As you’ve guessed, Hogmanay is the Scottish New Year. Nobody is quite sure where the name comes from. A few theories include the Gaelic Og maidne or new morning and the Norman French word hoguinane which was derived from the Old French anguillanneuf or “Gift at New Year.” Hogmanay’s roots reach back to the pagan practice of sun and fire … Continue reading →
“One can never have enough socks,” said Dumbledore. “Another Christmas has come and gone and I didn’t get a single pair. People will insist on giving me books.” (J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone) Did you notice, on this lovely picture, the emblems of Glasgow ? This is the tree that never grew. This is the bird … Continue reading →
Your great article, Mairiuna, in the Scottish Castles Series featuring Falkland Palace shed light on another historic gem in the care of the National Trust for Scotland. What is great about it all, is that sites in the custody of NTS receive regular survey, inspection and maintenance programmes that preserve some unique elements housed inside the thick walls of the … Continue reading →
We visited Falkland Palace, a mix of ruined buildings and sumptuously restored apartments, in 2003 and 2006. This magnificent palace is situated in the picturesque village of Falkland, about 4 miles north of Glenrothes, in Fife, north of the A 912. Not far away, East Lomond Hill (448m /1470ft) invites the visitor to climb it up to have a panoramic … Continue reading →
Linlithgow Palace is located in West Lothian about 15 miles (24 km) west of Edinburgh, off the M9. The name “Linlithgow” comes from the Old British and means “lake in the damp hollow”… Even if you have planned to go directly to Stirling Castle and Wallace Monument don’t miss Linlithgow Palace. This magnificent ruin, for the old palace lost its … Continue reading →
The largest public artworks in Scotland? The Kelpies! You are invited to take more than a look at these two 30 meter tall horse head sculptures designed by Andy Scott, erected in Grangemouth Park, Falkirk, near River Carron, in The Helix, a new parkland project; there are so impressive…!! By definition, the ‘kelpie’ is a supernatural water horse of Celtic … Continue reading →
Upon reading Mairiuna’s post on Scotiana’s Favourite Castles and enjoying the beautiful pictures inside the article, the view of Blair Castle reminded me of a sign post above the entrance door of a nearby fish and chips restaurant that had caught my eye for its originality. 😉 You’ve surely heard about the traditional fish in batter along with fries, or … Continue reading →
We’ve already visited a number of castles in Scotland but there are still many more to discover for as a taxi driver told us in Glasgow: “In Scotland one can find a castle, or what remains of it, at every turn of the road.” As I was writing my post about Linlithgow Palace, the first of a series dedicated to … Continue reading →
It’s celebration time in the beautiful province of Quebec, in Canada, as Quebecers are taking part in Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day and Fête Nationale du Quebec festivities. The public holiday celebrates the culture and heritage of francophones inside Quebec and across the country, and how they have shaped it. While the religious significance of the civic celebration is gone, the day remains … Continue reading →
On my desk is Alex Nye’s book For My Sins, a fascinating historical novel I’ve just finished reading. I recommend it to all people interested in Mary Stuart’s life. There are many books devoted to Mary Queen of Scots but this one is particularly moving since the narrator is Mary herself. In my last selection of books for Christmas … Continue reading →
In Norse, Saddell means “sandy valley” and the ruins of Saddell Abbey are situated in this lovely and quiet glen where the Saddell Water flows into the Kilbrannan Sound on the east coast of Kintyre. The beauty of the landscape around, the ruined abbey echoing times long past and the remarkable collection of medieval slabs and effigies sheltered in a special-built … Continue reading →
MULL OF KINTYRE LIGHTHOUSE The Mull of Kintyre is a beautiful peninsula on the West Coast of Scotland and you can admire stunning views as you get closer to the Kintyre lighthouse, which is one of the two oldest lighthouse of Scotland, the other being the Bell Rock Lighthouse, off the coast of Angus. As mentioned by Mairiuna in a … Continue reading →
The Kintyre peninsula is one of our favourite places in Scotland. We went there twice in May 2004 and June 2015 and its very name conjures up many unforgettable memories. It’s quite possible to visit the Kintyre peninsula in a one-day trip and we did it but, if you ask me, it’s rather frustrating to do so, not being able … Continue reading →
Robert Louis Stevenson’s cousin, David Alan Stevenson worked on twenty-six (26) Scottish lighthouses during his career. Among them, near Glendale, is one of Scotland’s most famous, the Neist Point lighthouse on the Duirinish peninsula, the most westerly point of the Isle of Skye. 1909… On the very tip of Neist Point, quite literally on the cliffs edge and standing alone … Continue reading →
