My Highland

For a very long time, my dream had been a trip to Scotland, not only because of the desire to see the “hairy coos” (Highland cattle), to hear the different myths and legends or to have the Harry Potter tour, but also to feel the Highland’s winds and experience the feelings that could be experienced only there. Living in big cities, we do not have the opportunity to see real nature. That’s why many people from all over the world go to Scotland. After all, nature is one of the main features of this country.

I still remember the majestic and beautiful Edinburgh (mainly because of legs painful from walking) – how could we not go around all the places where Harry Potter was born – the famous cafe “Elephant House” (a fake birthplace) and “Spoon”, Edinburgh Castle, so similar to the Hogwarts bookstore, the churchyard of Greyfriars Kirkyard, where Joanna Rowling spied names for some characters, and many other places that resonate in the heart of every potterhead. And meanwhile we’re sitting on our orange bus with our fantastic ginger guide; completely impervious to the cold, wearing nothing but a t-shirt and a kilt for three days (Scottish blood for sure) and always having a few clever jokes in his pocket. Gradually, I get used to the “Scottish” English (surprising savings on vowels – as if they are in such a hurry that they deliberately miss the “extra” vowels!) and to the everchanging picture from the window. Instead of the Gothic city now come the endless expanses.

Beyond the beauties of the wild, the sense of time disappears.  Although there are not enough places on Earth where the untouched beauty of nature is preserved; we saw green grassy carpets, gentle hills and rocky ledges, pure waterfalls cascading, in the spray of which a rainbow is born.

The sky is so different and rapidly changing – cobalt blue with clouds in the form of wonderful birds, flapping wings, suddenly replaced by a black, stormy, gloominess. It’s hard to catch the Highland mood: a sunny smile makes way for a frown from under hanging clouds. Now the rain and fog with milky foam envelops everything around, and down the mountain run many streams, so it seems that the mountains are crying.

This place is truly for romantics, but not for softies! It is always cool and humid here, and the wind is so strong that it seems that you can lie on it and not fall; the number of stops per photo call was tremendous. I wanted to capture everything in memory, show my friends and relatives, but even though the photos turned out with an amazing quality, it was nothing compared to what the eyes saw, the ears heard and the nose felt! Maybe someday someone will invent a photo-video sensitizer? Perhaps so far the most reliable way to describe my delight are paintings and words…

Travelling in the Highlands, you kind of get into its spirit, and start to wonder: who are highlanders? How did they adapt to this harsh terrain – for them – their homeland for which they shed their blood and defended to the last warrior, always remaining undefeatable. The descendants of the Highland Celts are the only people on the island that no one could conquer, but despite that the people are very kind, I was amazed at how they love their land, know and are proud of their history! But even the Romans were afraid of the Picts (so called because of their painted faces.)

Not for nothing is the symbol of Scotland the thistle, like the character of the highlander, it is unpretentious and stubborn. Like the highlanders, the thistle once protected its land from Viking raids.

In Scotland, lakes are called “Lochs.” (This is not just a lake for them – it’s a “body of water, and the legends say it is actually alive.) Lochs in Scotland are plentiful: some black, bottomless, scary and mysterious; others are bright, sparkling, as if billions of diamonds are scattered on the clear surface of water.

“Living” lakes, and how do you like “living” rocks – for example, 5 sisters of Kintail – who are waiting for their suitors, enchanted by the magician in the rocks, so that their young beauty does not fade with time. Or rejuvenation river on the road to the Isle of Skye…! Restored the beauty of the bride and saved two powerful clans, MacDonald and McLeod from many years of hostility.

The Highlands are a country of fairy tale characters, fairies and giants, lake monsters, mermaids and dragons. Some people don’t believe in all this stuff, and I was one of them until I saw it with my own eyes. Try it, it’ll change you completely.

On the island of Skye, reality has so merged with the legends that it seems an elf or an evil monster will appear from under the stone at any second, and in the valley you will surely meet a few fairies.

For several days we felt like true highlanders! We climbed many mountains, listened to the howling winds, got lost in the fog on the way back and “floated” in the milk river – neither in heaven nor on earth!  We also made up our own palette of colorful sheep and fed the brave, friendly squirrels, got soaked in the rain while taking photos, and warmed up with a bowl of hot soup. And of course, we made friends with the most shaggy and cutest cows, the same shade of red like our lovely “hairy coo” bus.

I will greatly cherish my memories and will hope that sometime we’ll go to Scotland once again, take it even further, and experience the same feelings as the last time.

About the Author

Alisa, 11 years old.
Entrant- The Tourist Trail Young Persons’ Writing Competition 2019

“11 year old student. The story was illustrated by myself.”

Read more of Alisa’s work on her blog: www.alisarubina.com