18 Jun 2009
My Scotland Tour 2009
Here's the the usual introductory post with pictures of places I've visited.
I've been adding links to longer posts when I write them.
Edinburgh Castle
I started with Edinburgh. I had visited town and castle back in 1998, but this time the weather was much nicer. Edinburgh is also a good starting point to explore some places in the surroundings.
Dunfermline Abbey
A Romanesque church and some lovely ruins with lots of history behind them.
Craigmillar Castle near Edinburgh
This one, in the outskirts of Edinburgh, is less well known, overshadowed by its bigger brother, but Craigmillar Caslte is a pretty place to go on a sunny afternoon.
Inchcolm Abbey
The ferry trip to Inchcolm in the Firth of Forth was a bit rough, but I don't mind that. I got a mix of sunshine and horizontal rain and bought a cape at the tourist info. They know why they sell them there.
Linlithgow Palace
One of Mary Queen of Scots' favourite palaces. It takes some imagination to see those ruins full of people in colourful clothes, singing, courting, having fun. And the occasional sombre Puritan.
Stirling Castle
Another castle I revisited. The great hall was scaffolded in in 1998, so I was curious to see the result of the renovation work.
Dunkeld
Those ruins are steeped in history. And very peaceful nowadays. I was lucky to pick a time with no tourists around to ruin the atmosphere.
Doune Castle
Half of an afternoon left over and a nice taxi driver who made me a bargain price added Doune Castle to the list. Just well there was no filming going on - it is a popular destination as film setting.
Antonine Wall
Of course, I needed to visit the wall the Romans left behind.
Roman bath at Bearsden / Glasgow
And another Roman bath for the collection. Aelius Rufus approves. :-)
Hunterian Museum, Glasgow
The Hunterian Museum shows a lot of historical artifacts from the Picts to the Romans and beyond. I had not so much time; one could stay there much longer.
Glasgow Cathedral
The cathedral needs a good sandblasting, but the interior is very nice.
Duart Castle, Mull
The next days I spent in Oban from where I explored some interesting places. Like Duart Castle on Mull which can be reached by a ferry tour.
Dunadd Hillfort
Dunadd, the ancient royal seat of the Dalriatan kings. A steep walk up, but well worth the effort. And the weather played nice, too.
Dunstaffnage Castle, near Oban
Another big castle right outside of Oban.
Staffa
There are combined tours that take you to Staffa and Iona via Mull by bus and ship. A tour I'd recommend provided you don't get seasick easily. The waters between Mull, Staffa and Iona tend to be on the rough side.
Iona
Iona, the ancient religious centre, is just stunning.
Inveraray Castle
Seat of the Campbell chiefs. No wonder I had to visit that castle.
The last two aren't in Scotland, but I picked them up on my way back from Newcastle to Amsterdam.
Arbeia Roman Fort
More Romans. I had visited Segedunum (Wallsend) in 2007, so it was fitting to explore the other shore of the Tyne this time.
Tynemouth Priory
Picturesque ruins in the sunshine. I love taking photos of those and sometimes just walking around.
And they were everywhere
Though usually not posing for a photo as nicely as here. ¶ June 18, 2009
Here's the the usual introductory post with pictures of places I've visited.
I've been adding links to longer posts when I write them.
I started with Edinburgh. I had visited town and castle back in 1998, but this time the weather was much nicer. Edinburgh is also a good starting point to explore some places in the surroundings.
A Romanesque church and some lovely ruins with lots of history behind them.
This one, in the outskirts of Edinburgh, is less well known, overshadowed by its bigger brother, but Craigmillar Caslte is a pretty place to go on a sunny afternoon.
The ferry trip to Inchcolm in the Firth of Forth was a bit rough, but I don't mind that. I got a mix of sunshine and horizontal rain and bought a cape at the tourist info. They know why they sell them there.
One of Mary Queen of Scots' favourite palaces. It takes some imagination to see those ruins full of people in colourful clothes, singing, courting, having fun. And the occasional sombre Puritan.
Another castle I revisited. The great hall was scaffolded in in 1998, so I was curious to see the result of the renovation work.
Those ruins are steeped in history. And very peaceful nowadays. I was lucky to pick a time with no tourists around to ruin the atmosphere.
Half of an afternoon left over and a nice taxi driver who made me a bargain price added Doune Castle to the list. Just well there was no filming going on - it is a popular destination as film setting.
Of course, I needed to visit the wall the Romans left behind.
And another Roman bath for the collection. Aelius Rufus approves. :-)
The Hunterian Museum shows a lot of historical artifacts from the Picts to the Romans and beyond. I had not so much time; one could stay there much longer.
The cathedral needs a good sandblasting, but the interior is very nice.
The next days I spent in Oban from where I explored some interesting places. Like Duart Castle on Mull which can be reached by a ferry tour.
Dunadd, the ancient royal seat of the Dalriatan kings. A steep walk up, but well worth the effort. And the weather played nice, too.
Another big castle right outside of Oban.
There are combined tours that take you to Staffa and Iona via Mull by bus and ship. A tour I'd recommend provided you don't get seasick easily. The waters between Mull, Staffa and Iona tend to be on the rough side.
Iona, the ancient religious centre, is just stunning.
Seat of the Campbell chiefs. No wonder I had to visit that castle.
The last two aren't in Scotland, but I picked them up on my way back from Newcastle to Amsterdam.
More Romans. I had visited Segedunum (Wallsend) in 2007, so it was fitting to explore the other shore of the Tyne this time.
Picturesque ruins in the sunshine. I love taking photos of those and sometimes just walking around.
Though usually not posing for a photo as nicely as here. ¶ June 18, 2009
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Woo, Dunkeld. I found that a very unsettling place. I'll be interested to know what you made of it.
# posted by 
: June 19, 2009
: June 19, 2009
Fantastic photos!!! So is there not much left at all of Antonine's Wall? Looks like you had pretty weather too!
(lessy)
(lessy)
Alianore, I loved Dunfermline, too, but I admit my favourite of the first week was Inchcolm, horizontal rain nonewithstanding.
Jonathan, can't say I found it unsettling. In fact, I thought it was a quiet, charming place not so different from Dryburgh which I visited ten years ago.
Lol yes, Lessy, , there is sunshine in Scotland. Though it tends to miss on the locals. ;)
Jonathan, can't say I found it unsettling. In fact, I thought it was a quiet, charming place not so different from Dryburgh which I visited ten years ago.
Lol yes, Lessy, , there is sunshine in Scotland. Though it tends to miss on the locals. ;)
I think I looked at too many gravestones in the ruined bit of Dunkeld abbey listing children who didn't even get names. It stank of the cruelty of inadequate memory, forgotten human beings in abandoned graves put into a ruined building, all endeavours proving transient and so on. And then went in and found the tenth-century stone with its Munch-like staring faces. Maybe I was just having a strange day. Glad you liked it anyway!
# posted by : June 20, 2009
: June 20, 2009
I didn't look at the gravestones in such detail. More taking in the overall atmosphere, and that was peaceful.
But I can see how such a place can be unsettling.
But I can see how such a place can be unsettling.
I would hate to dust those places... other than that - I want a castle!
The grandest thing I have over here is a tall tree.
The grandest thing I have over here is a tall tree.
You wouldn't like to heat them in winter, either. :) It costs a fortune to keep even a few rooms warm.
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