In January 2022, my life transformed in unimaginable ways, all beginning with a road trip around the Scottish Highlands. My now wife flew to the UK to spend a couple of weeks with me, hoping to see if our growing online connection would flourish in real life. It wasn’t our first meeting; we had studied together in the Netherlands for six months about seven years earlier, but back then, we were just friendly acquaintances.
I still feel a warm sensation all over my body when I remember the moment my nerves, concerns, and fears melted away as I realized that my wife’s desire to be with me was genuine. She truly saw past my disability and instantly showed her caring, compassionate, and beautifully helpful nature. Before we even hit the road, I knew she was the one. In those whirlwind two weeks, I not only gained a life partner but also found the strongest disability ally I could have ever wished for.
For the trip, we first headed up to Loch Lomond, roughly an hour’s drive from our starting point in Glasgow. You spend a good deal of time meandering through tree-lined roads that hide sprawling hilled fields before a magnificent body of water starts to come into view. Loch Lomond is a breathtaking spot, one I’ll always hold dear to my heart, so we were excited to kick-start our road trip there. The road hugs the western banks of the Loch as you make your way further north. It’s an awe-inspiring sight when you set your eyes on Ben Lomond, towering over the icy cold waters of the Loch in front of you. There are several vantage points where you can pull over and either take some photos or, if you’re feeling up to it, go for a wee stroll along the old disused road, which takes you even closer to the water’s edge.
We took every opportunity to stop and enjoy our surroundings. I was mindful that it might quickly become irritating for Fernanda to hop to the back of the car and assemble my wheelchair every time we wanted to get out, especially given the exceptionally cold weather. However, she took it all in stride and was always happy to help.
From Loch Lomond, we continued north, heading to one of the most stunning areas of the Scottish Highlands — Glencoe. I wanted to show Fernanda the sheer ruggedness and majesty that is Glencoe, an area that can be driven through on roads cutting through the valley of huge mountain tops. Twisting and turning, you find yourself passing sheer rock faces, ferocious waterfalls, and breathtaking views. It’s a must for anyone looking to drive around Scotland and is a world away from the busy streets of Glasgow or Edinburgh.
One of the things I love most about a road trip, especially as a wheelchair user, is the freedom and independence it offers. Relying on public transport can be challenging at the best of times, but navigating with a mobility aid makes it even harder. Having a car means you can make spontaneous decisions to visit new places you spot along the way. It’s that ability to change plans at a moment’s notice, or to head to the hills for a bite to eat at a faraway pub, that makes it a truly liberating experience.
After snapping some selfies with our mountainous backdrop for keepsakes, we hopped back in the car just as the icy rain began to fall — a reminder that it was January, after all. We then pushed on towards Inverness, aiming to reach our hotel before darkness set in.
Inverness was our base for a couple of days, allowing us to play tourist and get to know each other better. It’s an interesting concept to say “getting to know each other,” especially when you’ve been talking for weeks on end, hoping to form a loving relationship. Knowing someone online is a whole different ballgame from knowing them in person. I think I can speak for both of us when I say we thoroughly enjoyed figuring out each other’s quirks and discovering what made the other person tick. Those couple of nights in the Highlands’ capital were extremely enjoyable.
There is one little thing about Inverness that we both found really cool. On the grounds of Inverness Cathedral, there is a charming cafe that serves some of the most delicious lunches and snacks. We’ve been there a couple of times since our initial visit on this trip, and it’s lovely to see that the cafe also employs staff members with disabilities. I’m always on the lookout for inclusive employers like this and would highly recommend checking out the Cathedral Cafe if you’re ever in town!
This post is road trip-themed, so I’ll forgo some of the details of what we saw in Inverness and instead focus on where we headed next. Edinburgh would be our next resting spot, but not before an epic drive through the Cairngorm National Park. As I mentioned earlier, having a car means having more freedom, and a classic example of this was our amazing opportunity to drive up the side of Cairngorm Mountain to their information center. Perched high amongst the clouds, it offered some seriously magnificent views of the national park below. Though I think poor Fernanda just about froze her fingertips off being so high in such bitingly cold weather.
Just about everywhere we stopped, we treated it as an impromptu opportunity to grab a coffee. It fits perfectly with my “let’s take things nice and slow” style of travel. I’m not one for rushing around and I like to have a little treat here and there. We enjoyed a coffee near the top of Cairngorm and snagged another as we made our way out of the National Park, heading towards Edinburgh. Along the way, we stopped to look at some ducks waddling around near another loch. I mention the ducks not because they held any major significance on that day, but because they do hold significance in our lives. Fernanda told me she would like to return there with her daughter (my now stepdaughter) to see those very ducks. Amazingly, less than six months later, we did exactly that.
On the last stretch of our journey, we passed through the pretty village of Pitlochry, a quaint spot, albeit quite touristy, and then arrived in Edinburgh late in the day. It capped off a fantastic few days, and the only thing I wish had been different was having more time to drive even further north and see some of the country’s incredible North Coast 500 — a stretch of road that loops and wraps around all of the Scottish coastlines north of Inverness. It’s another exceptional road trip that I have been fortunate enough to do in the past, though nothing compares to the one I’ve just told you about because that one was full of love.
To my wife, thank you for being the most amazing road trip partner, and more importantly, the most fantastic spouse and ally. Your unwavering support and love have made this adventure, and every day since, truly extraordinary. Here’s to many more journeys together, filled with love and discovery.
