I recently spent two weeks in Scotland, the land of my ancestors on the Wilson side. There was a town near Forth called Wilsontown which I had hoped to visit but time and opportunity got away from me, and I never made it. Maybe another time. Wilsontown | Forestry and Land Scotland The town was named after my ancestors who established a foundry there.
I did visit Greyfriars Kirkyard where I am told two of my ancestors, William and Agnes Wilson, were buried in 1697. I spent a pleasant hour or so strolling through the kirkyard and visiting the church. Inside the church, I spoke to volunteers about William and Agnes. One of them opened an old book for me that listed several William Wilsons who are resting there. None of them matched my ancestor, but no matter – it was interesting all the same.
My travel partner and I took a three-day tour staying two nights in Inverness and traveling to the Isle of Skye. A wonderful tour but the highlight for me was meeting a Wilson cousin who currently lives in Calgary. He and his wife were on the same tour! What are the chances?
Another high point was a six-day stay at a three-bedroom house in Carloway, Isle of Lewis. We had a view of the ocean and were a 10-minute walk from the Gearrannan Blackhouses which I visited many times Gearrannan Blackhouse Village – Holiday Accommodation. Yes, you can book accommodation there in a refurbished house.
The other nearby attraction was the Calanais Standing Stones about 14 km from our house. Calanais Standing Stones & Visitor Centre on Isle of Lewis Scotland. Not Stonehenge but much older and more accessible.
Although we didn’t practice it much, we were told about the “right to roam” law in the Scotland which means you are allowed to hike on private property. I am told that for the most part it works. Hiking is very popular in Scotland.
Scotland – a wonderful place to visit. And the weather was exceptional with mostly sunny days.
