Like most people I love my holidays, especially the ones abroad. It’s been one of life’s luxuries that I realise I took for granted in times gone by as I cried – yes I cried – when yet again another holiday, so optimistically booked, had to be cancelled thanks to this pandemic.

I do appreciate how fickle this sentiment must sound in the grand scheme of things but I’m sure it’s one many of you will resonate with.

It has been a brutal and long 18 months, where repeated lockdowns and uncertainties alongside the daily grind has started to take its toll on us. I feel mentally and emotionally drained a lot of the time; feeling deflated each time plans that were the previous norm are shattered.

I remember looking forward to going away before but actually didn’t realise how much until a few weeks ago when it became apparent that things were not back to normal at the speed we had hoped and that it was still not safe to travel to many parts of the world.

As a doctor on the ground, I see just how much Covid is impacting people’s everyday lives for the complications of long Covid are truly devastating for many.

The vaccines have been excellent in doing their job as we see fewer hospitalisations and deaths compared to this time last year but whilst that link between cases and serious illness and death might’ve been weakened, long Covid is the rising problem at hand.

Also we are seeing that it is still possible to contract Covid even if you have been double vaccinated and this is because no vaccine is 100%.

I therefore concluded, from all the data and evidence available to me, that for us, travel abroad right now was not safe. We all have to weigh up and make our own choices, no judgement here.

So I was gutted. Two weeks away from the busy practice and staying at home to potter didn’t appeal to me after staying home for so long. We decided to road trip. We went to Skye for a few days and let me tell you, I was blown away by how incredible the break was.

It’s embarrassing to admit, as someone who has been born and brought up in Glasgow, that I have never really travelled around Scotland much. Every holiday has been a venture out of Scotland and I feel quite sad about this when I reflect back. You can take for granted the place you live, but no more. The drive up to Fort William and then further on to Skye had me in total awe; I lost count of how many times my eight-year-old and I shouted WOW!

We were lucky with the heatwave which just gave us the tropical vibes against the most majestic and dramatic landscapes of lakes, rivers, mountains and fields. A sudden sense of pride and heartfelt gratitude – this is my Scotland, my home.

We took the kids up the gondola in Fort William up Aonach Mòr. The views were breathtaking and truly grounding, away from the hustle and noise of the everyday news and chaos, it was peaceful and serene. We enjoyed a cup of coffee and then drove to Mallaig for some highly recommended lobster and chips. It was delicious.

Onwards to Skye, it felt like we were driving through a scene from Lord of the Rings; you really do have to experience it for yourself as words do little justice. My son ran out of memory on his camera trying to capture it all and the baby, who was born in lockdown, took in all the views. We booked a gorgeous wee cottage in Portree overlooking the bay and settled into our home away from home.

We visited Neist Point to see the most famous lighthouse in Scotland which my son loved and we watched the sunset which was stunning. The people of Skye were so friendly and at no point did I feel unsafe. Rules were respected everywhere we went and for once, no interference by Covid. Everyone in restaurants wore face coverings, everyone maintained their distance and there was no faff for paperwork. I felt very safe.

We went to the famous fairy pools and it felt like being in the Land Before Time. Sometimes in the everyday, we become so consumed with all the little petty things. We catastrophise and the world becomes insular and small. Here, surrounded by giant mountains all around us with only the sounds of the waterfalls and sheep, I felt like I could really breathe. It was so calm and gave me a real sense of perspective.

There are so many incredible walks in Skye and we discovered a gorgeous beach – you know the reason we go abroad! The coral beach with crystal clear blue water was so beautiful we didn’t mind the fact it was cold! We all got in and finished the holiday off with more lobster and chips and oysters at the Oyster Shed.

Why am I sharing all of this? Well, if like me, you haven’t considered travelling around Scotland, or are gutted to not be able to go abroad or are worried about safety in Covid times, why not take a road trip? We are already looking at booking our next Scottish holiday.