About FunkyEllas Travel
My name is Nicola, I’m a Scottish travel writer and blogger based in Fife, Scotland. Travelling around Scotland, I love to search out beautiful sunrises, hidden gems, amazing food and fascinating tales. I like to find things that are a bit different, unusual and a bit funky. I hope to inspire readers to visit Scotland, to climb the mountains in the Highlands, to swim in the lochs, to drink cocktails on a night out in Edinburgh, to search for wildlife in the wilderness up north, to discover the gripping history by visiting the many stunning castles and ancient villages, to listen to the spellbinding stories of ghosts and fairies.
I want people to come to Scotland to try the delicious local foods, in charming little cafes and Michelin star restaurants, to visit the rolling hills, enchanting rivers, and mysterious forests used in countless movies and TV shows, to experience the hustle and bustle and unique atmosphere of Glasgow, where modern architecture meets Victorian and where the world class shopping is as impressive as their remarkable array of art galleries. I want people to experience getting lost in the winding cobbles alleyways of Edinburgh’s Old Town, to spend the evening with drinks in St Andrews square or to see a top class musical in the city’s Playhouse. I want people to come, stay and enjoy this beautiful country and with this site I aim to help people do just that.
On my blog I share tales of places I have been, my recommendations for the best places to eat and stay in Scotland, road trips I've been on, quirky villages I've found. and photos I've taken along the way. I also don't always stay in Scotland and share my blogs from trips I've taken further afield in the Beyond Scotland section
I want people to come to Scotland to try the delicious local foods, in charming little cafes and Michelin star restaurants, to visit the rolling hills, enchanting rivers, and mysterious forests used in countless movies and TV shows, to experience the hustle and bustle and unique atmosphere of Glasgow, where modern architecture meets Victorian and where the world class shopping is as impressive as their remarkable array of art galleries. I want people to experience getting lost in the winding cobbles alleyways of Edinburgh’s Old Town, to spend the evening with drinks in St Andrews square or to see a top class musical in the city’s Playhouse. I want people to come, stay and enjoy this beautiful country and with this site I aim to help people do just that.
On my blog I share tales of places I have been, my recommendations for the best places to eat and stay in Scotland, road trips I've been on, quirky villages I've found. and photos I've taken along the way. I also don't always stay in Scotland and share my blogs from trips I've taken further afield in the Beyond Scotland section
I haven't been everywhere, but it's on my list
Why the name 'FunkyEllas'?
Ella was my aunt, who, after working in Falkland Palace, arranging flowers and owning a flower business in St Andrews, inspired me to travel Scotland, the Scotland she loved. She was always full of stories about the places she visited and the people she met. She was one hell of a woman. Now she has passed I wanted to find a way to honour her memory so named my blog after her.
I love to find things that are a bit "funky", out of the ordinary and off the beaten track, I also just really like the word.
I love to find things that are a bit "funky", out of the ordinary and off the beaten track, I also just really like the word.
A bit about me
I was born in Fife which is about 30 minutes north of Edinburgh, across those stunning Forth Bridges. I live in Kirkcaldy, quite a big town but I'm on the outskirts so it's nice and quiet, but has easy access to everything I need. It's also right on the Fife Coastal Path which means there are loads of really nice beaches to escape to when I need to de-stress.
I have a daughter, Taylor, who is now 16, who loves to travel around as much as I do. That's all I'll say because being a typical teenage she won't be impressed if I write much more! I also travel with my dog, Crusoe, who is a typical border collie, full of beans and clever as hell.
I started this blog after years of not being able to figure out what I wanted to do. I knew I loved to write, take photographs, and travel around to discover new places but what I didn't know was that blogs even existed. So I can thank Brooke from World of Wanderlust for opening my eyes to the world of blogging. Once I read her blog and googled a few more I knew I wanted my own. That was almost three years ago and I love what I do.
I have a daughter, Taylor, who is now 16, who loves to travel around as much as I do. That's all I'll say because being a typical teenage she won't be impressed if I write much more! I also travel with my dog, Crusoe, who is a typical border collie, full of beans and clever as hell.
I started this blog after years of not being able to figure out what I wanted to do. I knew I loved to write, take photographs, and travel around to discover new places but what I didn't know was that blogs even existed. So I can thank Brooke from World of Wanderlust for opening my eyes to the world of blogging. Once I read her blog and googled a few more I knew I wanted my own. That was almost three years ago and I love what I do.
- I love love LOVE to travel and discover new places. I hate not having a trip to look forward to which is why I'm usually googling a new trip before I have finished the last.
- You won't ever find me lounging on a sun lounger, I've tried... I get bored with in 30 minutes. I'm not made to relax, I'm made to explore!
- I have a fairly long bucket list of things I'd like to do in Scotland including paddleboarding.
- I'm a bit of a Disney fan. Other than the Scottish Highlands it's the happiest place on earth.
- I'm also slightly addicted to Harry Potter.
- I like to think I'm a minimalist. I try to keep the things I own to the bare minimum. I get stressed out by 'stuff'. As long as I have my car, mac and phone I'm good.
- Saying that I have a pretty bad addiction to stationary. That's my vice.
- I love crazy weather. The huge thunderstorms in Florida when i go are brilliant.
- I hate Irn bru. Give me haggis and a dram any day but I won't thank you for a can of the orange stuff 🤮.
- My dog's name is Crusoe but we call him > Bubu, bubs, crus-crus, bub, bob, chubster, cutie....
