The Hairy Coo Tour

The Hairy Coo offers a FREE tour of the Scottish Highlands departing and returning to Edinburgh. I took the tour really enjoyed myself. There was so much to see in a 8 hour tour and we didn't even go to Loch Ness. I took the tour because the price was right and the guide gave a lot of information and history about Scotland and the Highlands. Make sure you book early because, as you can imagine, they fill up fast. Visit their website The Hairy Coo for more information and to book your tour.

Here is a Photo album of what I saw along the way:

Forth Bridge

The Forth Bridge is a cantilever railway bridge over the Firth of Forth in the east of Scotland, 9 miles west of Edinburgh City Centre. It is considered an iconic structure and a symbol of Scotland, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Kelpies

Towering above the Forth & Clyde Canal, The Kelpies are a feat of engineering, each made with 300 tonnes of structural steel, and are a monumental tribute to the horse power heritage that was vital to the early industries of central Scotland.

The National Wallace Monument

The National Wallace Monument is a tower standing on the summit of Abbey Craig, a hilltop near Stirling in Scotland. It commemorates Sir William Wallace, a 13th-century Scottish hero.

Views from The National Wallace Monument

Stirling Castle

Stirling is one of Scotland’s greatest stone castles – an icon integral to how we understand the nation’s story. The castle peaked in importance in the 1500s, but its volcanic crag has been fortified since ancient times.

The tour does not visit the castle it's self, but gets a great view of it.

Loch of Menteinth

There are several islands in this loch, one of them served as refuge to Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1547. She was only four years old at the time and stayed for three weeks after the disastrous Battle of Pinkie Cleugh in September of that year.
The dinosaur does not live in the loch.

Little Fawn water fall

Little Fawn Waterfall is a magical waterfall situated close to Aberfoyle deep within the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park in the Trossachs National Park.
Again, the dinosaur is not live near the waterfall.

Queen Elizabeth National Forest

This 50,000 acre forest park stretches from the east shore of Loch Lomond to the rugged terrain of Strathyre and encompasses mountain and moorland, forest and woodland, rivers and lochs. For many visitors the attraction of the park lies in the peace and quiet and the magnificent views.

Photo Op with Hairy Coos

Highland Cattle are a Scottish cattle breed. They originated in the Highlands and Western Isles of Scotland. They are a hardy breed due to their native environment, the Highlands of Scotland. This results in long hair, giving the breed its ability to overwinter.

The Scottish call them hairy coos because of their accent. They are hairy cows to non Scottish accented peoples.
 

Hairy coo calfs.

Loch Katherine

Loch Katrine is a 13km-long fresh water loch in the heart of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park. The beauty of the loch has long inspired literary figures, including Sir Walter Scott who was inspired to write his famed poem Lady of the Lake in 1810 after visiting Loch Katrine. It also inspired poets Samuel Coleridge and William Wordsworth.
The dinosaur does not live here either.

Monty Python's Doune Castle

Explore this 14th century courtyard castle in Doune, with a striking 100 ft high gatehouse and one of the best preserved great halls in Scotland.
As well as being heavily featured in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Doune Castle was also used for the castle known as Winterfell in the pilot of the award winning TV series Game of Thrones as well as Castle Leoch in Outlander.

The dinosaur lives here. :)



The Hairy Coo staff has this to say:
"We thrive on a simple concept, that everyone, no matter their budget, should be able to discover the beautiful Scottish Highlands. During this day-long tour, you'll get to see this beautiful wilderness, through the eyes of a passionate and knowledgeable, local tour guide. We're handing the power back to you, the customer, and this guarantees the highest quality of tour possible. We believe that if money is given; it should be in direct proportion to the quality of the tour, and the level of customer service you feel has been provided. No catch!"

6 Drinkable Edinburgh Pubs

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of pubs in Edinburgh and I just scratched the surface on my 3 week trip to this mid-evil city. Some of the pubs are historical and have that "pub" feel and others are themed, and they do this very well. 

52 Canoes Tiki Lounge

This colorful New Town tiki parlor isn't exactly subtle. 52 Canoes is a ray of Pacific sunshine: bold, bright, and lively. The cocktails are fruity and fun; many pack a punch and most are served in the obligatory novelty drinking vessels - there are mugs shaped like Polynesian statues and plenty of paper umbrella.

Banshee Labyrinth

The Banshee Labyrinth is made up of seven rooms, three bars, two jukeboxes, an underground dance floor and a huge helping of of scintillatingly sinister alt-music. Take the right path through the catacombs and you might be lucky enough to end up in the Labyrinth's very own (free!) cinema, in which they offer a regularly updated program of modern movies and classics. It also describes itself as Scotland’s most haunted pub. It is reportedly occupied by a banshee – a group of workmen once heard a bloodcurdling scream and a few hours later one of them received a call about the death of a family member.

The Dome

The Dome is a building on George Street in the New Town of Edinburgh, Scotland. It currently functions as a bar, restaurant and nightclub, although it was first built as the headquarters of the Commercial Bank of Scotland in 1847.

Blackwood’s Bar & Grill

Blackwood’s Bar & Grill is a stylish restaurant specializing in the best meat, game and seafood that Scotland’s splendid natural larder can provide. The hotel is part of an elegant Georgian terrace and that neo-classical style is reflected in the furnishings of the restaurant. Smart yet welcoming are the key features. Soft candlelight also means that Blackwood’s can be rather romantic.

The Royal Oak

The Royal Oak is a real Scottish pub that has made its name as a live music venue. Steeped in history and atmosphere it is only a few minutes walk from the Royal Mile. With a fine tradition of musical entertainment every single night of the week you can hear mainly folk songs with a mix of other acoustic styles. The Royal Oak not only gives visitors the chance to hear some great tunes, but it also acts as a focal point for many of Edinburgh’s traditional musicians.

Greyfriars Bobby’s Bar

Step in to discover a traditional pub of unique character, revered for its eclectic range of real ales and its quality pub food, which are served, as they should be, with a generous measure of famous British hospitality. The name of the bar is inspired by an Edinburgh legend of a scruffy Skye terrier called Bobby. When his owner died in 1858, Bobby faithfully watched over his grave and was buried alongside his master in the Greyfriars Kirkyard in 1872.

5 Super Cheap Eats in Paris

1. Jambon Fromage Sandwich

You can find this ham and cheese sandwich on a french baguette at just about any boulangerie (bakery) in Paris. It will only set you back about 2-5 Euros, add a drink with it for another euro. Its a great grab and go meal to enjoy in the many parks around Paris. I have enjoyed many of these!

2. Crêpes

Paris is known for their sweet and savory crepes. From ham, cheese and tomato to banana, chocolate and whipped cream. My favorite is a nutella crepe. Au P’tit Grec is an amazing place for a cheap and delicious crepe. Just around the corner from the Pantheon, their sweet and savory pockets of deliciousness will cost you between 3-8€. Metro stop: Place Monge

3. Falafels from L’As du Fallafel

 

It doesn't get much better than a shawarma (gyro) or a fallafel plate from L'As du Fallafel. Ok, its not the cheapest place on the list with a shawarma at 10.50€, but it's totally worth it. Either dine in or take away this will fill you up for the rest of the day. The tzatziki sauce is wonderful, the lamb was cooked perfectly and the vegetables were very fresh and you'll find the service to be efficient and very friendly. 5 stars from me, and so many others! Metro stop: Saint-Paul or Hotel de Ville

4. Baguette and lots of cheese

Especially in the summer, Parisians love to take their lunches to the park. Visit the nearest boulangerie (bakery) for their best baguettes and pick up local french cheeses from a fromagerie (cheese shop), located all around Paris. Don't forget your favorite bottle of wine, cider or champagne, because nothing goes better with cheese than some vino. Depending on the cheese, your lunch will cost around 3-5€ per person for a baguette to split and 3-5 cheese samples.

5. Quiche 

Many boulangeries have this simple meal ready to go for around 2-5€. Quiches have many ingredients from cheese and spinach to tuna and tomato. Kozy Cafe, just around the corner from the Eiffel Tower serves up a simple brunch for under 8€. Metro stop: École Militaire