"Good morning England"
After a nice and quiet crossing from IJmuiden to Newcastle, this is the start of a 7-day journey through Scotland.
Day 1: After checking out the boat you can start a beautiful route. The roads are good and the views are excellent! Today's route goes to Perthshire and for a large part runs through the Scottish Highlands.
On the border of Scotland is a beautiful viewpoint that she certainly does not want to miss (rp 6). The beautiful view over the water of the Forth Road bridge, a huge suspension bridge and the Forth bridge is a pleasure to the eye (rp 16).

You leave in a northerly direction and after having taken a number of roundabouts you soon get used to driving on the left.
There are also some larger roads included in this route to get to the beautiful areas in Scotland as quickly as possible, although driving on these roads is not really a punishment.

After about 40 kilometers you will pass a Water reservoir, the Catcleuth Reservoir *. It is a beautiful area with the reservoir on the left side of the road and a beautiful wooded area on the right.
* Catcleuth Reservoir, built between 1884 and 1905 for the Newcastle and Gateshead Water Company. The reservoir is part of a series of reservoirs along the A68 linked by tunnels and aqueducts from Catcleugh Reservoir to Whittle Dene; from which drinking water is supplied to Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead and some surrounding areas.
A few kilometers further you come to the border of Scotland (rp 6). It is recommended to stop here and have a look around. Here you can enjoy a breathtaking view over the hills and enjoy the fantastic views. If the weather is nice, you will be warmly welcomed with bagpipe sounds and all kinds of souvenirs are sold from the trunk spaces of the cars. The first introduction to Scotland feels warm and pleasant. After this introduction and the possible photo shoot, you can continue the route.

The Jed Water (rp 7) is a river that travels with you for some time once you have crossed the border of Scotland, both to the left and right of the route. In total, the Jed Water is more than 35 kilometers long. The river flows into the Teviot ** at Jedfoot Bridge, two miles north of Jedburgh.
** The River Teviot, or Teviot Water, is a river in the Scottish Borders and is the largest tributary of the River Tweed. The Teviot is an important river for wildlife, especially the Atlantic salmon, but has witnessed at least four extreme flooding in recent years.

Then it is time to have a cup of coffee. A great opportunity for this is the Abbey Bridge Coffee House (rp 8). If you like stoves or multi-burners, you can also view different models here.
After coffee you can continue the route and enjoy the beautiful landscapes again.
At route point 10 there is the possibility for lovers of beautiful gardens to make a stop or to simply stretch their legs. You will then arrive at Carolside gardens, which has been cultivated for over 200 years. Today it is best known for its soft and delicate herbaceous plants, striking Delphinium beds and subtle color schemes, designing rooms with a secret garden, winter garden and herb garden with leopard trees and yellow and white roses. Expansive lawns lead to an oval walled garden which houses a historic collection of ancient roses, including a national collection of Gallica roses from before 1900. The gardens have been described as “one of the finest private gardens in Scotland”.

About 10 kilometers further on you will come to Thirlestane Castle (rp 12), a beautiful 16th-century castle set in peaceful pastureland in the Scottish Borders, just over half an hour south of Edinburgh. The history of the land on which Thirlestane Castle now stands dates back to at least the 12th century, and later a large border fortress was built on the site to defend Edinburgh's approach from the south.
The route then takes you via the ring road around Eddenburgh in South Queensferry, a beautiful harbor town where you can have lunch at (rp 15). Bikers Cove nestled in a secluded courtyard close to Hawes Pier. The Cove is run by motorcyclists for motorcyclists. It is known as a wonderful meeting place with a welcoming atmosphere and nice, friendly staff. There is plenty of parking space and you have a nice view of the Forth Road bridge, a suspension bridge for car traffic and the Forth bridge (2.46 km long railway suspension bridge). See also the photo of the Header.
The bridge spans the Firth of Forth and connects Edinburgh, in South Queensferry, with Fife, in North Queensferry.
After lunch there is the possibility to fill the tank at rp 18, a BP pump.
A little further you will pass a nature reserve, the Lochleven Nature Reserve (rp 25).
Loch Leven is in a convenient central location offering visitors excellent value for money combining all the ingredients essential to a fun yet relaxing Scottish holiday whatever your age or interests as there are many activities near Loch Leven for something for everyone.

Then it is only a short drive to the final destination, the Scottish contours start to pass you by like a movie. After an inspiring day, it is time to visit the overnight place, the Bein inn. It is a kind of inn, a great location to spend the night and enjoy a good meal. In the evening you can look back on a beautiful day while enjoying a drink.

Along the route there are several options to stop for a cup of coffee, something to eat or take a photo. The places where we stopped I have included in the details.

I gave the route 4 stars, a nice route with beautiful views, but also for the impressive sights, some of which are included in the route. Especially the border region of Scotland is certainly worthwhile.

Particularities:

rp 6 Border Scotland
rp 8 Abbey Bridge Coffee House
rp 10 Carolside gardens
rp 12 Thirlestane Castle
rp 15_16 Bikers Cove
rp 18 BP gas station
rp 25 Loch Leven Nature
rp 28 B&B Bein inn