Last time on the blog I chased body snatchers. This time I am stalking hairy coos.

Scotland Series: Part 2

In my last post, we went deep into Scotland’s medical underworld: body snatchers, graveyards, and the grim stories that cling to Edinburgh’s cobbled streets. This next chapter in my Scotland series is a lot fuzzier, literally. Instead of hunting down grave robbers in the archives, I am getting ready to stand in a Highland field, face to face with one of Scotland’s most beloved residents: the Highland cow, or as the locals say, the “hairy coo.”

I am still in planning mode for this trip, but that is exactly why I am writing about it now. I want to bring you along for the anticipation: the research, the daydreaming, and the moments I know I will be obsessing over when I finally land in Scotland.

What exactly is a “hairy coo”?

If you have ever saved a photo of a shaggy, ginger haired cow with a long fringe and serious model energy, that is our star. Highland cows are an ancient Scottish breed, created to survive rough weather, sparse grazing, and winters that would send most of us straight to a sunny beach. Their thick double coat keeps them warm outdoors all year, and their sweeping horns help them dig through snow and defend themselves.

But the reason they are at the top of my must see list is their personality. Even through a screen, they look both majestic and slightly ridiculous, in the best possible way. I am fully prepared to be judged by a cow with better bangs than mine.

Where I will be meeting them

On this upcoming FAM trip I will be heading to a Highland estate experience that includes a “hairy coo safari.” I will meet a countryside guide at the estate, then follow them out to the working farm, trading tour buses for country roads. From there, we will walk to the fields while the guide calls the cattle over. If they are in the mood, the coos will wander up to the fence to say hello and pose for photos.

It is not a petting zoo setup. It is a peek into real Highland farm life. I love that this is not just “here is an animal, snap a pic,” but a chance to see how these iconic cows actually fit into everyday life in the Highlands.

What I am hoping to experience

Here is what I am imagining now and planning content around:

• Muddy boots, crisp air, and that first glimpse of shaggy shapes moving across the field

• A guide who knows every cow by name and has stories about their quirks, pecking order, and family drama

• Getting close enough to really see the texture of their coats, the curve of their horns, and the slow, steady way they move

I am already filing away questions to ask: how long the herd has been on the estate, how the seasons affect them, and what a typical day looks like for both the farmers and the coos. All of that will feed the follow up post I write after I have actually been there.