Viking Scotland Part Three - The Earls of Orkney In late 1263 the Norwegian king, Haakon Haakonarsson, and his storm-damaged fleet limped into the sheltered waters of the Orkney Islands: the old man was ailing, and with him the dreams of a Viking empire. Vikings of the Hebridean Islands Earlier in the year Haakon had left Norway and crossed the ocean to stamp his authority over the Hebridean Islands, west of Scotland; which had been assailed and claimed by the Scottish king, Alexander III in 1262. For decades, the Scots had tried to buy the islands from the Norwegians, and time and … [Read more...] about Viking Scotland – The Earls of Orkney
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Viking Scotland – The Hebrides
Viking Scotland - Part Two: The King of the Isles It was the summer of 1158, and two rival navies faced each other across the Sea of the Hebrides; one led by Godred, King of Man, the other by his brother-in-law the upstart Somerled, Lord of Argyll. It was yet another clash between warlords in this most contentious of arenas where Gaelic Scotland met Viking empire; but the outcome of this battle would alter the balance irrevocably. For nearly 400 years Norwegian Vikings had first raided and then settled the Irish Sea, Hebrides and the Northern Isles, establishing a substantial territorial … [Read more...] about Viking Scotland – The Hebrides
Viking Scotland
Viking Scotland - Part One: The Rise of the Norse “In this year fierce, foreboding omens came over the land of Northumbria. There were excessive whirlwinds, lightening storms and fiery dragons were seen flying in the sky. These signs were followed by great famine, and on the 8th of June the ravaging of heathen men destroyed God’s church at Lindisfarne” Lindisfarne, the Holy Island The year was 793. The Holy Island of Lindisfarne lies of the northeast coast of modern England, but in the 8th century it was part of the Kingdom of Northumbria, a territory that stretched from Yorkshire to … [Read more...] about Viking Scotland
Glasgow’s Hidden Gems
Glasgow Hidden Gems The welcoming city of Glasgow has a great number of tourist attractions and we can imagine that some will be looking for something a little different to do on their stay. Though there are many popular and fantastic eateries, attractions and entertainment venues, sometimes it pays to try something a little different. Here we’ve got some of the best kept secrets of the city in each category. For Food and Drink There are hundreds of places to get your fill in Glasgow but for something different try one of our choices. The Hidden Lane Café Doubling up as a … [Read more...] about Glasgow’s Hidden Gems
Top Five Films Starring Edinburgh
Edinburgh on film has a long and rich history. With many famous Edinburgh accommodation venues and recognisable sites being used in films it’s a city many visit to enjoy the same walks as their favourite stars. There are plenty of films that make Edinburgh a leading star and here are our top five. The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie is a novella by Muriel Spark and by 1969 is was turned into a hugely influential film. It grew in fame and interest when leading lady, Maggie Smith, starring as Miss Jean Brodie herself, won the Oscar for Best Actress. The film was … [Read more...] about Top Five Films Starring Edinburgh
Scotland Most Beautiful Country in the World
Who can deny that the wild beaches, deep lochs, marvellous scenery and craggy castles are some of the most wonderful and beautiful sights in the world? Apparently not many folk as Scotland has just been elected as the most beautiful country in the world, according to readers of the Rough Guides website that is. We already knew that Scotland is the most beautiful country in the world but it's nice to read that so many others think alike :-) The readers of the Rough Guides website chose Scotland over other beautiful countries such as Canada, New Zealand and Italy to name a few. Wether the … [Read more...] about Scotland Most Beautiful Country in the World
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