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August - September 2023
A 51-day adventure by Fiona Read more
  • 235footprints
  • 7countries
  • 51days
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  • 30videos
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  • 34.9kkilometers
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  • TravelerUnited Kingdom
    Day 5

    Outlander - Blackness Castle 2

    August 10, 2023 in Scotland ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    Located not far from the village of Blackness, Scotland, Blackness Castle is an impressive 15th-century fortress. It was used in Outlander to represent Fort William, where Jamie had received lashes from Captain Randall. It is also where Jamie's father died, having to endure watching his son being punished.Read more

  • TravelerUnited Kingdom
    1
    Day 6

    The Kelpies

    August 11, 2023 in Scotland ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    The Kelpies are 30-metre-high (98 ft) horse-head sculptures depicting kelpies (shape-shifting water spirits), located between Falkirk and Grangemouth, but the Kelpies themselves are situated in Grangemouth, standing next to an extension to the Forth and Clyde Canal, and near the River Carron, in The Helix, a parkland project built to connect sixteen communities in the Falkirk Council Area, Scotland. The sculptures were designed by sculptor Andy Scott and were completed in October 2013. The sculptures form a gateway at the eastern entrance to the Forth and Clyde canal, and the canal extension built as part of The Helix land transformation project.

    Baron, head up
    Duke, head down

    A kelpie, or water kelpie (Scottish Gaelic: Each-Uisge), is a shape-shifting spirit inhabiting lochs in Irish and Scottish folklore. It is usually described as a black horse-like creature, able to adopt human form. Some accounts state that the kelpie retains its hooves when appearing as a human, leading to its association with the Christian idea of Satan as alluded to by Robert Burns in his 1786 poem "Address to the Devil".    Read more

  • TravelerUnited Kingdom
    Day 6

    The Glenturret Distillery

    August 11, 2023 in Scotland ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    By hand & heart. Crafted at Scotland's Oldest Working Distillery since 1763 entirely by hand in exclusive small batches, The Glenturret Single Malt is defined by its outstanding quality and exquisite taste.

    It was very interesting learning about how whiskey is made. The whiskey has to be casked for a minimum of 3 years before it can be called Scotch Whiskey.

    Towser, a female long-haired tortoiseshell cat, the resident feline pest control expert at Glenturret from 1963 till 1987, was an officially recognised record breaker. Her record-breaking victim count was estimated as 28,899 mice, which were laid out on the Still House floor each morning to be inspected by the stillman. The auditors for the Guinness Book of Records observed Towser's prowess over a number of days, and her total kill count was estimated statistically. She was commemorated by a bronze statue at the visitor's centre at Glenturret and her story was featured on BBC Television's Blue Peter. Her paw prints also decorate the label on a bottle of Fairlie's light Highland Liqueur. Her immediate successors were Dylan and Brooke, who were chosen for their friendliness and photogenic looks rather than for their mousing skills. The distillery currently "employs" Glen, an orange tabby, and Turret, a gray tabby for mousing duties.

    I met one of the distilleries cats 'Turret', first picture up on the counter, he was more interested in the treat draw.    Read more

  • TravelerUnited Kingdom
    Day 6

    Dunkeld

    August 11, 2023 in Scotland ⋅ 🌬 19 °C

    Beautifully situated on the banks of the River Tay, Dunkeld is a picturesque and tranquil place. From an early centre of Celtic Christianity to becoming a hub for modern folk music, this town has a rich cultural heritage.

    The Atholl Memorial Fountain (which replaced the old mercat cross) has been carefully preserved and around 20 of the surrounding pastel-coloured houses (private residences) have been restored by the Trust, some of which date back to the 17th century.

    However, this little town was not always this peaceful. Shortly after the Battle of Killiecrankie, a fierce battle raged in the streets on 21 August 1689 between the Jacobites and government soldiers. Many of the buildings were burned or destroyed, and much of the Dunkeld we see today was rebuilt in the 18th century.

    Today, visitors can enjoy a wander around or picnic in Stanley Hill Park. Climb the steps to the top of the tiered man-made hill, which was built up from the natural existing hillock around 1730 to look like a fortification from an earlier age. At one time, it had a battery of small cannons on it for firing salutes. You can also look into the depths of the ice house located on the hill’s lower slopes. The Trust removed 4.5m of infill from it in 1995, but still did not reach the bottom.    Read more

  • TravelerUnited Kingdom
    Day 6

    The Hermitage and Braan Walk, Dunkeld

    August 11, 2023 in Scotland ⋅ 🌬 20 °C

    This stretch of magical Perthshire forest was originally designed as a pleasure ground in the 18th century for the Dukes of Atholl.

    Douglas firs tower over the paths leading to the roaring Black Linn Falls, where the River Braan crashes down into the deep, foaming pools below. Overlooking the waterfall is the picturesque folly known as Ossian’s Hall, built in 1757 as the focal point in an extensive designed landscape. Decorated with mirrors, sliding panels and paintings, it has been refurbished to re-create the illusions of shock, surprise and amazement that were the aims of the folly’s original design. It makes a fine spot to contemplate the roaring, tumbling fallsRead more

  • TravelerUnited Kingdom
    Day 6

    Firth Forth Bridge

    August 11, 2023 in Scotland ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    The Forth Bridge is a cantilever railway bridge across the Firth of Forth in the east of Scotland, 9 miles (14 kilometres) west of central Edinburgh. Completed in 1890, it is considered a symbol of Scotland (having been voted Scotland's greatest man-made wonder in 2016), and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was designed by English engineers Sir John Fowler and Sir Benjamin Baker. It is sometimes referred to as the Forth Rail Bridge (to distinguish it from the adjacent Forth Road Bridge), although this has never been its official name.Read more

  • TravelerUnited Kingdom
    211
    Day 6

    Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

    August 11, 2023 in Scotland ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is an annual series of military tattoos performed by British Armed Forces, Commonwealth and international military bands, and artistic performance teams on the Esplanade of Edinburgh Castle in the capital of Scotland. The event is held each August as one of the Edinburgh Festivals.

    The term tattoo derives from a 17th-century Dutch phrase doe den tap toe ("turn off the tap") a signal to tavern owners each night, played by a regiment's Corps of Drums, to turn off the taps of their ale kegs so that the soldiers would retire to their billeted lodgings at a reasonable hour. With the establishment of modern barracks and full military bands later in the 18th century, the term "tattoo" was used to describe the last duty call of the day, as well as a ceremonial form of evening entertainment performed by military musicians.    Read more

  • TravelerUnited Kingdom
    Day 7

    The Palace of Holyroodhouse

    August 12, 2023 in Scotland ⋅ 🌧 16 °C

    The Palace of Holyroodhouse, commonly referred to as Holyrood Palace or Holyroodhouse, is the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland. Located at the bottom of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, at the opposite end to Edinburgh Castle, Holyroodhouse has served as the principal royal residence in Scotland since the 16th century, and is a setting for state occasions and official entertaining.

    I was hooked the mintue I saw the staff come out to open up and realise they all wear the 'Hunting Stewart' tartan and this is in recognition of the Stewart (Stuart, just spelt wrong) connection to this place and to Mary, Queen of Scots (Mary Stuart). This is my tartan, I have a kilt that my father bought back from Scotland in this tartan, and I have his kilt. I loved exploring this place. To think I stood in Mary, Queen of Scots bedchamber, and walked the halls where Bonnie Prince Charlie lived for a short time. I forgot myself and started taking pictures inside before I was sprung .    Read more

  • TravelerUnited Kingdom
    Day 7

    Around Edinburgh

    August 12, 2023 in Scotland ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Who can spot the other two Outlander locations I found?

    I saw a lady eating a sandwich today and had been struggling to find a place to buy something so simple, so I asked her very excitedly, where did you get that? So she introduced me to 'Boots Pharmacy', see photo of my lovely lunch. Changed my time in the house now. I was also introduced to Mark's and Spence food hall - OMG

    Few other shots around Edinburgh. It's raining on and off but not overly cold.

    I have been in and out of a lot of the shops, and it is mostly the same stuff on repeat. Also, it's been hard to spot the Scot behind the counter in the more touristy shops. I have bought a beanie, a pair of socks from Lallybroch, and the key to Lallybroch 😜. All I can see with most of it dust collectors.    Read more

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