Scotland Revealed

ST. ANDREWS REVEALED St. Andrews, a seaside town northeast of Edinburgh, is best known as the "Home of Golf." It is the largest European public golf complex - with seven golf courses, the most famous being the Old Course, purchased by the town council in 1894. In 1895, Thomas Hamilton, a businessman whose membership in the Royal and Ancient Golf Clubhouse was denied, built and originally opened the Grand Hotel overlooking the 18th hole. It was the first hotel in St. Andrews to have a pneumatic elevator and running hot and cold water in every room. The Hamilton Grand with a glimpse  of the Old Course in the foreground.    My first birdie on hole #1. Paul battles the brutal and noisy wind. Our fearsome foursome. Architectural highlights of our walking tour. The Cathedral ruins (above and below). Blackfriars Chapel ruins (above and below). St. Andrews Castle ruins. Clock Tower inside St. Mary's School of Divinity Quadrant.  St. Andrews Cathedral. The University of St. Andrew

  ABERDEEN REVEALED Aberdeen, AKA the "Granite City," with its stunning, sparkling granite buildings and monuments,   has the third largest population in Scotland with notable fishing and shipping industries, a lively cultural scene, beaches, distilleries, and, of course, castles. Aberdeenshire is known as "castle country" for its more than 250 castles. We did a tour of Fyvie Castle, known for its history and ghostlore, with a fantastic tour guide who was a great storyteller. Fyvie Castle is a massive castle with an impressive interior, beautiful gardens, and landscapes owned (in order) by the Lindsays, Prestons, Meldrums, Setons, Gordons, and finally, the Leith family in 1889. It was put onto the open market in 1982 and is now owned by The National Trust for Scotland. The Weeping Stones Curse But it was the ghostlore that made this castle more thrilling and exciting.  Over 500 years ago, Thomas the Rhymer, a prophet renowned for his gloomy predictions and ill tempe

  Old Packhorse Bridge in  Carrbridge, a historic landmark dating back to 1717, has been an important crossing point over the River Dulnain on the old main road north through the Highlands. It was built with low parapets, allowing pannier-laden horses to cross without hitting the sides.  Its fragile appearance is due to the damage incurred by the great flood of 1829. Amazingly, the remaining sliver of stone has survived two centuries of flood events. Walking on the arch is discouraged, but many crossings are available to gain access on the south bank.   Paul challenged us to see who could take the clearest photo  of a faraway farmhouse through the hole in this rock.  I couldn't use my zoom lens because it kept hitting the rock,  so I had to settle for this photo. But Lowell was the clear winner with this one. We continued our drive through the lush landscapes of Cairngorms to reach Ballater, a picturesque Victorian Village at the base of Cairngorms National Park. Lunch was on our o

Bagpiper in Fort Augustus   Caledonian  Canal. Fort Augustus is  halfway between Inverness and Fort William, on the  Scottish Highlands's southwest end of Loch Ness. The impressive 60-mile-long Caledonian Canal offers spectacular views down Loch Ness River.  Fort Augustus is a paradise for hikers and cyclists, with many beautiful walks around the area, the most popular being the Great Glen Way. The Commando Memorial, unveiled by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother on September 27, 1952,  is dedicated to all the  Commandos who  died during the 1939-1945 War. Urquhart Castle In the 1300s, Urquhart featured prominently in the Scots' struggle for independence.  Once one of Scotland’s largest castles, Urquhart saw great conflict during its 500 years as a medieval fortress.   Control of the castle passed back and forth between the Scots and English during the Wars of Independence.  The castle came under the control of Robert the Bruce after he became King of Scots in 1306. I