Nov 06, 2009 - 02:49 PM

By Jeff Hayward and Celia Klemenz

SCOTLAND -- When some people think of Scotland, they might think of scotch and kilts.

And perhaps the movie Braveheart.

But there's more to the northern reaches of Great Britain than some may think, as Uxbridge Times-Journal and Port Perry Star photographer Celia Klemenz discovered on a recent trip to the bonnie lands, this year being Homecoming Scotland 2009 -- a celebration marking the 250th birthday of its famous native poet, Robert Burns.

The warm, inviting smell of coal fires wafting from house chimneys and salt-tinged air greeted the group she was traveling with, as it embarked on a luxury coach tour that took Ms. Klemenz and her travel mates from Glasgow, to the Isle of Arran, north to Mallaig (by heritage train), then to Aberdeen and beyond, criss-crossing the highlands.

While the tour bus made its way down roads barely wide enough to accommodate it, making stops along the way, the photographer witnessed her fair share of tartan apparel and misty highlands. But she also saw palm trees next to castles, seals off the west coast, a variety of sheep at every corner, amazingly clean pay-per-use public toilets, fields of wind turbines and plenty of sunshine despite Britain's stereotype of being a rainy, dreary place.

While Scotland offers overwhelming views in every direction, some must-see sites include Dunnottar and Edinburgh castles. And next to the Edinburgh castle is a 'scotch museum' (formally known as the Scotch Whisky Experience) for those who enjoy a taste of the finer stuff. There, one can learn about the process of creating scotch (which actually starts as beer) as well as 'nosing' some of the product.

Also be sure to bring a big appetite to Scotland, as the portions are typically larger than Canadian meals. It's more than just potatoes and haggis; macaroni and cheese, hearty breads, porridge with a touch of Drambuie, kippers and black pudding are some of the items that can be found in Scottish pubs, which have a boisterous, friendly atmosphere. In fact, all around the country, it's easy to strike up a friendly conversation with the locals.

Scotland welcomes visitors with open arms; it's worth a wee trip to check out.