The Homeland in the Heartland

Well, it has happened: (Two of) my sisters have come to Scotland! If you had told me before January that this would be part of my 2025 experiences, I would have laughed for days. But it’s happened. And the earth still spins.

It started in December when my niece, Krystyne, reached out to see if I would be up for a hiking holiday in the spring. She had previously visited in winter 2017/18 with her sister, but this time she was hoping for an action-adventure holiday. And I’m always up for an adventure!

Within 24 hours, her mother (my eldest sister, Veronica) decided to get her first-ever passport so that she could tag along. And within hours of that, my youngest sister, Royann, decided that she couldn’t have someone else visit first, so she made plans to join the expedition. In time, Veronica’s sister-in-law, Lisa, was also on board for the adventure.

Yes, in 48 hours, my adventure hiking trip with Krystyne morphed into a more traditional Scottish holiday of castles and tourist traps. But sometimes life throws curveballs, and you must adapt to new opportunities.

There were countless messages in the weeks leading up to the visit. Some were about options for sites to visit and experiences to try. And some were about the practicality of having five grown women in a house that’s not designed for that many adults. And I had to spend a little money on additional supplies (a folding bed, blankets, and towels, to name a few), but in the long run, it will help me when I am hosting family and friends in the future. Their visit also prompted me to get some long-overdue organising done in the guest room. So, that’s definitely a good thing!

Most of the visit was spent in and around Edinburgh with a couple of small trips further afield. There was a mix of different holiday and sightseeing “styles” which made it challenging to balance the activities for the trip, made more challenging because we decided to stick to public transportation, and there was more walking involved than some in our group were prepared for. But we managed quite a lot in the short time we had!

Day 1: A wander around the Penicuik House Estate with a ploughman’s lunch on the lawn, followed by watching the local pram race, before grabbing some chips (with salt-n-sauce, of course), then getting a bus home.

Day 2: We had a slow start to the day, getting to Edinburgh around lunchtime. We visited Greyfriars Kirk and Kirkyard, then wandered along the Royal Mile, where we visited St Giles’ Cathedral. Then it was pub o’clock before making our way to Leith for dinner at the Scotch Malt Whisky Society.

Day 3: We started the day with bacon rolls, then I left the ladies to explore Morningside charity shops and cafes whilst I went to the office for a couple of meetings. Then I gave them a quick tour of Merchiston Tower (my campus building) before we made our way to Edinburgh Castle (for a photo op, as there were no tickets for the day). From there, we wandered around the city some more before picking up cheese at the cheesemonger’s and returning to Castle Ryan for the evening.

Day 4: Ah… a laid-back day in Penicuik. We started out with a walk into town for a full Scottish breakfast, then we wandered around the local shops for a bit before watching the Hunter and Lass parade. After the parade and a walk through the fun fair, we returned to Castle Ryan for a relaxing afternoon of cheese-eating, puzzle-doing, and a roast lamb dinner.

Day 5: We started the day with an early(ish) bus into Edinburgh, where we explored Dean Village before heading to The Sheep’s Heid to meet with a friend. Then it was off to Craigmillar Castle (where we met more of my friends) before going to The Guilford Arms for dinner. We decided to make it a late evening, with a stroll through the Princes Street Gardens before walking up Calton Hill to take in a view of the whole city as the sun began to set.

Day 6: This was another full day. We set out early on a bus to Cramond Village, where we explored a local kirkyard and some Roman ruins before heading across the causeway to Cramond Island for some exploring. Back in the village, we enjoyed lunch and an ice cream cone before heading back to the city to explore Edinburgh Castle. And, of course, there was a pub or two involved in the day!

Day 7: Today was a later start, with plenty of time for relaxing, sipping coffee, and working on our puzzle. Then we made our way to Peebles in the Borders for lunch, shopping, and sightseeing. We were back at Castle Ryan early so that we could enjoy a chip-shop dinner – ordering all the different deep-fried options for everyone to try.

Day 8: We made our way to Linlithgow by train today, where we explored St Michael’s Kirk and Linlithgow Palace. Then we spent a bit of time at the local grocery store so that everyone could pick up necessities for their pantries at home: crisps, brown sauce, pickle, and more!

Day 9: We split into 2 groups today, with Krystyne joining me for a hike in the Pentlands (the reason for the adventure!) and the others heading to Roslin to visit the Rosslyn Chapel. Later in the day, we all met up in Edinburgh for a late lunch and more shopping. Then, back at Castle Ryan, everyone tried to figure out how to fit all their purchases into their bags!

Day 10: On the ladies’ last day in Scotland, we made our way to North Berwick by train. We began with a little walk around the village before Veronica, Krystyne, and Lisa went on a boat tour to see the puffins, whilst Royann and I walked around the village a bit more. Then we enjoyed some final views of Edinburgh before heading back to Castle Ryan for final packing.

Day 11: On departure day, everyone was up early(ish) to do their last-minute packing before a taxi arrived to take the Cle Elum ladies back to the Homeland. Whilst their day of travel got underway, I kept myself busy washing bedding and towels… and trying not to cry too much. It was a long visit, yet also a short one. But I am so pleased that everyone was able to come over to my beloved Scotland for a while. And I am hopeful that my sisters will return separately in the future. That way, I can better customise tours to suit their interests and styles. And by then, I hope to have a car which will make everything so much easier!