For the summer solstice, we will be in Scotland. The drive up is 10 hours but feels like the longest drive of my life. But the Megabus from London to Edinburgh offered a smooth ride.
The route is beautiful. The bright green landscape is dappled with sunlight. The cropped grass has trees sprawled along its back. The hamlets and towns are strange. There are pockets of houses everywhere. It looks like they have been rolled out regardless of the landscape. Houses are propped on hills or crammed into valleys, regardless of the slope.
The houses themselves are a strange thing too. Children’s drawings of houses are the closest explanation. Basic, square, a steep slated roof and all bricked up. Each town also has its own share of dark Gothic churches whose clock towers break the horizon.
Cruising through the English countryside. Credit: Visit England.
I could have sworn we passed the Hogwarts Express at some point on our trip!
People were correct when they said England was flat, save for the gently rolling hills that seem to stretch into eternity. Pockets of sheep and cows mark the landscape too, and occasionally red poppies litter the road verges. The English landscape is soaked with history. Just admiring the beauty cannot be done in isolation – one has to acknowledge the rich history.
We arrived in Edinburgh late on Sunday evening and checked into our hostel – Castle Rock – which is conveniently placed next to Edinburgh Castle. We spent the late evening hours roaming around the magnificent city. One or two days here will not do it justice. There was so much glory in the buildings, the architecture and alleyways that we wanted to spend weeks here on exploring.
