A week in Glencoe
by sim1
What a wonderful vacation this was, and what a beautiful country Scotland is. I have so many wonderful memories of this trip... December 1995, feels like it was yesterday.........
As most of my short trips, the idea to go here was very spontanious, and very typical for me. My best friend Louise came over for a visit, and she is just as travelmad as I am. When the two of us are together, we always think of the next destination to go to. So this time we came to the conclusion that we couldn't stay home during Christmas.... noooo, of course we can't stay home. What a stupid idea, we always go somewhere during Christmas.
Hmmmm, so what can we do.... lets see.... my friend and I are brainstorming about all the places we could go to. What would be nice to do for just for a week.... In the background we hear some protests : "I don't know if I can take the days off from work?".... But we just pretend that we don't hear that, hahaha. Of course he can take a few days off.... so can we! Can I? Hmmm, I start wondering how to convince my boss to give me a few days off.... I'll find a way, I always do, hahaha.
It didn't take us long to decide where to go : Scotland! That must be beautiful in the winter! My friend Louise had been there already in the summer, and a lot of people said "It is beautiful in the summer, but wait until you see it in the winter :it is gorgeous". Well, I didn't need more convincing than that! Scotland here we come!!!
Urquhart Castle
by sim1
Urquhart Castle (pronounced as 'Urkhurt') This ruin of a castle is beautifully situated on Loch Ness. This picture was taken in December when the castle was covered in a thin layer of snow. When you look closely at the water you can see a beautiful phenomenon. A river flows into the Loch Ness and the warm and cold water meet each other. This results into a thick fog just at the point where the two meet waters meet. It gives a spooky but beautiful effect.
It is almost certain that the earliest parts of medieval castle date from early 1200's. The building of the castle was probably finished around 1350. The castle switched hands many times and has know many battles. The ordinary people of the Great Glen went through a great deal of suffering and devastation in those times.
But in the 1600's the castle was abandoned by the Grants to the people of the Glen. Those walls which had for so long been a cause of suffering to them, now became their comfort as they dismantled masonry and removed stones to build their own houses. Now only some ruins remain of what once was Urquhart Castle. The castle is beautifully situated on Loch Ness though, which make it worth while to visit it.
Opening times :
April to September :
Monday-Sunday 9:30am to 6:30pm;
October to March :
Monday-Saturday 9:30am to 4:30pm;
Sunday 2:00pm to 4:30pm
Last ticket sold 30 minutes before closing.
Directions : On Loch Ness, near Drumnadrochit on the A82.
More info on:
http://www.aboutscotland.com/ness/urquhart.html
Train trip to Mallaig
by Manara
Taking a trip to Mallaig by train means travelling through a wonderful scenery. It has even more charm if you travel with the old steam train, that operates only in summer.
This steam train has become even more popular after the first movie of the Harry Potter series, but I assure you that it was already popular enough before.
As it is a special train, rail passes are not valid for a trip on it. The difference of price between a single ticket and a return one is very small, so most people obviously travel back with the same steam train. However, this means having a very short time in Mallaig, just enough for a quick lunch. So if you wish to take advantage of your short stay in Mallaig to take some pictures it is advisable to bring along a sandwich lunch and eat it on the train.
Glen Coe
by CandS
When in Scotland drive over Glen Coe if you can! It is amazing!!! We stopped at every parking place along the way...and took HEAPS of photos. It is sooo beautiful!
I can imagine on a nice day the reflections are just gorgeous!!!
Commando Memorial, Spean Bridge
by stevezero
Just north of Spean Bridge, where the main A82 crests the hill, is the dramatically imposing Commando Memorial, a bronze monument crafted by Scott Sutherland and placed here in 1952 to commemorate the many members of the elite commando units who trained in the area during the second world war.
Associated with the memorial is a Commando Exhibition open during the summer in a room at the Spean Bridge Hotel; and a Commando Trail, which takes in many of the locations used during training. Their headquarters was a little further west, towards Loch Arkaig.
Sign in with Facebook
Lochaber Schools Pipe Band
Another view of the lighthouse
Commando Memorial, Spean Bridge
Marie & Myself
