Category: Scotland
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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…
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The Western Red Hills
These are known as the Western Red Hills. They’re rounded and blushing with a rosy hue, a hint at their shared moniker. And their sides are covered in long lines of scree. Quite a sight, especially when you compare them to the jagged Black Cullin ridges. This view is taken from Garbh-bheinn, a Corbett and…
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Gazing down on Fingal’s Pinnacles
Amidst Nature’s tranquil canvas, the distinctive call of the cuckoo shattered the silence once more. From the treeless shores to the lofty mountains, that feathered harbinger has seemed to tail us relentlessly, from the westernmost reaches of Skye to the farthest point north. In June, so the old rhyme says, he changes his tune. Yet,…
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The Chimney Stack
One of them there must-see spots on Skye is that famous Kilt Rock, named after its basalt columns that supposedly resemble a pleated kilt. Now, if you use your imagination just a tad more, you’ll notice that the sandstone base upon which these columns perch bears an uncanny resemblance to a proper tartan. The best…
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Erisco — a deserted township
The deserted township of Erisco, lies on the shore of Duntulm Bay, is sheltered by the long barrier of Tulm Island, and is overlooked by the medieval Duntulm Castle. It is a kilometre or so south of Rubha Hunish, the most northern point of Skye. Erisco was considered good land for growing some crops of…
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Loch Cuithir and the diatomite industry
What had fascinated me was the peculiar wording on the O.S. map, indicating the presence of a “Dismantled Railway,” a six kilometres stretch from the Inver Tote coastline, winding its way towards Loch Cuithir, nestled beneath the formidable Sgurr a’ Mhadaidh Ruaidh, aptly dubbed ‘the hill of the red fox.’ As it turned out, Loch…