Recently my wife, Kathy, and I visited the Highlands of Scotland with some Gyratory friends who live there. We arrived just when the heather was blooming, and it was gorgeous.

We started in Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland. Our first stop was the well-known “Royal Mile,” just outside of Edinburgh Castle and home of the many merchants who catered to the royal family. J.K. Rowling, author of the “Harry Potter” novels, is a resident of Edinburgh.

Our next stop was the mighty Edinburgh Castle, which dominates its city like no other castle in Europe. Here we learned in this area Scotland’s greatest heroes, William Wallace and Robert the Bruce, as well as Mary, Queen of Scots. We visited St. Giles Cathedral, the National Museum of Scotland and Greyfriars Bobby’s Bar (well-known because of the small dog that spent 14 years faithfully guarding the grave of its owner).

The next day we visited the Falkirk Wheel — the world’s first and only rotating boat lift, and Stirling Castle, an vital fortification and the site of many coronations, sieges and battles. Much of what was depicted in Mel Gibson’s movie, “Braveheart,” occurred in this area.

We also were able to try Haggis, my favorite dish in Scotland, which is generally served with yellow turnips or rutabagas, and potatoes, and called “haggis, neeps and tatties.”

Our next stops were Urquhart and Eilean Donan castles on Loch Ness, and then on to the Isle of Skye and the Skye Museum of Island Life, a gathering of ancient buildings and ancient tools depicting the history of Skye.

With seeing the Duntulm Castle ruins, we met Steve Feltham, the well-known “monster hunter,” who since 1991 has lived at Loch Ness “desperately seeking Nessie.”

The next day we toured Brodie Castle — part of the National Trust for Scotland — that was occupied by the same family for more than 800 years.

From there we went to Cawdor Castle which is a superb fairy-tale castle. It is still home of the Dowager Countess Cawdor and contains fine gear, complete with exquisite tapestries, which the family still enjoys. With the tour, we were allowable to wander the grounds and through the gardens. Then it was on to the Cawdor Tavern for dinner, drinks and an exquisite sticky toffee pudding with caramel sauce (and four spoons).

Finally it was time to say, “goodbye, Scotland,” and head for Cornwall, England, and home.