Last weekend we visited the lovely village of North Berwick in East Lothian, east of Edinburgh. East Lothian has a lot to offer and is an area that can be easily overlooked by visitors of Scotland. North Berwick for instance is a village very much worth a visit, the sea side is beautiful and it's here where you find the "Scottish Sea Bird Centre", a five stars tourist attraction. Just besides the Sea Bird Centre are the remains of St. Andrews Old Kirk, picture below. This church was founded in the 12th century and was quite an impressive building. All that's left now are the ruined walls and … [Read more...] about St Andrews Kirk in North Berwick
Scotland in the Autumn Travel Report
We have made a trip to Scotland in October 2010 and have only just arrived home. Although I have been to Scotland many times this was one of the best trips ever. We arrived on Friday the first of October in Hull in grey and misty weather. After spending the night in a Bed and Breakfast in East Lothian we travelled the next day to Cove in Wester Ross where we had a self catering cottage for the week. At the start the weather was grey and dull but just after Dalwhinnie the sky broke open and we had beautiful sunny and warm weather that lasted most of the week. The autumn colours on the hills and … [Read more...] about Scotland in the Autumn Travel Report
Dunfermline Abbey
Early 2009 I have visited Dunfermline Abbey together with Bruce and Linda from Scotland of the Roadside and we were surprised to find a wee sign with an interesting text. The Abbey itself is very beautiful although we couldn't visit the inside. But thanks to the excellent weather we had a beautiful walk around the Abbey itself which is very much worth a visit! Dunfermline Abbey The sign, image below, can be found opposite the cafe and has the following text: 1303AD: There is a tradition that the mother of Sir William Wallace was buried at this spot marked by a Thorn Tree. This was the … [Read more...] about Dunfermline Abbey
The Old Scottish Man Who Never Left Home
I found this story many years ago and published it on the former Scotlandview blog in february 2006. It's a great story and I'm sure Tom, the old man in the story, isn't the only one that never left his home. I know of an older woman on Islay who lives in Portnahaven and never travelled to the other side of the island in her entire life. People from a younger generation can't imagine such a life could have ever existed and that makes it perhaps all the more interesting to read. Enjoy! The 20th Century has been a time of massive change for people all around the world. There have been two World … [Read more...] about The Old Scottish Man Who Never Left Home
Riding the Road to the Isles
Alan Richards: I wrote this a few years ago after one of our motor-cycling holidays up to Mallaig..... The thoughts of the long and somewhat arduous journey up had receeded to the back of my mind by now as the midday sun began to warm our faces. We were just over half an hour out from Fort William. Last night had seen us early to bed after a few pints of 'eighty shilling' in the 'Ben Nevis', early doors. We'd been cold and hungry when we'd ridden into town. The winds across Rannoch moor and Glencoe were testing the bike's stability and the rain was incessant. Sue had a tie-dye scarf wrapped … [Read more...] about Riding the Road to the Isles
Biography of Sir Walter Scott
Sir Walter Scott, poet and novelist, was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, five years before the Declaration of Independence in America. Unlike most little Scotch boys, he was not sturdy and robust, and in his second year, a lameness appeared that never entirely left him. Being frail and delicate, he received the most tender care from parents and grandparents. Five consecutive years of his life, from the age of three to the age of eight, were spent on his grandfather's farm at Sandyknow. At the end of this period, he returned to Edinburgh greatly improved in health, and soon after, entered the high … [Read more...] about Biography of Sir Walter Scott
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