Off to England!

Scotland â†’ England

The next part of my Highlands to Alpine Adventure â€” saying goodbye to Scotland and setting off for a reunion in England. Before catching the train to England, I had the morning to myself in Edinburgh.

Capturing the Memories: Edinburgh Photo Session

One of the highlights of the morning was a photo session with a local photographer. I needed some new photos and Mietta was amazing. I found her via Airbnb Experiences and you can also find her on Instagram at @edinburgh_photoshoots. We strolled through iconic Edinburgh backdrops and she put me at ease. We met at 6:45AM so the streets were silent and it was the perfect opportunity to see the sights. I received the photos back in just a few days and was really happy with how they turned out.

First-Class Views: Train Ride to England

In the early afternoon, I boarded a first-class train from Scotland bound for England. While I booked via LNER, the train was actually via Avanti West Coast. The journey was smooth, scenic, and peaceful â€” exactly what I needed to transition from the fast-paced touring schedule into a few days of personal travel. I was able to listen to my audio book and use my laptop to get caught up on some work. It’s nice to have an assigned seat where you can charge your phone, have meal service, snacks, and beverages delivered right to you. The journey was a bit over five hours and way easier and less expensive than catching a flight. However, I had one transfer and when I arrived to complete my transfer, my second train was canceled due to a train issue. Luckily, I was not too far so I was able to catch an Uber to the next station where my friend Vicki was waiting to pick me up! I was also able to receive a refund due to the cancellation which truly surprised me.

A Heartfelt Reunion

I havenâ€™t seen Vicki since 2022, when we first met on a Rocky Mountaineer train adventure through Canada. I was traveling solo and while she was not, we ended up as seat mates and the rest is history! Itâ€™s wild to think how travel brings people together â€” and even wilder that those conversations turned into a lasting friendship across countries. Just 48 hours together on a train and now we are lifelong friends. As soon as we met up at the train station, we picked up exactly where we had left off. Reuniting was truly the best part of my trip!