Family Matters: A Celebration of Scottish Heritage
Patricia Gibbs, a 10-time traveler and Vacation Ambassador from Oro Valley, Arizona, recently shared her thoughts on our England, Scotland & Wales vacation. As Pat explains here, this journey proved to be a very special one, as she and the loved ones who joined her on the trip—husband Phil, son Mark, daughter-in-law Courtney, and grandchildren Kevin and Cindy—paid a visit to her Scottish mother’s beloved hometown of Dunoon …
The Gibbs family on the grounds of Caernarfon Castle in Wales.
Our trip through England, Scotland & Wales in June of 2007 was a wonderful adventure. We were three generations traveling together, and nothing was going to deter us from having a fabulous trip! My husband, Phil, and I had traveled through the U.K. previously, but this was the first visit for our son, daughter-in-law, and two teenage grandchildren.
One of the aspects we appreciated the most was the flexibility of our daily schedules. While in Edinburgh, we took one of the days on our own and traveled by train and ferry to my mother’s hometown of Dunoon. It was a wonderful opportunity for Phil and I to share our family memories of this charming town with the next two generations, just as my mother had shared her memories with me during our 1978 visit together.
The 1978 trip found my mother, Elizabeth Johnstone Wright, returning to Dunoon for her first visit since leaving Scotland in 1924 at the age of 14 to emigrate to the United States. It was a special day for both of us, walking the streets of Dunoon, where all the stories she and my grandparents had shared with me were coming alive. Mom was apprehensive about returning to her childhood home, as she felt places are never quite the same as you remember them, but once the ferry docked and we disembarked, her face lit up as she discovered the town was virtually unchanged.
She delighted in pointing out her elementary school, her family church, the buildings where her father’s two bakeries had been located, the homes where different relatives and friends had lived, and after asking the local villagers a few questions, we finally found her home where she grew up: The “Mary Lee” was still there, just as she remembered it. Our Scottish matriarch always delighted in sharing family stories with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was so proud of the Johnstone family history, even when she found a darker side to the clan, which we discovered while doing family research. (The Johnstones were indeed a border clan, but in the past they were well known for their skill in stealing cattle from the English ... not exactly a noble heritage!)
A family portrait taken in England's Salisbury Plain—and including the Westbury White Horse, a famous chalk carving, in the background.
My mother died in 1999, but she left all of us with an abundance of memories and an appreciation for our roots, and our family history. We felt her loving presence with us that day in 2007, as we once again walked the streets of Dunoon, reliving and laughing at old family stories, and rediscovering the places in this lovely town that had played such an important part in the life of this woman who was loved and known as Mom, Grandma, and “GG” to her great-grandchildren.
Other highlights of the trip were numerous, but one of our favorite places was Wales. The countryside is full of beautiful scenery, and we loved our days in Caernarfon. The hotel was centrally located and within easy walking distance of the center of town, and Caernarfon Castle. Our Program Director arranged for us to attend a rehearsal of the Caernarfon Men's Choir. All the men are incredibly talented musicians, and their rehearsal performance provided us with an evening we will remember for a very long time to come.
Our visit in Caernarfon was topped off with a Home-Hosted dinner. Donna, Phil, and their children were such gracious hosts. It was an evening filled with lots of laughs and interesting conversation, and as we headed back to the hotel, our grandson remarked that “he would remember this night for the rest of his life.” We assumed it was due to the warm hospitality shown to all of us, but he quickly informed us, “NO … It was because the food was so good!” He was right: It was a fabulous dinner, and I’m still trying to replicate the great Welsh stew we were served that night.
Our days in York were filled with exploring the York Minister, walking the city walls, which give you a completely different view of this city, and playing a game of billiards in one of the many family-friendly pubs. Stonehenge was a welcome change of pace in the midst of our busy schedule. It was wonderful to have the time to walk around these ancient stones at your own pace, in peace and quiet, and to reflect upon this ancient accomplishment.
Our day in London went by way too quickly! The morning found us on a double-decker bus tour of the city. Of course we found seats on the top level, and, of course, the heavens opened up and poured buckets of rain on us! A boat ride on the Thames River took us to the Tower of London, which is a beautifully maintained historic area right in the heart of London. It is amazing to walk the grounds and recall all the history that has occurred on this one spot. We especially enjoyed walking alongside the staff, dressed in costumes depicting the days of Henry VIII, and holding conversations with each other regarding the events of those turbulent days. We ended our day in this exciting city with a ride on the London Eye. This ride is smooth and quiet (you barely feel it moving!) and the 360-degree views of the city of London are spectacular! It truly was 15 wonderful days, each day filled with memorable discoveries and lasting memories.
Experience a land permeating with legend and romance on our England, Scotland & Wales vacation.
And if you have your own tales—and photos—of your Grand Circle travels finding your own family history and roots, please share them with me at harriet@gct.com.