss, fallen stones, a string of beaches, Kilkenneth Chapel, Oban again, memory regained, Eilean Donan at twilight, Plockton, Plockton Inn session, Skye, Elgol, Cill Chriosd, Suisnish, Boreraig, Ullapool, the Hector again, the Seaforth, Ardvreck Castle, Kylesku, ascent of Quinag, Sandwood Bay, Tongue, the Strathnaver Clearances, Grummore and Grumbeg, Rosal, Lairg, Bonar Bridge, Craigellachie, the Highlander, the Speyside Way, Aberlour, the ubiquitous Mr Telford. Amsterdam, Vondel Park, pub crawls, Hurricane Sandy, döner kebab, les pas perdus.

2011 From the Great Fen to the Rhinns of Islay. Late tomatoes, blitz tour of Paris, Notre-Dame, St-Germain-des-Prés, Northampton, the Unthanks, Ely Cathedral, C57, the Fens, the Boston Stump, roomless in Lincoln, Lincoln Cathedral, Strugglers Inn, Lincoln Castle, Beverley, York, Brigantes, the Shambles, River Ouse, Wharram Percy, Hovingham, Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick, Reeth reverie, Seahouses, breakfast at last, Beadnell, Low Newton-by-the-sea, Ship Inn, Olde Ship Hotel, Bamburgh Beach, Budle Bay, Edin's Hall Broch, Edinburgh, Bud Light, Bow Bar. Ron arrives, squalls at the Stockbridge Tap, Jolly Toper whisky tasting, Coda, Cadenhead's, Bow Bar, Tatsuya, Café Rouge, Irn Bru on the train, Good Spirits Company, Milngavie, Martin Carthy solo, the Singing Conductor, Glen Lyon, the Fortingall Yew, Fortingall Hotel, Kingussie, Craigellachie, Highlander Inn, Aberlour, Findhorn, Burghead, stalking Tatsuya in the Muckle Cross, Spynie Palace, Duffus Castle, dinner with Ian Logan, Lochcarron Spar, Lochcarron Bistro, Strome Castle, Plockton, Raasay, Dun Caan, The Creags, Dubh-Àird, session at the Plockton Inn, Mike's 50th birthday, Mallaig, Inverie, Old Forge, the Seven Men of Knoydart, Camusdarach, stranded in Oban, Oransay lost, Colonsay Hotel, Colonsay Brewery, two nights' bill, inaccessible Dun Eibhinn, Kiloran Bay, Dun Cholla, Port Charlotte Hotel session, Islay brewery, Bridgend cemetery, barnacle geese, Kilchiaran Chapel, Bruichladdich webcam, Finlaggan, Keills, An Tigh Seinnse, Knapdale, Keills Chapel, Tayvallich Inn, Ardfern, Galley of Lorne Inn, Loch Awe, return to Edinburgh, Deacon Brodie's Tavern, Willie in the Bow Bar, Ron departs. Calton Hill, Cadenhead's again, the Bow Bar again, Café Rouge again, Stockbridge Tap again, Portobello, Chricton Castle, Carter Bar, Hexham, one time too many at Wetherspoon's, Tap & Spile, lazy birthday, Novemberland, Warkworth, North Sea farewell, Hadrian's Wall, Amsterdam, multilingual dinner, Café 't Smalle, early blizzard and a week in the dark.

2010 From Holy Island to the Isle of Iona. Delayed start, Hexham, Hexham Abbey, Hadrian's Wall, Blanchland, Coldstream, Craster, Dunstanburgh, Lindisfarne, Flodden Field, Yetholm, Dere Street, Woden Law, Denholm, Jedburgh Abbey, Dryburgh Abbey, Smailholm Tower, Union Chain Bridge, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Coldingham Priory, St Abb's, Edinburgh. Scott and Win arrive: the Standing Order, Kathryn Tickell, Edinburgh Castle, St Giles Cathedral, Cadenhead's whisky shop, Win plays the pipes, Arthur's Seat, the Bow Bar, ferrying across Argyll, Tarbert, Kilmartin Glen, Inveraray, dinner at the George, Kilchurn Castle, Glen Coe, dolphins at Chanonry Point, the Anderson, Fortrose Cathedral, Urquhart Castle, Glenelg brochs, Kylerhea ferry, Plockton, Ben Tianavaig, Portree, the Quiraing, Plockton Inn session, Eilean Donan Castle, Beauly Priory, Craigellachie, Pennan, Gardenstown, Crovie, Aberlour, the River Spey, the Mash Tun, Huntly Castle, the Maiden Stone, Easter Aquhorthies Recumbent Stone Circle, Dunnottar Castle, Stonehaven, dinner with Andy at the Marine Hotel, Scott and Win depart. Collieston, Peterhead, Memsie Cairn, Fortrose again, Dornoch, Càrn Liath, Helmsdale, Wick, Pulteneytown, Pulteney Distillery, Camster Cairns, Wick Historical Museum, Castletown, St Mary's Chapel, Dounreay, Bettyhill, Strathnaver Museum, Farr Stone, Lochinver, the Caberfeidh, looking at Suilven, Ardvreck Castle, Kylesku, the road I had no business being on, Dun Dornaigil, Balnakiel, Plockton again, HMS Astute aground, the Haven Hotel, passed-out naked fat chick, Dubh-Àird, Camusdarroch, Acharacle, Mull, Calgary Bay, Fionnphort, Iona, Camus Cùl an-t-Saimh, Iona Abbey and Nunnery, St Columba Hotel, Matryrs Bay Pub, Lochbuie Stone Circle, Moy Castle, Tobermory, Tobermory Distillery, Park Lodge Hotel, Edinburgh, the Bow Bar, Dr Willie Jackson, folderol, Stockbridge Tap, layover in Amsterdam, and gallons upon gallons of Cullen skink.

2009 From the Wick of Skaw to the Golden Valleys. South Queensferry, Anstruther, Pittenweem, Fife Coastal Path, Crail, St Andrews, Arbroath Smokies, Arbroath Abbey, Stonehaven, aimless afternoon in Aberdeen. Ron arrives; Huntly Castle, Craigellachie, Glenglassaugh distillery, Portsoy, Inverness, Rosemarkie, the Titfield Thunderbolt, Fortrose, the Anderson, flight to Shetland, Jarlshof, Ness of Burgi, Lerwick, Culswick Broch, Staneydale Temple, Unst, Herma Ness, Muckle Flugga, the Wick of Skaw, angry twitchers, Bordastubble Stone, St Olaf's Chapel, Muness Castle, Baltasound bus shelter, Yell, the White Wife, back to Lerwick, St Ninian's Isle, Quendale Mill, Clumlie broch, Croft House Museum, not Mousa again, Scalloway Castle, Clickimin Broch, Shetland Museum, Esha Ness, Sullom Voe, Fort Charlotte, Trondra and the Burras, session at the Plockton Inn, the Old Man of Storr, Bodega, the long drive to Edinburgh, the Cambridge Bar, the Oxford Bar, David Hume, the Bow Bar, the Cumberland Bar, Craigmillar Castle. Ron departs; Two Days of the Zombie, farewell to Nick, Bladnoch distillery, Isle of Whithorn, Logan Botanic Garden, the Mull of Galloway, Dave Broom, the Lake District, Coniston, Mr Fathead Whiskywriter, Hardknott Roman Fort, the Old Man of Coniston, the Peak District, Castleton, the Devil's Arse, g'night m'love, Edale, the Old Nags Head, Mam Tor, Stratford-upon-Avon, John Kirkpatrick, Shakespeare sites, the Dirty Duck, the Cotswolds, Chipping Campden, Banbury, the Battlefield Band, Rollright Stones, Moreton-in-Marsh, Stroud and (almost) the Golden Valleys, Cirencester, three old gents, Uffington White Horse, Oxford, the Unthanks, University, Castleton again.

2008 From Hadrian's Wall to the Isle of Ewe. The Borders, Hexham, Allendale, Hadrian's Wall and associated Roman sites, Corbridge, Durham, Whitby, Robin Hood's Bay, Runswick Bay, Staithes, North York Moors, York, York Minster, Yorkshire Dales, the Battlefield Band in Reeth, the Tan Hill Inn, memories of Fremmie, Isle of Whithorn, Inveraray, Oban, Plockton, Ben Tianavaig, the brochs in Glenelg, Applecross, Shieldaig, Mellon Charles, the Loch Ewe Distillery at Drumchork Lodge, Achiltibuie, Fortrose, the Anderson, Glenmorangie distillery, Tarbat Discovery Centre, Craigellachie, Macallan and Glenfiddich distilleries, the Moray coast, Edinburgh, the Danes in the Bow Bar, Dunfermline, Linlithgow Palace, Rebus' Edinburgh, and many, many more abbeys than at which can be shaken a stick.

2007 From Salisbury Plain to the Butt of Lewis. Stonehenge, Silbury Hill, Avebury, Lacock, Salisbury, Salisbury Cathedral, Sion in Bristol, Caerphilly Castle, Penderyn distillery, St Davids, Pentre Ifan, Llandudno, Anglesey, Holy Island, Din Lligwy, Caernarfon, Conwy, Chester, Yorkshire Dales, Dent, Castlerigg Stone Circle, Caerlaverock, Cairnholy, Isle of Whithorn, Inveraray, Knoydart, Talisker, Plockton, Kenny and Jill in Crieff, Edinburgh, Kenny and Nick in the Bow Bar. Ron arrives; the Vaults, Dunnottar Castle, Craigellachie, Gordon & MacPhail, Aberlour, distilleries with Ian Logan, Moray coast (Pennan, Gardenstown, and Crovie), Parker's Whiskies. Bobby arrives; Loanhead of Daviot, Glenlivet with Ian Logan, Fortrose, the Anderson, Ullapool, Stornoway, Callanish, Carloway, Clach An Truiseil, the Butt of Lewis, Dun Eistean, Harris, MacLeod's Stone, Rodel, North Uist, the Westford Inn, Langass, Teampull na Trionaid, Barra, the Cockle Strand, Cille Bharra, Kisimul Castle, Oban, Glen Coe, the Clachaig Inn, Bidean Nam Bian, Glasgow, Nick and Ian in the Pot Still.

2006 From Gretna Green to the Brough of Birsay. Isle of Whithorn, Bladnoch distillery, the Mull of Galloway, Carlisle (England), Caerlaverock Castle, Cairnholy, the Machars, St Ninian s Cave; then Ron joins me for Plockton, Talisker, Dun Beag, Applecross, Loch Ewe distillery, Ullapool, and a trip to Orkney: Stromness, Orphir, the Tomb of the Eagles, the Italian Chapel, the Brough of Deerness, Kirkwall, St Magnus Cathedral, archaeological sites along Rousay's West Westness Walk, the Broch of Gurness, The Bishop's Palace, Maes Howe, Stenness, Brodgar, Skara Brae, the Broch of Borwick, Stromness again, Birsay, Yesnaby. Back on the mainland, Duncansby Head, Camster Cairns, Fortrose, Urquhart Castle, Craigellachie, the Speyside Cooperage, Aberlour distillery, Chivas Brothers international brand ambassador Ian Logan, the Highlander Inn, Glenlivet and several other distilleries, Edinburgh, Nick and Kenny at the Bow Bar, Royal Botanic Gardens, the Vaults (Scotch Malt Whisky Society). Ron departs and I visit Arran, the Goat Fell, Lochranza, Arran distillery, and Skipness Castle, before ending the trip with five days in Islay: Bowmore/Bruichladdich/Lagavulin distilleries, Port Charlotte Hotel, the Big Strand; and an evening in Glasgow.

2005 From Muckle Flugga to the Mull of Galloway. My first full trip diary, although the trip was cut short because of my father's death. Return trip to Shetland, then Craigellachie, Glenfarclas and Balvenie distilleries; then Ron and Bobby arrive for the Falkirk Wheel, the Antonine Wall, Edinburgh, encounters with Nick and Kenny, Doune Castle, the Clachaig Inn, ferry from Oban to Islay via Colonsay, Caol Ila/Jura/Laphroaig/Ardbeg/Bruichladdich distilleries, the Port Charlotte Hotel bar, Portnahaven, Finlaggan, Kilmartin Glen, Inveraray, and the Mull of Galloway.