Figure 1: The Wildcat vegan cafe, Fort William
Some vegan places pretend to be non-vegetarian — Wildcat in Fort William was one of those intriguing types. The hip vibe pulled us in: minimalist design, moody lighting, and a menu that read like a wellness influencer’s dream. We went for Scrambled Korean Tofu with Mint Sauce and Hummus Chickpea Toasted Bread, paired with smooth lattes.
Figure 2: Scrambled Korean Tofu with toast, The Wildcat, Fort William
The verdict? A flavor explosion — bold, layered, and slightly confused. Like a masala dosa trying to be sushi. We appreciated the effort, even if it felt like it was trying just a tad too hard.
Fluffy Royals Make a Comeback
Figure 3: Making introductions, Highland Coo, Fort William
Skye may have been left behind, but the coos were not. This time it was a Coo Couple, casually mooing by the road like it was their morning yoga session. I hit the brakes, and in a blink, Vanya was already striking up conversation with the mom coo (or was it the dad? Hard to say — this one had majestic, fully grown horns and a darker mane).
We admired them from a safe distance — they, in turn, gave us a long, slow blink. Highland approval, perhaps.
Highland Heart Rates
The roads in the Highlands are not for the faint-hearted. They shrink to single lanes with “passing places” — a polite way of saying, “May the most British driver win.” As someone with a mild case of hill-driving PTSD (shoutout to Kia Red Beach Misadventure in Santorini), I pulled into one of these lay-bys way before necessary.
By the time we reached the road to Steall Waterfall, my nerves were so frayed that I parked a full mile before the actual trail. The girls were unimpressed. But I was committed to not reliving another vehicular Greek tragedy.
American Ninja Warrior Training
The hike to Steall Waterfall is not your casual stroll. The trail — if you could call it that — clung to cliffs and occasionally vanished under roots, rocks, or rogue puddles. Thankfully, fellow hikers helped form a sort of breadcrumb trail made of human encouragement.
Figure 4: Enjoying the rope bridge, Fort William
Just when we thought we’d earned a break, we encountered a single-rope bridge across a rushing stream. I saw adventure; the girls saw horror. They opted out. I forged ahead like Indiana Jones in hiking boots.
The falls were thunderous, the views were wild, and the rope bridge made the whole experience feel like a Highland obstacle course. Worth every anxious heartbeat.
Picnicing In Glencoe
Next up: the iconic Three Sisters viewpoint in the majestic Glencoe Valley. We were hiked out, though, and skipped the 1–1.5 hour trek to the Hidden Valley. Instead, we soaked in the grandeur from the car park, snapped some hero shots, and turned our attention to more pressing matters — food.
Craft & Things — oddly named, perfectly timed. This roadside deli dished out three hot paninis and some much-needed ice cream sugar highs. Spirits (and glucose levels) restored, we were ready to conquer the rest of the day.
Oban - Scotland’s Swankiest and Smallest Distillery
Even though the girls didn’t share my whisky enthusiasm, I couldn’t leave Scottish soil without paying tribute to my favorite distillery — Oban. After a couple of scenic hours on the road, we rolled into this charming seaside town… only to find all distillery tours fully booked. Apparently, I wasn’t the only fanboy.
With one last tour slot available, I did my best puppy eyes — and the girls relented.
Inside the distillery, I got the full backstage pass:
- Soak barley to trick it into sprouting.
- Dry the sprouted grains (malting) on the distillery floor.
- Crush and separate sugars from husks.
- Mix sugars with Scottish tap water, add yeast, and ferment for four days.
- Distill in copper stills — no open flames, please! The vapor is flammable.
- Age the resulting spirit in ex-bourbon oak casks imported from Kentucky.
- Wait. Bottle. Sip. Smile.
I also got a crash course in the Scotch flavor map — from peaty and smoky to light and floral.
Tempting as it was to bring back a bottle or two, the desi economist in me kicked in: turns out, the same Oban whisky is cheaper in our neighborhood Costco. A rare moment of financial clarity in the land of kilts.
Warm Curries
After Oban, it was a long, zigzaggy ride back to Glasgow — with all the oddities of Scottish speed limits (20–60 mph on a single road, seriously?) testing my patience.
By the time we arrived in chilly Glasgow, our hearts (and stomachs) craved comfort. Tonight’s savior: Thai food. Tom Yum, Tom Kha, Pad Thai, Red Curry, and Fried Rice hit the spot like a warm hug in a bowl.
We finally checked into our hotel at around 9:30p, where the nervous receptionist blinked at us: “You made it just in time!”
Another day wrapped. From vegan confusion to whisky wisdom, it was one for the books.