Yesterday I went on a Timberbush Tour of the Scottish Highlands, seeing places like Glencoe and Loch Ness. I’ve been to Loch Ness before, and through Glencoe lots of times, but this is the first time I’ve done a tour of my own country – and certainly the first time I’ve been up through the Highlands and back home in one day! I also enjoyed the stories and legends told by the guide, some of which were new to me.

I think that if you’re visiting Edinburgh and have only one day spare this is a fantastic way to see more of Scotland. But, if you’ve more time, it’s worth hiring a car and taking the journey a little more slowly. Glencoe is beautiful, and a wonderful place for a walk (even a short one) and a picnic. I didn’t like piling out of the coach and being herded back on again five minutes later. However I did manage to dash off two quick sketches! The first is below.

At Loch Ness, there was an option to go on a boat tour. I stayed behind to sketch, but again only managed two …

By this point the scenery was descending into cloud and there was little left for me to draw. A few seconds later it started to rain, and then the thunder and lightning began. My second plan of having a walk in the forest thus destroyed as well, I went into the hotel cafe for a hot chocolate.

This is the second Glencoe sketch – I was back on the coach at this stage, and managed to jot this down before it pulled away.