Scotland: Back to the Homeland - August 10-23, 2014

In August 2014, my nephew Kevin and I went on a 2-week adventure back to the land of our ancestors. I'm only about 3 years behind in posting, but better late than never!

Waiting for Our Flight

Day 1: We left Jacksonville, Florida, and headed off to Scotland today. Both of us have been to Scotland before, but this is the first time we've traveled together. Looking forward to having a great time!

View from Our Hotel

Day 2: We arrived in Edinburgh bright and early and stopped by our hotel to drop off our bags. From our room, we had great views of Edinburgh Castle, which is the subject of several Philatelic Photographs, and the Edinburgh Big Wheel, a huge Ferris Wheel that offers great views of the old town. We left the hotel quickly and started exploring. We climbed up the 124 steps of the News Steps, an Outdoor Stairway that takes you from the Grassmarket area where our hotel was located to the vicinity of the historic Royal Mile. Oh boy, was I out of breath by the time we reached the top!

St. Giles' Cathedral

One of our first stops was the Museum of Edinburgh, a History Museum that houses a collection relating to the town's origins, history, and legends. We also went inside the beautiful St. Giles' Cathedral, an Old Church that is actually a Medieval Church dating from the 14th century and boasting a distinctive crown Steeple. Near the cathedral was a Mercat Cross (or Market Cross) that is listed on the Historic Scotland register.

Greyfriars Bobby

Soon after, we stopped for lunch at a small restaurant and, while we were eating, we spotted a Fountain with a Dog Statue outside. Turns out it was Greyfriars Bobby, a Skye terrier that became known in the 19th century for spending 14 years guarding the grave of its owner until he died himself in January 1872. Such a sweet story...

Kevin doing a little taste testing

After wandering around a bit, we spotted a building with the name The Scotch Whisky Experience. Well, who could resist finding out what that was about? We couldn't. In addition to learning about whisky making, we got to do a little taste testing, which is what we were hoping for! An interesting fact: this Official Local Tourism Attraction is home to the World’s Largest Collection of Scotch Whisky, featuring 3,384 bottles, a Superlative location for certain and a nice way to end the day!

Gneiss Boulder

Day 3: Another great day for exploring Edinburgh. We started out with a walk through the Princes Street Gardens, where I spotted a Bandshell, a Soroptimist Bench, a Lions Club bench, a Fountain, a World War I Memorial, and a Gift from Another Country of all things. The gift was a gneiss boulder that was presented to the city in September 1978 by the Norwegian Army. According to the inscription, this Rock and Mineral Display "was brought here from Norway where it was worn and shaped for thousands of years by force of nature -frost, running water, rock, sand and ice- until it obtained its present shape."

Holyroodhouse

After our gardens stroll, we decided to take a Hop On Hop Off bus tour. One of our hop off points was at the Holyroodhouse, the palace where Queen Elizabeth spends 1 week in residence each summer. Since it was raining at the time, it was a good time to do an inside tour!

U.K. Trigpoint on Calton Hill

We also climbed to the top of Calton Hill today. I thought I was going to have a coronary! Thankfully, my very fit nephew took pity on me, and we took several breaks on the way up. What a fantastic view from the top! It was well worth the agony of the climb to enjoy this Scenic Overlook. While we were up there, I spotted a U.K. Trigpoint, not too surprising given the elevation at this location. I also found an Orientation Table, a U.K. Historical Marker, a couple of Citizen Memorials, a couple of Dead Poet's Society Memorials, and a Cairn. Wow, I had no idea there would be so many waymarks up here!

Kevin on Calton Hill

Sherlock Holmes

Some other fun finds of the day were the Melville Monument, a Freestanding Column in St. Andrew Square that commemorates Henry Dundas, the first Viscount Melville. We also spotted a U.K. Historical Marker on a house stating this was the Childhood Home of James Nasmyth, inventor of the steam hammer. We also stopped to check out a statue of Famous Fictional Character Sherlock Holmes, which also happened to be a Citizen Memorial and a Dead Poet's Society Memorial for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Kevin getting the whip!

After a long day, we decided we still hadn't had enough so we took a ghost tour around Old Town. It was so much fun! Kevin and another guy even got whipped by the tour guide for being disruptive! Okay, so she was just demonstrating how people sometimes were punished in the old days. But trust me, Kevin deserved it. 😉

Sandy at an Aberlemno Stone

Day 4: Time to leave Edinburgh and start making our way to the Scottish Highlands. Our goal today was to reach Aberdeen, where we had reservations at an Inn just south of the city. We had a lot of scenic views along the way, but only really made one stop. It was at the Aberlemno Sculptured Stones, a series of medieval standing stones found in the village of Aberlemno. These ancient pictish sculptured stones, which are listed on the Historic Scotland register, depicted a hunting scene, a battle scene between an army of men with long hair, and an army of men wearing helmets. What a nice surprise to come across while taking the back roads to our location! By the time we got to The Old Mill Inn, it was getting late and it started to rain. Time to grab some dinner at the Inn and call it a day.

Dunnottar Castle

Day 5: Bright and early this morning, we headed to Dunnottar Castle in Stonehaven along the North Sea coast. I've been to several castles over the past couple of years, and this one is by far is my favorite. Not only are the castle ruins amazing, but the views here are spectacular! As you might expect, several of the structures at the castle are listed on the Historic Scotland register. Also not surprising, there were several U.K. Historical Markers here, as well as an Outdoor Stairway and an old Sundial.

Sandy & Kevin at Dunnottar Castle

Before heading into downtown Aberdeen, we made about an hour stop at the Gordon Highlanders Museum. Outside this History Museum was a Blue Plaque honoring Sir George Reid, a Scottish artist who's former home the museum now occupies. Soon after, we made our way into the downtown area. Finding a place to park was a bit challenging, but we finally found a parking garage with spaces available. We won't go into detail about the complete freakout moment I had trying to park the car in one of the extremely tight spaces. 😅

In Aberdeen we spotted several Statues of Historic Figures, including William Wallace, Monarchs Prince Albert and Edward VII, and Dead Poet Robert Burns. We also found another Mercat Cross in Aberdeen; it had a unicorn, a Mythical Being, on it! After finding a couple more Blue Plaques, we called it a day and made our way to our hotel.

Old Bridge of Livet

Day 6: Back on the road again, we began our journey to Inverness. While taking the back roads, we came across the Old Bridge of Livet. This Stone Bridge is also known as the Packhorse Bridge and is an Arch Bridge, as well as an Orphaned Bridge, with a U.K. Historical Marker. The bridge is believed to date back to the late 16th century and is the oldest surviving structure to cross the River Livet.

Kevin at the Clan Macpherson Museum

Our next stop was one of our key objectives of the trip: the Clan Macpherson Museum in Newtonmore. This History Museum includes fascinating information about our family's ancestors. We spent several hours here and met some very very friendly long lost relatives, including one from the USA who was here volunteering for the month. They told us about the nearby Macpherson Cairn so we headed over to check it out before leaving the area. The fenced area surrounding the cairn has a wonderful Gate of Distinction. At the top of the gate is the Clan Macpherson emblem in black and gold with the clan's motto "Touch Not the Cat But a Glove." Oh! And there was an Orientation Table here!

Touch Not the Cat But a Glove

Findhorn Viaduct

We continued making our way west and stopped at a couple of beautiful Railroad Bridges that are on the Historic Scotland register. One, Tomatin Railway Viaduct, was both a Stone Bridge and Arch Bridge. The other, Findhorn Viaduct, was a Truss Bridge.

Tomatin Railway Viaduct

Fortrose Cathedral

Soon after, we arrived at our Bed & Breakfast and then made a quick run out for dinner and a little bit of exploring in the nearby Fortrose. We walked along the beach for a little while and spotted the Chanonry Point Lighthouse at Henry Point on Moray Firth. To round out the day, we wandered through the Fortrose Cathedral ruins. These Preserved Ruins of a Medieval Church from the 13th century are listed on the Historic Scotland register. The Churchyard Cemetery has some interesting headstones, both inside the church and on the church grounds. Time to call it a day!

Beauly Priory

Day 7: This morning we headed into Beauly where we parked next to a Boer War Memorial. Very convenient! Nearby was yet another Mercat Cross that is listed on the Historic Scotland register -- I think this was our third one of the trip, but not the last! Just off the parking area was the Beauly Priory. This Medieval Church was constructed in the 13th century and, not surprisingly, is listed on the Historic Scotland register. Today, these Preserved Ruins of the abbey church and the Churchyard Cemetery are all that remain. Inside the ruins was a holy water stoup, a Stone Church Artifact.

Sandy in the Corrimony Chambered Cairn

Moving along, we passed by the Kilmorack Dam, a Water Dam that includes a Hydroelectric Power Station, located on the River Beauly in the small hamlet of Kilmorack. Then, a quick stop at the Kiltarlity Church Preserved Ruins and Churchyard Cemetery. Next, we moved onto the Corrimony Chambered Cairn. This Megalithic Monument is an excavated passage grave of probable Bronze Age date located in the small village of Corrimony. Not long after, we stumbled upon a large stone Citizen Memorial with a semicircular stone horse trough (accepted under the Historic Upping Stones, Hitching Posts, and Carriage Blocks category) and two water fountains in the village of Tomich. Also in the village was a Red Telephone Box! Sweet. About 5 km southwest of Tomich, we saw a sign for the Plodda Falls, a 46-meter high Waterfall on the Allt na Bodachan near where it flows into the Abhainn Deabhag, which in turn joins with the River Affric to form the River Glass. So pretty.

We finally made our way to Loch Ness (no sign of Nessie!) and stopped to wander around

Urquhart Castle Dovecote

the Urquhart Castle near the village of Drumnadrochit. On the grounds were the ruins of a Dovecote (Scots: Doocot), which wasn't a waymarking category at the time of our visit, but one was in the works and it eventually became one. According to a sign on the dovecote, this "beehive-shaped home for pigeons was built in the 1500s to provide fresh meat and eggs during the harsh winter months. Four of its stone nesting boxes survive."

Urquhart Castle

Selfie with Inverness Castle

We ended the day in Inverness, where we took in the views of Inverness Castle. The castle is featured on the back of £50 notes that were first issued by the Royal Bank of Scotland in 2005. So, of course, we took a Numismatic Photograph. While there, we did a little souvenir shopping. Kevin looked quite fetching in a tam. We also spotted a few Historic Scotland properties, as well as an Electric Bike Charging Station, which later became a waymarking category. It never hurts to be prepared!
 

Kevin Styling in a Tam

Selfie with Eilean Donan Castle

Day 8: Although we have enjoyed every place we've visited so far, we were really looking forward to today's destination... the Isle of Skye. Just shy of reaching Skye, we spotted a sign for the Eilean Donan Castle, which is located on a small tidal island where three lochs (Loch Duich, Loch Long, and Loch Alsh) meet. Interestingly enough, the castle was featured on a Gambia postage stamp in 2013. After taking my Philatelic Photograph, we walked over the Stone Bridge to the island and explored both inside and out despite the rain.

WWI Memorial Cat

Giant Angus MacAskill Museum

Next on to Dunvegan on Skye to check into our Bed & Breakfast. Afterward, we explored Dunvegan and wandered around the Dunvegan Church Preserved Ruins and Churchyard Cemetery, the town's WWI Memorial (where I met and befriended an adorable fur person), a UK Post Office, and a Thatch Cottage that houses the Giant Angus MacAskill Museum, an Oddball Museum dedicated to the tallest Scotsman in history. Angus MacAskill was born in 1825 and grew to 7'9" tall. Last (and probably least), we spotted a Bear Statue at the Lockside Crafts and Tea Room.

Portree Mercat Cross

We also took a jaunt over to Portree where we spotted our fourth Mercat Cross of the trip. This one was a Non-specific Veteran Memorial honoring local soldiers who fought in WWI, WWII and the Korean War. It had a Lion Statue atop it and is listed on the Historic Scotland register. We also spotted a Dead Poet's Society Memorial for Mary MacPherson on a hotel along the Portree Harbour that was her final home. We discovered that she is the best known Gaelic poet of the 19th century. One of our distant relatives perhaps?

Fairy Glen

Day 9: Today, we mostly explored the natural beauty of the Isle of Skye. Although it was still raining at times, there was not nearly as much rain as yesterday. We went to the Fairy Pools, which are a natural waterfall phenomenon in Glen Brittle. We also went to Fairy Glen, a strange and enchanted landscape created by a landslip and by far my favorite natural site on the island.

Dun Beag Broch

Day 10: Before leaving Skye today, we stopped at Dun Beag, an Iron Age broch (a drystone hollow-walled structure) located near the village of Struan on the west coast of Skye. The walk to these Preserved Ruins through a sheep pasture was quite slippery from all the rain, but we managed to reach it without falling. Good thing because the sheep had left lots of little presents for us around the pasture.

Yep, that's the Glenfinnian Viaduct

We only made one other stop on our journey to Oban today, and it was at the Glenfinnian Viaduct, a Railroad Bridge that was built in 1897-1898 and was featured in three of the Harry Potter films while students were on the Hogwarts Express. The viaduct is an Arch Bridge that was featured on a Bank of Scotland £10 note, so I had to take a Numismatic Photograph while here!

McCaig Tower

Day 11: Although we went into Oban for dinner last night, we didn't see much of the city, so today we set out to remedy that before moving on to Alexandria. We started by visiting the McCaig Tower, a prominent tower on Battery Hill, which overlooks Oban, and was constructed from 1897 to 1902. The tower is on the Historic Scotland register and is a Satellite Imagery Oddity. Nice views from here! We also stopped by the Oban Distillery, an Oban Brewery established in 1794 that is also on the Historic Scotland register.

Falls of Falloch

By now, it was time to start the drive to Alexandria. We only made one stop along the route, and it was at the Falls of Falloch near the village of Crianlarich. This Waterfall is 30 ft high and offers a very nice respite for weary travelers. After checking into our hotel in Alexandria, we drove to the town of Balloch for some dinner and couldn't resist taking a walk around the Balloch Castle Country Park, where we enjoyed not only the Castle but some wonderful views of Loch Lomond. Couldn't help but have the lovely, but sad song "The Bonnie Banks o' Loch Lomond" running through my head.

Loch Lomond

Glasgow Town Hall

Day 12: Today we continued our eastward travel back toward Edinburgh for our flight home in a couple of days. We made a stop in Glasgow and wandered around there a bit. Our first stop was the Glasgow Central Station, a beautiful Train Station with a Town Clock inside. Then we moved on to George Square where the Town Hall is located. While there, we spotted several Monarchs of the World (Prince Consort Albert, Queen Victoria, Robert Peel, Sir Walter Scott, and Lord Clyde). The Sir Walter Scott statue was a very nice Freestanding Column placed in honor of this Dead Poet. We also spotted several other Statues of Historic Figures. This square was full of statues!

Falkirk Wheel

Back in the car, we next made our way to Falkirk, where we stopped to see the Falkirk Wheel and took a Numismatic Photograph of it since it is found on the back of £50 notes that were issued by the Royal Bank of Scotland in 2007. The Falkirk Wheel is a rotating Boat Lift that connects the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal. We also took a stroll through the nearby Rough Castle Canal Tunnel in Union Canal and waved to boat passengers as they went by. We then spotted a sign for the Antonine Wall and went to see what it was. It turns out that the wall was built nearly 2,000 years ago in the year 142. It is a stone and turf fortification built by the Romans across what is now the Central Belt of Scotland and represents the northernmost frontier barrier of the Roman Empire. This sign of an Ancient Roman Civilization is a World Heritage Site that is also listed on the Historic Scotland register. There were a few UK Historical Markers at the site to help us learn about its history.

Cross Well

By now it was time to get back on the road and head to Linlithgow, where we would be staying at a B&B for the next 2 nights. We had a few hours before and after dinner to wander around this charming town. We spotted a plaque representing a Sister City Monument for the twin cities of Linlithgow and Guyancourt Vennel in France. We also spotted a Community Commemoration plaque on the Cross Well commemorating Linlithgow's 600 years (1389-1989) as a Royal Burgh. This Draw Well was made in 1807 by a one-handed stonemason as an Exact Replica of a previous well dating from 1535. Just behind the Cross Well was the Ancient Brazen Lodge No. 17, one of the oldest Masonic Temples in Scotland.

We ended the day at Linlithgow Palace. This Castle was built in the 15th century and was the birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots, in December 1542, making it a Presidential Birthplace! It turns out that the infant queen remained only seven months at her Childhood Home in Linlithgow before being taken by her mother to the greater security of Stirling Castle, and it was 20 years before she returned.

Linlithgow Palace

Day 13: Sadly, today was our last full day in Scotland. We had a nice time wandering around the Linlithgow and Roslin areas. It was a beautiful, sunny day with only a couple of short rain showers with temperatures in the low to mid 60's. We enjoyed it while we could because we knew we'd soon be back in the sweltering heat of Florida!

Rosslyn Chapel

My favorite stop was the Rosslyn Chapel. This Old Church is a Medieval Church that was built in the mid-15th century. It is a former Roman Catholic Church that is now an Episcopal Church, and it was one of the filming sites for the Da Vinci Code movie. It is believed by many to have a connection to the Knights Templar, making it a Legacy of Medieval Spiritual Warriors location. Best of all at this site is William the Chapel Cat. He deigned us with a brief appearance as we were getting ready to depart. How cool is that?!!

 

William the Chapel Cat

Cairnpapple Hill

On our way back to Linlithgow, we spotted a sign for the Cairnpapple Hill located near Torphichen. This historic Cairn was used from about 3000 BC to 1400 BC, first as a ceremonial site then several centuries later as a burial site. According to Historic Scotland, Cairnpapple Hill is one of the most important prehistoric sites in mainland Scotland. Visitors are allowed to climb down a ladder that takes you inside what was once a solid cairn to see the reconstructed graves.

Kevin inside Cairnpapple Hill

Kevin enjoying Haggis

We finished off the day with dinner at the Old Post Office Bar, a former UK Post Office listed on the Historic Scotland register, where Kevin his last Scottish meal, haggis of course! Being a vegetarian, I opted to skip that delicacy!

Day 14: This morning, we drove to the Edinburgh International Airport for our trip back home. We had such a fun time during our 2-week trip. I wonder if we'll ever come back to Scotland?