Last September, Atlas Obscura traveler Janis Schubert visited the Scottish Highlands and wrote about a moment of surprising peace. Since then, the world has changed a great deal, but moments of serenity are more important than ever. Janis’s experience from Scotland: Highland Clans and the Trail of Tartan is a reminder that we can try to seek peace in small ways, like on a morning walk through a garden.

My normal life in the southwestern US tends to be fairly stressful, with a demanding job taking up most of my time and energy. When I planned this trip to Scotland, I wasn’t sure I could turn it all off and just sit back and enjoy the ride. During our three-day stay at Assynt House near Inverness, a city at the heart of the Highlands, I found the answer to that question.

There was something almost magical about the place. I felt connected to the 18th century history. Each morning, thanks to our guide Ross Jennings, we were met with the sound of bagpipes.

The food was wonderful, as was the camaraderie. The lush grounds and beautiful Scottish Highland setting felt like another world. It was as if my other life no longer existed, or was so far away it was of no consequence!

On the morning we were set to depart, I got up early and walked through the gardens in the misty dawn. I saw several deer silently bounding through the nearby woods, sheep grazing on the hillside, and flowers greeting the dawn. It was the most peaceful and contented feeling I have felt in a long time and it made this trip especially memorable. In my mind, I can go back to that morning in Scotland and feel that peace again. I can’t wait to return and explore more of this beautiful country!