Travelling

An Evening Stroll

We have been away again, back up to Scotland, this time, the city of Glasgow.  It was a work related visit, but this time we stayed in the city.  Normally we just dash in and out, but this time we got to see a little more and we actually liked what we saw.  I took a load of photos, but still have to download them and sort through…… I still haven’t finished the ones I took up on the west coast in May.  Time seems to be flying past at the moment, I’m not sure how to slow it down and catch up with everything…..but a peaceful stroll along a lake, I’m sure would help.   

The above photo is Canoe Lake in Southsea, which is the seaside resort of Portsmouth, on the south coast of England.  I grew up very close by and whenever we are nearby, its a must for a drive along the seafront and a quick walk.  This couple had the whole lake to themselves, just the swan boats to keep them company 🙂

A visit from 2016

Island Washing, Skye, Scotland

Washing drying in the sun, on the Isle of Skye, taken on holiday May 2016.  I see washing hanging out and I have to take a photo…..I’m not sure why, I just like seeing it dancing in the wind, especially if it’s really windy.  Also the cottage reminded me of the ones that we had seen on the Isle of Tiree, last year 2016, with the black stones, which are called ‘Pudding Houses’  or ‘Spotted Houses’

I also found another example, where you can see the stone work more clearly.  This cottage was a little further away from the first cottage, the first cottage didn’t have bay windows, but otherwise it’s quite similar. 

May 2017

Julius K9 – Working Dog

I think Julius K9, is the name of the harness this german shepherd is wearing……..but what a great name for a dog.  Anyway for the purpose of the post, I name this dog Julius.  Julius I think is a security guard dog, rather than a police dog, going by his handlers uniforms.  We were in Munich, Bravia last year 2016, walking towards the Oktoberfest (the beer festival) when I saw Julius sitting calmly, waiting for something to happen, so he could spring into action and the reason for the muzzle….well he would most likely…..lick you to death 🙂  So Julius is straight into my ‘Occupation Category’  as security guard dog…..with handlers. 

 

Blue Skye, Scotland

When we were on Skye, Scotland, a couple of weeks ago, we stopped on our ’round island road trip’ to have a picnic.  I’m not sure that we have had one, with such a breathtaking view before.  I think…..we were looking at Applecross on mainland Scotland, with the little island of Rona in the foreground, but I’m not a 100% sure.  The sky had a slight haze, which made everything in the distance have an ice blue tint, it was far more beautiful than I could really capture, but they are a lovely reminder of a beautiful picnic.

May 2017

Duntulm Castle, Skye, Scotland

Duntulm Castle with spectacular views of the Outer Hebrides, you can understand the reason they built it there, and no, not just for the view, although I would have done.  The castle, with sheer cliffs on three sides, stands ruined on the north coast of Trotternish, on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, near the hamlet of Duntulm.  We were on our round the ‘Island Road Trip’, a week ago on holiday and I suddenly noticed the ruins, not sure how I missed them in pervious years…..most probably busy looking at the view.  We didn’t have time to stop, as we had a ferry to catch and we still had a long way to go, so the photos were taken out of the car window….. again.

 

A little history…..Duntulm is believed to have been first fortified in the Iron Age, and the site continues to be associated with the name Dùn Dhaibhidh or “David’s Fort”.  Later in life it was fortified by the Norse, and subsequently by their successors, the MacLeods of Skye. It would have been while it was under the MacLeod’s tenure that James V visited the castle in 1540, where he was impressed by its strength and the quality of the hospitality on offer.  In the 17th century it was the seat of the chiefs of Clan MacDonald of Sleat.  The MacDonalds abandoned the castle in about 1730 in favour of nearby Monkstadt House and then Armadale Castle in Sleat.  We did visit Armadale Castle, which has a lovely garden, and I will post about it later.  

 A little haunting for you…. a nursemaid accidentally dropped the baby son of the clan chief from a castle window above the cliffs.  The ghost of the nursemaid, killed in retribution, is still said to wander the ruins. She is apparently kept company by the ghost of Hugh MacDonald, who plotted against the rightful clan chief in the 1600s, and who was starved to death in the dungeon at Duntulm.   

There were quite substantial ruins left in the 1880, a large keep several stories high, which would have looked quite impressive on the cliff top.  But, as with many of theses castle ruins, the stone work was removed for building projects and other parts corroded away, or just fell into the sea.  

May 2017

 

The Old Man of Storr, Isle of Skye, Scotland

Following on from our road trip around Skye last week, May 2017, I wanted to capture the The Old Man of Storr in black & white on this visit.  The Storr is a rocky hill on the Trotternish peninsula, and the hill presents a steep rocky eastern face overlooking the Sound of Raasay, contrasting with gentler grassy slopes to the west.  The Old Man is in fact, just one element in an array of fantastic rock features, and looking at the photo, he is the tall rock formation on the right.  There is a spectacular walk to the famous summit, passing through the iconic landscape of the Sanctuary with many different rock formations.  This is something we have yet to do, although I quite like, just taking photos of the stunning landscape.  Also there never seems to be an empty parking place, and it was only May, hate to think what it is like in the height of the summer.  But I got my photos, then we did find somewhere to park nearby and have our picnic, overlooking the Sound of Ramsay, a stunning view to accompany our sandwiches.