It’s Official! I’m going back to Scotland.

Image of Edinburgh Castle by Jorg Angeli (Unsplash)

It has been a while… But I’m officially going back to Scotland this summer.

I’ll be honest… For the past two years, I have been painstakingly paying back my backdated taxes. That’s a big mess of a story for another time, but let’s just say, it was not easy. Essentially, I have just been head down and work, work, work for the past two years. I couldn’t miss a payment, and for a while, most of what I make every month has been going to the government (between a student loan, GST payments, backdated taxes and saving for the next year’s taxes).

It was hard to see anything outside of the here and now. I was so focused on one payment at a time, I couldn’t look forward to the future. I wrote about this in the last blog. Go check it out!

But I am officially done paying that back, and now I get to be excited and look toward the future! I get to start saving again, I get to be excited about my work and my goals again.

And since I’m done… That means I get to start travelling again.

If you’re not new here, you’ll know that Scotland is my favourite place in the world. I have been three times, and when I’m not in Scotland, I just think about how much I want to go back.

All three times, I have gone with my pipe band (yes, bagpipes and drums. No, I do not play the bagpipes). Twice was for the World Pipeband Championships. Eventually, I’ll make a blog post about World’s Week, but let me just say that it’s an unbelievable time to be in Glasgow.

I teach in a kids’ band as well, and my best friend’s daughter is one of my drummers (I might have forced my bestie to bring her down because, in the beginning, I didn’t have any kids who wanted to play my instrument). Well, it turns out she’s actually really naturally gifted at this instrument. The problem is… Because she picks it up quite easily, she doesn’t practice to work on her technique or memorization (she’s still young, too).

My best friend and I have always joked about travelling together, but she has two kids, so in the end, it’s usually just us sending reels back and forth and dreaming.

However, this time, we decided to make those dreams a reality.

We finally made it official, my bestie and I are going to Scotland for the World’s next year… And we are bringing her daughter!

We decided that since the kids are getting a little bit older, it’s a good time to take them travelling, but we wanted to treat each kid to their own trip. We wanted to choose a trip that would be meaningful to each of them.

So, for little E we decided to take her to the World Pipeband Championships in Scotland next summer. Our hope is that she gets inspired by what she sees. We want her to experience the culture, the community, and everything that makes the pipeband world so great. We wanted her to see what she could accomplish… If she’s willing to put in the work and practice.

Scotland is the place that means the most to me. And I can’t wait to get to experience it through her eyes. I can’t wait to show her and my bestie all of my favourite places, share all of the memories I made there and to make some of our own.

Greyfriars Kirkyard–Photo taken on iPhone XR

So now, I get to start saving up for my next trip!

I’ll be working hard to save everything I can to make this trip the best one yet. There is so much that I still want to see of Scotland (hello Highlands!) and, of course, reexperiencing all of my favourite places with two of my favourite people.

I also want to get E something really special from the trip. Something that she can cherish and use to remember her time for years and years. But I haven’t yet decided what that will be.

What about a short story of my first time at the World’s?

The joy and the energy that filled Glasgow Green on the day of the World’s was incredible. I really can’t describe it to you, but it was infectious. It made you want to be there; it filled you with uncontained joy.

When you compete, you do a qualifier in the morning. In my grade, there were two heats. The top 6 from each heat qualify and move on to the final competition. In 2017, we did not qualify, so when we went back in 2019, the stakes felt high, and we were all hungry to experience qualifying.

At a certain time after all of the bands in your grade have competed, you go and stand by this large screen where all of the bands who have qualified appear, one-by-one. In 2017, we waited and waited, and our name did not come up. It felt devastating after all of our hard work. In 2019, we were far more nervous after not qualifying 2 years before. So, again, we waited and waited, and finally, the second-to-last name to appear on the screen was ours.

All of us lost our minds. We screamed, we jumped, we hugged. It felt like the greatest moment of our lives. But that meant that it was time to get to work.

In 2017, when we didn’t qualify, it meant we were done for the day. Most of my band wandered off to the beer garden. I, however, immediately went and watched the Grade 1 competition. Bands I had only ever seen on a screen were suddenly real. I was not missing that opportunity. I do not regret watching the Grade 1s instead of hanging out in the beer garden. It completely blew my mind to see that much talent in one arena.

In 2019… It was right back to work because in only a few hours’ time, we would be playing our set once again for the big stakes.

The way the World’s finished (up until this past year, 2025) was by having every band do a march pass to march in and to their spot. The first bands to enter the field are the top 6 Grade 1 bands. They were also the only bands to play while the other bands marched on.

In both 2017 and 2019, we were incredibly lucky to get a spot directly behind that front rank of grade one bands. In 2017, I had no idea that would end up being the most amazing experience of the entire trip. When they announce the winners, they start with the lowest grades and work their way up to the professional, Grade 1s (yes, I know that can be confusing, as my kids’ band kiddos have told me).

When we finally got to the grade one competition, the field was silent, expectantly waiting for the result. When they announced the winner, the official Champions of the 2017 World Pipeband Championships as Inveraray and District Pipe Band, we happened to be standing one band over from them.

There is nothing quite as amazing and thrilling as being that close to the best pipe band in the entire world when they win the World’s… For the very first time.

Do you want to know what’s even funnier?

When we came back in 2019, we, once again, were right behind that front rank of Grade 1 bands (this time we were directly behind Inveraray and District). And while we only came 10th that year, Inverarary won the World’s once again. Check out the photo of them upon hearing they won (it’s in the slide show below).

They have since won two more times, and both of those times, members from my band happened to be in attendance at the World’s in some capacity. At this point, members of my band have been there every single time they have won the World’s… They really should start paying us to come at this point. We are clearly their good luck charm.

They won in 2024 and 2025. I will be there in 2026. Do you think they can win a third year in a row?

I can’t wait for my best friend and her daughter to experience the energy and the thrill of the World Pipeband Championships.

Discovering the Magic of Edinburgh: The Potter Trail Harry Potter Tour

Nestled among the cobbled streets and historic buildings of Edinburgh, Scotland, lies a world of enchantment that has captured the hearts of millions worldwide.

This city, rich in history and charm, also serves as a magical backdrop for the world of Harry Potter. As a passionate traveller and obsessive Potterhead (Ravenclaw here!), I couldn't resist the allure of The Potter Trail, a guided tour that promised to unravel the spells and secrets behind the beloved series.

A Magical Start

The adventure began at the iconic Greyfriar Bobby statue, a charming little dog that symbolizes loyalty and devotion. Tourists from all over the world come to rub his nose because it’s said to bring them luck. But the guides ask you not to do that as it’s wearing down Bobby’s nose. Here, I joined a group of fellow enthusiasts and our guide, dressed in a wizarding cloak, ready to take us on a magical journey. The Potter Trail, offered on a by-donation basis, was a wonderful touch, allowing everyone to contribute what they could and making the magic accessible to all. They also asked for donations at the end of the tour so people could pay based on what they felt the tour was worth (It is worth a ton, guys!).

The guide wanted it to be as interactive as possible and brought a handful of wands. First come first serve… You better believe I got in there. Sorry kids.

Greyfriars Kirkyard: A Stroll Through Inspiration

Our first stop was Greyfriars Kirkyard, a historic cemetery that holds more than just gravestones. This eerie yet fascinating place is where Rowling found the names of some of her most memorable characters. As we wandered through the kirkyard, our guide pointed out the tombstone of Thomas Riddell, the inspiration for the Dark Lord himself, Voldemort. It was both thrilling and chilling to stand in front of the grave that sparked the creation of such an iconic villain.

The kirkyard also features the grave of William McGonagall, a poet known for his notoriously bad verse, whose surname Rowling bestowed upon Hogwarts' stern yet beloved professor, Minerva McGonagall. Each gravestone told a story, weaving together the threads of history and fiction in a way that only Edinburgh could.

The photo op in front of Tom Riddell’s grave was also pretty fun!

George Heriot's School: The Hogwarts Connection

From within the Kirkyard, we saw George Heriot's School, a prestigious private school that served as the inspiration for Hogwarts. While we didn’t get to go inside the guide provided incredible insight about the school, so it was easy to see the parallels. The school's four houses and impressive structure echoed the very essence of Hogwarts, making it a fitting muse for the creation of the school we know and love.

I don’t think I was the only person on the tour who was a wee-bit jealous of the students who have actually attended that school!

Many believe that Edinburgh Castle was the inspiration for Hogwarts, but this is not true. However, it’s still a beautiful castle and fun to spot all around the city. I highly recommend if you’re in Edinburgh, touring the castle just to see the castle!

The University of Edinburgh and Potterrow Port

Our journey continued to the University of Edinburgh, specifically George Square. JK Rowling received a postgraduate certificate from the University of Edinburgh in 1996 in modern languages. But this stop was a means to an end, as it was on the way to an important underpass. We walked under Potterrow Port, a site that inspired the scene where Harry and Dudley encounter the Dementors. The dimly lit, tunnel-like atmosphere felt eerily similar to the book's description, adding a layer of authenticity to the tour.

While walking through the tunnel, you can definitely see the similarities, and it’s conveniently in the middle of the town.

The Elephant House and Nicholson's Café

As we moved towards the famous Elephant House, our guide shared an interesting fun fact: while the Elephant House is popularly known as the birthplace of Harry Potter, Rowling actually wrote much of the series in an old café called Nicholson's (now called Spoons). This nugget of information added a fascinating twist to the narrative and highlighted the often-overlooked spots that played a crucial role in the creation of Harry Potter.

But shh, don’t tell people about Spoons, or it’ll get too busy!

Photo from “OutdoorActive.com”

Victoria Street: The Real Diagon Alley

Our final major stop was the bustling Victoria Street, a vibrant and winding road that served as the inspiration for Diagon Alley. Lined with colourful shopfronts and quirky boutiques, Victoria Street exudes a sense of wonder and whimsy that is perfectly suited to the magical shopping district of Rowling's imagination. As our guide explained why this street was chosen, it was easy to imagine witches and wizards bustling about, purchasing their wands and spellbooks.

In the 90’s (when Rowling was writing the books) Victoria Street was bright and vibrant (much like it is today), but off the street there was a dim and spooky alley, which became the inspiration for the eeriness of Knockturn Alley. The two together created the shopping districts we know and love from the series.

To cap off the magical experience, we snuck into the official Harry Potter store in “Diagon Alley”. It was like stepping into a shop in the real deal, filled with all manner of wizarding wonders. I couldn't resist buying Professor McGonagall's wand, a perfect souvenir to remember this magical adventure.

Personal Reflections and Final Thoughts

As the tour drew to a close, I found myself reflecting on the magic of Edinburgh and the profound impact it had on J.K. Rowling's work. The Potter Trail was more than just a walk through the city; it was a journey through the imagination and creativity of an author’s mind.

As someone who is also a writer, it provided me with a lot to reflect on for my own work. JK Rowling was just an average person with an idea. She wrote in small coffee shops, was a single mom, didn’t have a lot of money, was an average student and got a slew of no’s before the one yes that changed her life. And her work changed the lives of millions of people. These tours are jam-packed with people.

Edinburgh's charm lies not only in its historic sites and stunning architecture but also in its ability to inspire and nurture creativity. For any Harry Potter fan, this tour is a must-do experience, offering a deeper understanding of the world that has enchanted readers for over two decades.

Whether you’re a die-hard Potterhead or simply a lover of history and literature, The Potter Trail in Edinburgh promises a magical adventure that will leave you spellbound. So grab your wand, don your cloak and step into the world of Harry Potter–the magic awaits.

To book your Potter Trail tour, head to their website and grab your FREE ticket.