Solo Travel to Scotland

Edinburgh has been classified as one of the safest UK cities for many years now. As a 20-something-year-old woman with a lust for travel, this was music to my ears.

I took my first solo trip to the Scottish capital, and boy, did I fall in love.

I was full of nerves when I took my seat on the train, scared to embark on my first solo venture. I had spent the month prior applying for my passport, and once I had received it, I realized just how terrified I was to take my first ever flight, so I took a step back and decided on train travel to Scotland.

After three hours, two delays, and one brave train toilet adventure, I arrived. I was in complete awe as soon as I got out of the station and stepped onto the streets. It was beautiful, busy, and cold. I was rushing through the crowds to make my way to my hotel, my safe haven for the next two days.

Once I had checked in and settled, I ventured back outside. I went in search of the Royal Mile with the aspiration of walking the whole of it, all the way to the castle. I didn't make it. To give you a bit of background, I am in no way an extrovert, I like to keep to myself and blend in as much as possible so I decided against going all the way to the castle due to the large crowds that lay ahead.

I made my way through the streets, crammed with tourists, and found a cute little shop selling tartan everything. I came out with a scarf and it is now one of my favourite winter wardrobe items.

I retraced my steps back to the main high street and found myself walking up yet another hill (yes, it is true that in Scotland even the cities are full of hills) to possibly the most magnificent lookout point I could have ever found: Calton Hill, once atop of it, you could see over the entire city of Edinburgh, to the right hand side you could see out to the ocean and from another view point, rolling countryside. Three different worlds in one view—what more could a girl want.

The one thing I was terrified by was eating alone in a restaurant. However, after my afternoon walking alone, I felt empowered. I stepped inside Wagamama's (not exactly typically Scottish, but a place I have always wanted to try), I asked for my table for one, and placed my order. It felt incredible, and one thing I must say was that I didn't feel alone at all, I didn't feel weird for being alone, and I actually managed to just be in the moment, fully enjoying the food and feeling happy.

On day two of the trip I took a group tour around the Lowlands and got to see some incredible sites, the ruins of Melrose Abby were something else and if you can make it to the top of the watchtower you will be picking your jaw back up off the floor.

I met some wonderful people on this trip. I had lunch with the most amazing lady. An Australian, she had traveled and I was in total awe of her and the experiences she has had. I met a lovely couple from New York who were so kind in taking some of my photos for me and who also told me I was brave to have gone alone.

By the middle of the second day, I didn't feel brave as much, I felt more proud. I revisited the spectacular view point I had spent an abundance of time at the previous day and I had tea at the same wonderful place.

When I got back to my hotel room and got everything ready for my departure the next day, I actually had chance to consider what I had achieved in such a small amount of time. I had done what I never thought I would be able to do, I went to a completely new city, and did the things I wanted to do—in my own time. It was a monumental experience that I needed to have.

I think the point I am trying to make in this piece is that if I had never taken the leap to go solo to an unknown city, I never would have felt that unbelievable happiness. It only took two days for me to feel like I was floating on air and that is a feeling I will be capturing again.

I would truly recommend everyone experience traveling solo, even if only to somewhere in your hometown, at least once in their life. It is a freeing experience and there isn't anything else I can think of that is quite like it.