A Road Trip to Scotland for Hogmanay

hogmanay in edinburgh

A corollary to having a brother who flies to the Philippines solely to help you find your favourite animal on earth is that he can be relied upon to provide you with friends who you will immediately adopt as your own. I tend to plan nothing for New Year’s Eve, viewing it as one of the more overrated holidays out there. My brother knows this, which is why the moment I got to England, I was unceremoniously informed that I would not be allowed to pull my “usual boringness” on December 31. Instead, we would be driving to Scotland with a few of his friends, whether I liked it or not.

It was going to be epic, he insisted.

And you know what? It was.

celebrating Hogmanay in Edinburgh
Team Commonwealth at Hogmanay

Celebrating Hogmanay in Edinburgh

Joined by my Australian friends Andrew and Elysia, there were 8 of us in total split into two cars. The Australians drove from London, my brother and his girlfriend and I and our friend Micah from the Cotswolds and his friends Tanya and John, originally from Newfoundland, came in by train to Edinburgh. We immediately dubbed ourself Team Commonwealth, and thanks to Micah’s spelunking for a place to stay, ended up at a giant flat on East Mayfield street, within walking distance to the festivities.

The drive there was dreary, but being a car of people thirsty to learn, we entertained ourselves by reading out the Wikipedia entries for the towns we passed and the memorials we saw along the way. Extra points were given for those who could read in a satisfactory Scottish accent.

Rainy drive to Scotland
Rainy drive to Scotland

Due to some mishaps with directions and/or gridlock traffic (depending on which car you were in – the train people just laughed because they were off drinking in the Highlands on a whisky tour whilst we were suffering), we ended up arriving quite late on the 30th.

Visiting Edinburgh

Before the festivities began on the 31st, we decided to walk up Arthur’s Seat – conveniently within walking distance of our flat. As with the rock upon which Edinburgh Castle is built, the “seat” was formed by an old volcano, pushed out of the way by a glacier that crawled across Scotland. In the glacier’s path, rocky crags and valleys appeared, which gives Edinburgh its fascinatingly wave-like topology.  (For an interesting take on Edinburgh, see also the Sensory Maps of the city, created to paper smells, tastes and touches). We lucked out – while I almost blew off the summit because of how windy it was, we weren’t rained out and were able to see the city and the water stretching out before us.

View from atop Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh
View from atop Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh

And practice our jumping shots:

Epic jumping shot over Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh
Andrew takes a flying leap over Arthur’s Seat

And take photos while trying not to topple off the rock. (I’m not exaggerating either. I spent a good part of my time at the summit crouched low and trying not to fall on my face.)

Windy photo-taking atop Arthur's Seat
Windy photo-taking atop Arthur’s Seat

On the walk back, we stopped at St. Anthony’s Chapel. Built in the 1100s, it fell into disuse and disrepair after the Reformation in the 1590s. It paints a pretty picture against the backdrop of the city:

St. Anthony's Chapel on Arthur's Seat
The ruins of St. Anthony’s Chapel on Arthur’s Seat

Happily we did the hike upon arrival because we’d have never managed to do so on New Year’s Day after the night we had.

A Bit about Hogmanay

First, however, there was the matter of Hogmanay itself and where it came from. Wikipedia seemed confused noting that “the roots of Hogmanay perhaps reach back to the celebration of the winter solstice among the Norse,” then suggest it could have also been Gaelic and perhaps the name was French in origin too? Googling other sources provided us with little others consistent etymology, so we put away our computers and took out a bottle of wine instead.  The evening began at home, with leftover Christmas turkey sandwiches (yes, we froze Hester after Christmas, we didn’t just let her grow new mouldy turkey) and generous servings of the aforementioned wine. With some for the road, poured into apple juice bottles.

Elysia and me at Hogmanay
Elysia and me at Hogmanay, with our portable wine bottle.

A late bus to the festivities, which were spread out on both sides of the Golden Mile and fanning out around the downtown core. It was packed, but astonishingly well organized: self-use computers were set up to pick up tickets bought for the street party, portable toilets at every entrance-way to the grounds, police stationed everywhere and swift bag checks upon arrival. Efficient, easy and simple to start enjoying the eve.

We wandered from stage to stage at the street party, forming a Commonwealth train so we didn’t lose anyone from the group (and taking out a few people in the process – whoops). My brother, the fireworks aficionado, placed us perfectly to watch the show at midnight, whereupon the entire mass of thousands broke into an off-key rendition of Auld Lang Syne.

Midnight hits!

New Year's Eve fireworks for Hogmanay
New Year’s Eve fireworks in Edinburgh
Fireworks for Hogmanay 2012
Elysia’s hands taking photos of the fireworks.

The crowd watching the fireworks show:

Crowds at Hogmanay 2012
Quite the crowd!

Of course, it wasn’t all fun and games. Some moments were actually…quite serious.

Hogmanay with Team Commonwealth
Serious Commonwealth is Serious.

Ah, who am I kidding. I needed several takes of this photo because they wouldn’t stop laughing.

While half the group went off in search of toilets, I climbed up on my brother’s shoulders to see the crowds. A very (very) rough video, made rougher by the fact that (1) my brother thought it was funny to whirl me around and (2) it ends with my almost falling off his shoulders:


I did get myself into a bit of a talking-to when I decided no Hogmanay was complete without lifting a kilt or two, which didn’t actually count as the two gentlemen below were actually French and not Scottish. What a waste of kilt-lifting. Still, they cheered up considerably when I switched to French and explained that I was just doing my duty, after which Team Commonwealth duly nodded and resolutely stated the same. The Frenchmen soon chased after a none-too-sober Scottish lass and all was well with the world once again.

Unimpressed Frenchman is unimpressed.
Unimpressed Frenchman is unimpressed.

The drive home was as educational as the drive there, stopping off at Hadrian’s wall and reading all about it courtesy of Wikipedia again, since the Discovery Center was closed.

Hadrian's Wall
Gleeful on Hadrian’s wall on the drive home

We also stopped at a gorgeous priory dating from the 1100s for a quick bite to eat, some coffee and and wander around the old Church grounds:

Lanercost Priory, founded in 1169
Lanercost Priory, founded in 1169.

The drive back was close to 10 hours total, but we all found it worthwhile – the pits stops and the beautiful afternoon light was a perfect end to a raucous trip.

Winter sun in England
A glimpse of sun to end the trip.

For someone who does nothing for New Year’s, these festivities turned out to defy all expectations.  And a holiday season with my brother and friends was the best way I could think of to ring in a new year.

Happy new year to each and every one of you! May 2012 bring you many wide-eyed adventures, inner peace and – of course – delicious meals shared with friends.

-Jodi

29 thoughts on “A Road Trip to Scotland for Hogmanay”

  1. A couple great friends of mine from Madison were there too! Did you see them??? ;) I think they had fun but he just complained about how expensive everything was. He’s Irish though. Might be some issues there.

  2. I like the Unimpressed Frenchman picture hahaha! I was in Edinburgh last December (not at New Year’s but before) and I remember the rides and the little Christmas market right where you were. Looks like the band playing made it fun, too! So much jumping!

    1. Yes, they were not thrilled but that’s their fault for wearing a kilt. Glad you made it to the city in holiday season – it’s so wonderfully festive. Happy new year to you! Hoping 2012 is the year we finally manage to meet up ;)

  3. Scotland is beautiful and historic. One of my top destinations that I want to visit. Sadly, I am not sure I will get there in 2012 before the world ends. ;)

  4. Please allow me to be Captain Obvious for today: Even though I’ve been to Scotland, I’m still floored by how vividly green it is. What a season to visit. You look gleeful in your photographs, and I’m thrilled you got to ring in the new year like this.

  5. Holy crap, that might be the first NYE celebration I’ve seen that doesn’t look underrated in the slightest. Thanks to you, this is now on my bucket list.

    You are so gosh darned cute next to that unimpressed French dude!

    1. This is actually a fair point: like you, I thought Hogmanay was going to be overhyped. But it was actually a street party with 80,000 other people just out to see good music and enjoy. Really enjoyable and as I said in the post organized so well that it went smoothly. I think it could have been a disaster if they didn’t put enough porta-potties or entry ways but it was so efficient that we could all just concentrate on the having fun part. :)

  6. Good to read the post and i was there at the fireworks on Princess Street / not on the street party but with locals back of the Castle. As i stay in Edinburgh – nice to read of your journeys to our side of the world.

    1. Haggis is a problem because I have celiac, but Scotch is actually a BIGGER problem because when I was 7, I mistook it for apple juice and took a huge gulp and was promptly very, very sick. As a result, no more Scotch for me. I’ve tried, and I’ve tried some great ones! But I can’t get past the memory. Sad face.

      1. gene in montreal

        ouch! Therefore every time I enjoy I shall think of thee. quite understandable as one in my famiily is also afflicted with coeliac. Not fun

  7. Ah, bloody Scotland is so on my list of experiences to enjoy!

    The overcast sky, saturated green grass and old world buildings are really enchanting and welcoming.

  8. I visited the same priory in June 2007 with my mom and sister. The choir was practicing and the ladies gave us a delicious soup. And I loved how the swallows would swoop through the open ‘basement’. Great place.

  9. I spent the best new years EVER in Edinburgh as well – and lifted a few kilts myself just to see if they were legit Scotsmen ;0.
    Your post made me smile and nod the whole time. What a fabulous city – with wonderfully friendly people.

  10. Rodrigo @ The Brave Man Blog

    Jodi I want to be like you when I grow up! nice photos :D this post just made me want freedom even harder xD so much to do, but it will be worth it, thanks a lot for your experience :D

    1. Thanks Rodrigo! Of course, it took a lot of work to get here and the site and other projects still take a lot of time and work, but it’s something I enjoy and thus feels a lot less like work than it would otherwise. Happy to hear you’re still reading and following along.

  11. Just stumbled across this online.

    I’m from Edinburgh and I was at the Hogmanay street party that night. I’m glad you enjoyed your visit. You got some great photo’s!
    If you’d like any more information about Edinburgh – or the rest of Scotland(if there are any future visit’s planned or if you just want to learn more about it) I’d be happy to help out.

    Graeme

  12. It sounds like a nice way to spend new year’s eve! I did not expect to spend the 31st of december in Scotland but I am changing my mind ;)

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