Category: Scotland
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Ben Klibreck
Amidst the banter of hill-walkers, there arises a spirited debate over the most northerly hill on the British mainland. The Munro enthusiasts make a compelling case for Ben Hope, indisputably crowned as the most northern Munro, with Ben Klibreck, pronounced ‘kee-bree’, coming a close second. As fortune would have it, I beheld that illustrious peak…
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Ben Vrackie
The secluded Loch a’ Choire, with the 841m high Corbett, Ben Vrackie, serving as a picturesque backdrop. Ben Vrackie — the ‘speckled hill’. Loch a’ Choire is in fact a reservoir, first shown on OS maps in the 1920s. The rationale behind its damming remains elusive; I suspect a potential motive might be centred on…
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St Abb’s Head
This is St Abb’s Head, a rugged headland in the Scottish Borders, renowned for its bustling seabird sanctuary, boasting a population of over 60,000 winged residents. Among its craggy stacks, guillemots and razorbills establish their nests, while the majestic kittiwakes favour the towering cliff faces. Yet, amidst this natural spectacle, I later discovered a historical…
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The Ancient Town of Leith
Ancient town of Leith, most wonderful to be seen,With your many handsome buildings, and lovely links so green,And the first buildings I may mention are the Courthouse and Town Hall,Also Trinity House, and the Sailors’ Home of Call. Then as for Leith Fort, it was erected in 1779, which is really grand,And which is now…
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Blackness Castle
Blackness Castle stands proudly on the banks of the Forth, in the quaint village of Blackness. This sombre, charcoal-coloured edifice carries a rich history with it. Originally, it belonged to the Black Douglas, but King James II of Scotland wrested it from that family’s grasp. It remained under the dominion of the royal family for…
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Lochan of the Lost Sword
Beneath the reflections of the autumnal hues rests an abandoned sword, a long-sword, the claymore that belonged to Robert the Bruce. Near this wee loch lies Dal Righ, a place of flat, marshy meadow, where Bruce and what remained of his army were ambushed by Clan MacDougall in the summer of 1306. Bruce had already…
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‘The White Hoose’
If you’re ever find yourself travelling along the East Coast Main Railway Line, look out for this salmon fishermen’s bothy. It’s perched about a mile or so north of the English-Scottish border, atop a prominent level spur, overlooking the rocky shore at Lamberton Skerrs. You’ll only catch a glimpse of it. It was a bothy…
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A Tale of Illicit Stills around Loch Torridon
An absolutely mirror-like Loch Torridon The rugged and mountainous terrain encircling the loch was once a stage for a tussle between cunning smugglers and officers from the Customs & Excise. Back in the late 19th century, the number of secret hideouts for smuggling on the west coast of Ross-shire was on the rise. The Government…
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Strome Castle
One of the must-see destinations on an early 20th-century grand tour of Scotland was Strome Castle, the fortress that once stood imposing, overseeing the crossing of Loch Carron. But, as the main roads were upgraded, and the ferry service to Strome axed in the 1970s, the castle found itself nestled in a tranquil cul-de-sac, its…
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Attadale: its legacy and link to the Carribean
A pleasant wander up the tranquil glen of Attadale. Looking back, the picturesque village of Lochcarron, gracefully adorning the distant shore of its eponymous loch. And there, in the far-off horizon, proudly stand the daunting Applecross mountains. Attadale, what a peaceful valley it is! Recently though, it has witnessed the timber harvesters’ diligent efforts, clearing…