When in Scotland, bring your own pipes! Because nothing could be more inspiring than to play in your ancestral homeland. Clan Colquhoun member and competitive piper James Ingraham of Charleston, S.C., along with his lovely wife Maria recently celebrated their wedding anniversary in the Highlands. Their 10-day tour included a stay in Luss, where James and Maria were invited to tea with Sir Malcolm and Lady Colquhoun at Camstradden. And it was the perfect chance for James to play his lowland shuttle pipes, he even climbed Sir Malcolm’s beloved tree house to play the pipes. Later that day, James and Maria walked among the crumbling ruins of Bannachra Castle, an historically significant castle under extensive renovations. It must have felt like stepping back into the mists of time. Other highlights: ringing the church bells at Luss Parish Church, walking Loch Lomond’s Faerie Trail (“Extremely well executed!”), piping-themed stops, Scottish donuts and sampling local whisky.
