Roadtrip
in
Scotland
Day 1
Edinburgh 04 The Hermitage of Braid and Blackford Hill Local Nature Reserve
14 Princes Street Gardens Stockbridge 24
Day 2
Through the Cairngorms National Park 36 Kinross 42 Cairgorms National Park Inverness 52
Day 3
Along the Loch Ness 62 Loch Ness
68 74 80
Loch Duntelchaig Loch Mhor Suidhe Viewpoint
Day 4
Loch Shiel surroundings 88 Loch Linnhe
94 102 108
Loch Shiel Tioram Castle Glenfinnan Viaduct
Day 5
Across Ben Nevis & Glen Coe 114 Ben Nevis & Glen Coe Stirling 122
The area around modern-day Edinburgh has been inhabited for thousands of years. Its origins as a settlement can be traced to the early Middle Ages when a hillfort was established in the area, most likely on the castle rock. From the seventh to the tenth centuries it was part of the Anglian Kingdom of Northumbria, becoming thereafter a royal residence of the Scottish kings. The town that developed next to the stronghold was established by royal charter in the early
12th century, and by the middle of the 14th century was being described as the capital of Scotland. The area known as the New Town was added from the second half of the 18th century onwards. Edinburgh was Scotland’s largest city until Glasgow outgrew it in the first two decades of the 19th century.
The Hermitage of Braid and
Blackford Hill Local
Nature Reserve
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The Hermitage of Braid and Blackford Hill Local Nature Reserve is an area of natural beauty in Edinburgh, Scotland, managed by the City of Edinburgh Natural Heritage Service. The objectives of the Friends of the Hermitage of Braid and Blackford Hill are : To conserve and enhance the landscape, biodiversity, and sustainable use of the Hermitage of Braid and Blackford Hill Local Nature Reserve. To engage and involve the local community in environmental issues and action, through information exchange, education and practical activities. Friends of the Hermitage is a recognised charity governed by an agreed constitution.
“ The Hermitage of Braid and Blackford Hill Local Nature Reserve is an area of
natural beauty in Edinburgh�
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History and Heritage The area is steeped in history - some of which is told in the old Hermitage House where the Headquarter of the City of Edinburgh Countryside Natural Heritage Service provides a charming Visitor Centre full of displays, activities and information. You can also explore the surroundings to discover the Ice House, the Doocot in the Walled Garden and even a clever water pump system along the burn that provided running water to the Hermitage House in the past! The first recorded owner of this area was the son of a Belgian knight called De Brad, in the 12th Century. His son, Henri De Brad, was Sheriff of Edinburgh. He and his guests hunted for deer and wild boar in the forest. In 1775 the architect Robert Burn was employed by Charles Gordon of Cluny to design the mansion house. The house was finished in 1788 and it was around this time that the dovecot, walled garden, stables and ice house were built. The dovecot housed pigeons which were eaten by the householders. The ice house was used to store food. It was kept cold by filling the base with ice colleted from local ponds and wrapped in straw, so it melted more slowly. In 1937, the Hermitage was presented to the city as a public park by the owner John McDougal.
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Wildlife
There is a wonderful mixture of habitats including woodland, scrubland, grassland, the Braid Burn and wetland which all provide a refuge for wildlife. Listen for green woodpecker calling from the top of the tall beech trees and if you are lucky, you could startle a fox hunting rabbits or even an otter swimming in the burn! Don’t forget your binoculars as you might be surprised by the amazing birdlife you will encounter; herons, kestrels, kingfishers, song thrush and even tawny owls can be regularly seen around the Nature Reserve! The Hermitage of Braid is a designated ancient woodland. This means that woodland has covered the site for at least 300 years. However, much of the woodland is now semi-natural with beech (Fagus sylvatica), Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) and Sycamore (Acer pseudplatanus) regenerating freely. Most of the large, mature tees probably date from the early 19th century and there are many very old and large specimens scattered throughout the attractive woodland setting. Geology
Blackford Hill is a contrast to the deep gorge of the Hermitage Wood. The Hill was formed from the oldest rock in Edinburgh and offers impressive panoramic views of the city, the Pentland Hills and Firth of Forth. Enthusiastic geologists love this place as it is full of significant hotspots to study rock formation. In 1840 the Swiss geologist Louis Agassiz declared the grooves in the rocks of Blackford Quarry were caused by glaciers and this was the start of a whole new chapter of geological study in Scotland .
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Princes Street
Gardens Edinburgh - The Hermitage of Braid and Blackford Hill Local Nature Reserve - 17
Princes Street Gardens is a public park in the centre of Edinburgh, Scotland, in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle. The Gardens were created in two phases in the 1770s and 1820s following the long draining of the Nor Loch and building of the New Town, beginning in the 1760s. The loch, situated on the north side of the town, was originally an artificial creation forming part of its medieval defences and made expansion northwards difficult. The water was habitually polluted from sewage draining downhill from the Old Town. In 1846 the railway was built in the valley to connect the Edinburgh-Glasgow line at Haymarket with the new northern terminus of the North British line from Berwick-upon-Tweed at Waverley Station. The gardens run along the south side of Princes Street and are divided by The Mound. East Princes Street Gardens run from The Mound to Waverley Bridge, and cover 8.5 acres (34,000 m2). The larger West Princes Street Gardens cover 29 acres (120,000 m2) and extend to the adjacent churches of St. John’s and St. Cuthbert’s, near Lothian Road in the west. The Gardens are the best known park in Edinburgh, having the highest awareness and visitor figures for both residents and visitors to the city. Various concerts and other events are held at the Ross Bandstand including the Festival Fireworks Concert, Men’s Health Survival of the Fittest, and during the city’s Hogmanay celebrations.
“ The gardens run along the south side of Princes Street and are divided by The Mound.�
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“ (...) in the shadow of
Edinburgh Castle�
Edinburgh - Princes Street Gardens - 21
History East Princes Street Gardens originated after a dispute between Edinburgh Corporation (town council) and the early New Town proprietors, among whom was the philosopher David Hume who resided in St. David Street, a side street off Princes Street. In 1771 the council acquired the land as part of the First New Town development. It began feuing ground on the south side of Princes Street (on the site of the current Balmoral Hotel and Princes Mall Shopping Centre) for the building of houses and workshops for a coach-builder and a furniture-maker. After a failed petition to the council the proprietors raised two actions in the Court of Session to halt the building and to condemn the Corporation for having contravened their feuing terms by which they had pre-supposed open ground and a vista south of the street. After the Court found in favour of the council on the first point the decision was quickly appealed to the House of Lords and overturned, but when the Court again supported the council on the second point, the matter was submitted to judicial arbitration. This resulted in a judgement that the houses could be completed which later allowed the North British Hotel (Balmoral Hotel) to be built on the site, that the adjacent furniture-maker’s premises must not rise above the level of Princes Street (which is the reason the roof of the Princes Mall Shopping Centre is at street level) and that the ground westwards for half the length of Princes Street “shall be kept and preserved in perpetuity as pleasure-grounds to be dressed up at the expense of the town council as soon as may be.”
West Princes Street Gardens were originally the private property of “the Princes Street Proprietors” who overlooked them from their houses on the western half of the street. This was passed to them from the council in 1816. Dogs, cricket, perambulators and smoking were prohibited under their rules, and people using bath-chairs had to present a doctor’s certificate to the Committee of the garden attesting to their ailment not being contagious. An application by the Scottish Association for Suppressing Drunkenness that the gardens be opened during Christmas and New Year “with the object of keeping parties out of the dram shops (i.e. illegal drinking premises)” led eventually to them being opened to the general public on Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and one other day in the year.
In 1876, despite much opposition from residents, the town council reacquired the ground for use as a public park. The new park was laid out by the City Architect Robert Morham including the building of a very picturesque gardeners cottage at the east end of the West Gardens. As part of a later agreement (c.1880) the council widened Princes Street (resulting in a far steeper embankment on that side). A series of statues were erected along the edge of the widened road. In 1939 four huge air-raid shelters were created within this northern embankment. The Ross Bandstand is named after William Henry Ross, Chairman of the Distillers Company Ltd., who gifted the first bandstand on the site in 1877. The present building and terraces date from 1935. The Princes Street proprietors contributed ÂŁ500 as a goodwill gesture to the cost of the bandstand. The distinctive shelters on the upper walkway date from 1950 and were designed by Alexander Garden Forgie. As with most structures in the gardens they are listed buildings.
Edinburgh - Princes Street Gardens - 23
“ The new park was laid out by the
City Architect
Robert Morham including the building of a
very picturesque gardeners cottage at the east end of the West Gardens.�
Edinburgh - Princes Street Gardens - 25
Stockbridge
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Stockbridge has something of a village atmosphere about it, although it is only a ten to fifteen minute walk from Edinburgh city centre. Stockbridge is to the North edge of the Edinburgh New Town and it melds into Inverleith to the North and West. It is alongside the Water of Leith one of the main rivers running through Edinburgh. Sleepy Dean Village is a 15 minute walk away along the riverside.
“ only
a ten to fifteen minute walk from Edinburgh city centre.�
Edinburgh - Stockbridge - 29
“many delis, tea houses, small restaurants, cafes,
and pubs�
Gentrification in recent years has not killed the Stockbridge area’s bohemian vibe, although the pokey wee music, junk, and crafts shops have been replaced by more upmarket antiques shops. Along the main Comely Bank road, there’s also still an above average number of charity shops for bargain hunters. The area is characterised by the many delis, tea houses, small restaurants, cafes, and pubs. For evenings out, the narrow St Stephen’s Street is a good place to start with long-established and popular basement pubs such as The Baillie and The Antiquary. Inverleith Park is the nearest park in the area, a large expanse of green, with the Botanic Gardens adjacent, literally just across the road from Inverleith Park’s North East perimetre. That sense of being in a more rural setting is even more palpalble when taking the scenic route to Stockbridge along The Water of Leith walkway and bicycle route. The river connects Stockbridge with Dean Village and Inverleith. The walk to Dean Village with its tree-covered slopes to either side of the watter and the gentle climb under the awe-inspiring Dean Bridge, and the old mill buildings, is a particularly pleasent one whether walking or cycling. As well as plenty of places to chow and quaff away an afternoon, the Victorian swimming baths at Glenogle are a step back in time, although be warned the pool can be heavy on the chlorine.
Edinburgh - Stockbridge - 31
Dean village Hidden away at the foot of a steep cobbled hill, with the Water of Leith lapping beside it, and surrounded by verdant greenery, it’s easy to forget that Dean Village is but a mere five minutes walk from the hustle and bustle of Edinburgh City Centre. It is also near Edinburgh New Town and Stockbridge. The name of the village comes from the word dene meaning «deep valley.» In addition to the small business offices and residential tenement flats (the main block is in a quad shape with a shared courtyard at the centre), there has been a fairly substantial residential development on the North side of the Water of Leith. The fact that the “village” has few immediate public amenities - shops, pubs, and restaurants are a short walk up the hill to Queensferry Street - has helped it retain its sleepy, picturesque character. The Water of Leith shared walkway and cycleway connects the village. As well as families
Edinburgh - Stockbridge - 33
of ducks and the odd grey heron, you will see vestiges of Dean Village’s grain milling heyday, which continued for around 8 centuries. Up to eight mills were once grinding away here powered by the strong currents of the Water of Leith. One of the old mill buildings can be found directly under the monumental Dean Bridge. The awe-inspiring bridge was built in 1832, to the design of Edinburgh engineer Thomas Telford. Dean Village is close to the Dean Gallery and Edinburgh’s Gallery of Modern Art. The faux temple of St Bernard’s Well is a short walk North along the Water of Leith.
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Through the
The Cairngorms National Park (Scottish Gaelic Pàirc Nàiseanta a’ Mhonaidh Ruaidh) is a national park in north east Scotland, established in 2003. It was the second of two national parks established by the Scottish Parliament, after Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, set up in 2002. The park covers the Cairngorms range of mountains, and surrounding hills. Already the largest national park in the British Isles, in 2010 it expanded into Perth and Kinross.
Kinross Through the Cairngorms National Park - Kinross - 39
This attractive former market town was originally linked by railway to Perthshire, Fife and Clackmannanshire until the rail links gradually disappeared. At one time three independent railway companies had their termini at the town. The Fife and Kinross Railway came from the east, the Kinross-shire Railway came from the south and The Devon Valley Railway came from the west. Recently Kinross has expanded considerably, especially since the construction of the M90 motorway - the main north-south artery which bypasses the town. Many people working within a commuting radius of Kinross have settled in the town owing to its convenient central location and excellent local amenities. Loch Leven is also a popular holiday base for tourists, who especially appreciate its proximity to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling, Perth and St Andrews (all lying within an hour's drive of Kinross). The burgh is attractively located on the shores of Loch Leven, and there are boat trips around the loch and to Loch Leven Castle, where Mary Queen of Scots was famously held prisoner in 1567.
Kinross (Gaelic Ceann Rois) is a burgh in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. It was originally the county town of Kinrossshire. The site of the original parish church and churchyard are located down a small wynd overlooking Loch Leven, a little away from the town.
“(…) located down a small wynd overlooking
Loch Leven”
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Loch Leven Castle is a ruined castle on an island in Loch Leven, in the Perth and Kinross local authority area of Scotland. Possibly built around 1300, the castle was the location of military action during the Wars of Scottish Independence (1296–1357). In the later part of the 14th century, the castle was granted by his uncle to William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas, and remained in Douglas' hands for the next 300 years. Mary, Queen of Scots was imprisoned here in 1567–1568, and forced to abdicate as queen, before escaping with the help of her gaoler's family. In 1588, the Queen's gaoler inherited the title Earl of Morton, and moved away from the castle. It was bought, in 1675, by Sir William Bruce, who used the castle as a focal point in his garden; it was never again used as a residence. Today, the remains of the castle are protected as a category A listed building, in the care of Historic Scotland. Loch Leven Castle is accessible in summer by the public via a ferry.
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In The
Cairngorms
National Park
Through the Cairngorms National Park - Kinross - 45
“ The park is home to
reindeers, ospreys,
wildcats,
eagles, red squirrels
and boasts” The area
Cairngorms National Park is located in northeast Scotland. At 1,467 square miles, it is Britain’s largest National Park and located within the heart of the Scottish Highlands. The park has a large upland plateau, and is categorised as a “protected landscape” which allows for limited development within its borders. The park is home to reindeers, ospreys, eagles, wildcats, red squirrels, and boasts an extensive array of activities that range from hiking, skiing, and traditional villages. The Cairngorms National Park is truly a thrilling land of adventure and discovery, and it also boasts natural wonders containing, mountains and gorges, forests and rivers, and within the park you will wonder in the delight of ancient highland communities and whisky distilleries. Through the Cairngorms National Park - In the Cairngorms National Park - 47
Wildlife and Natural History With a rare wildlife stronghold and a landscape shaped by the ice ages, the peaty rivers, lochs and ancient forests ensure the Cairngorms are full of scenic variety and a treasure trove of natural wonders. Next to the mountains, the ancient Caledonian forests are probably the most striking feature of the Cairngorm landscape. Set around remote lochs or fringing spectacular stretches of wild open moorland, these forests are centuries old, cover huge acreages and are easily accessible right across the region. The waters offer a variety of scenic delights including gorges, waterfalls and tranquil expanses of little – frequent waters. The lochs are home to rare birds, otters, wild brown trout, arctic charr and pike. Loch Garten is famous for the Osprey centre, where these iconic birds can be watched as well as other wildlife of the Scottish Caledonian Pine Forest. Tourism is a vital part of the Cairngorms National Park economy and it’s communities are keen to welcome visitors and share the regions treasures. The National Park was setup to conserve it’s natural and cultural heritage to promote the sustainable use of its resources and to facilitate greater understanding and enjoyment of its natural and historic assets.
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“ The waters offer a variety of
scenic delights including gorges, waterfalls and tranquil expanses of little – frequent waters.”
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Inverness
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Inverness (from the Scottish Gaelic Inbhir Nis, meaning “Mouth of the River Ness”) is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland. Inverness lies near two important battle sites : the 11th century battle of Blàr nam Fèinne against Norway which took place on The Aird and the 18th century Battle of Culloden which took place on Culloden Moor. It is the northernmost city in the United Kingdom and lies within the Great Glen (Gleann Mòr) at its north-eastern extremity where the River Ness enters the Moray Firth. At the latest, a settlement was established by the 6th century with the first royal charter being granted by Dabíd mac Maíl Choluim (King David I) in the 12th century. The Gaelic king Mac Bethad Mac Findláich (MacBeth) whose 11th century murder of King Duncan was immortalised in Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, held a castle within the city where he ruled as Mormaer of Moray and Ross.
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“ the castle
in which Mac Bethad mac FindlĂĄich
(Macbeth) had murdered
Máel Coluim’s father Donnchad
(Duncan I)”
History Inverness was one of the chief strongholds of the Picts, and in AD 565 was visited by St Columba with the intention of converting the Pictish king Brude, who is supposed to have resided in the vitrified fort on Craig Phadrig, on the western edge of the city. A 93 oz (2.9 kg) silver chain dating to 500|800 was found just to the south of Torvean in 1983. A church or a monk’s cell is thought to have been established by early Celtic monks on St Michael’s Mount, a mound close to the river, now the site of the Old High Church and graveyard. The castle is said to have been built by Máel Coluim III (Malcolm III) of Scotland, after he had razed to the ground the castle in which Mac Bethad mac Findláich (Macbeth) had, according to much later tradition, murdered Máel Coluim’s father Donnchad (Duncan I), and which stood on a hill around 1 km to the north-east. The strategic location of Inverness has led to many conflicts in the area. Reputedly there was a battle in the early 11th century between King Malcolm and Thorfinn of Norway at Blar Nam Feinne, to the southwest of the city. Inverness had four traditional fairs, including Legavrik or “Leth-Gheamhradh”, meaning midwinter, and Faoilleach. William the Lion (d. 1214) granted Inverness four charters, by one of which it was created a royal burgh. Of the Dominican friary founded by Alexander III in 1233, only one pillar and a worn knight’s effigy survive in a secluded graveyard near the town centre. Medieval Inverness suffered regular raids from the Western Isles, particularly by the MacDonald Lords of the Isles in the fifteenth century. In 1187 one Domhnall Bán (Donald Bane) led islanders in a battle at Torvean against men from Inverness Castle led by the governor’s son, Donnchadh Mac An Toisich (Duncan Mackintosh). Both leaders were killed in the battle, Donald Bane is said to have been buried in a large cairn near the river, close to where the silver chain was found. Local tradition says that the citizens fought off the Clan MacDonald in 1340 at the Battle of Blairnacoi on
Through the Cairngorms National Park - Inverness - 59
Drumderfit Hill, north of Inverness across the Beauly Firth. On his way to the Battle of Harlaw in 1411, Donald of Islay harried the city, and sixteen years later James I held a parliament in the castle to which the northern chieftains were summoned, of whom three were arrested for defying the king’s command. Clan Munro defeated Clan Mackintosh in 1454 at the Battle of Clachnaharry just west of the city. The Clan MacDonald and their allies stormed the castle during the Raid on Ross in 1491. In 1562, during the progress undertaken to suppress Huntly’s insurrection, Mary, Queen of Scots, was denied admittance into Inverness Castle by the governor, who belonged to the earl’s faction, and whom she afterwards caused to be hanged. The Clan Munro and Clan Fraser took the castle for her. The house in which she lived meanwhile stood in Bridge Street until the 1970s, when it was demolished to make way for the second Bridge Street development. Beyond the then northern limits of the town, Oliver Cromwell built a citadel capable of accommodating 1,000 men, but with the exception of a portion of the ramparts it was demolished at the Restoration. The only surviving modern remnant is a clock tower. Inverness played a role in the first Jacobite rising in 1689. In early May, it was besieged by a contingent of Jacobites led by MacDonnell of Keppoch. The town was actually rescued by Viscount Dundee, the overall Jacobite commander, when he arrived with the main Jacobite army, although he required Inverness to profess loyalty to King James VII. In 1715 the Jacobites occupied the royal fortress as a barracks. In 1727 the government built the first Fort George here, but in 1746 it surrendered to the Jacobites and they blew it up. Culloden Moor lies nearby, and was the site of the Battle of Culloden in 1746, which ended the Jacobite Rising of 1745-1746. On 7 September 1921, the first British Cabinet meeting to be held outside London took place in the Town House, when David Lloyd George, on holiday in Gairloch, called an emergency meeting to discuss the situation in Ireland. The Inverness Formula composed at this meeting was the basis of the Anglo-Irish Treaty.
“ Inverness played a role
in the first Jacobite rising
in 1689.�
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Along the
Loch Ness (Scottish Gaelic Loch Nis) is a large, deep, freshwater loch in the Scottish Highlands extending for approximately 23 miles (37 km) southwest of Inverness. Its surface is 52 ft (16 m) above sea level. Loch Ness is best known for alleged sightings of the cryptozoological Loch Ness Monster, also known affectionately as “Nessie�. It is connected at the southern end by the River Oich and
a section of the Caledonian Canal to Loch Oich. At the northern end there is the Bona Narrows which opens out into Loch Dochfour, which feeds the River Ness and a further section of canal to Inverness. It is one of a series of interconnected, murky bodies of water in Scotland; its water visibility is exceptionally low due to a high peat content in the surrounding soil.
Loch
Ness Along the Loch Ness - Loch Ness - 65
Monster The Loch Ness Monster is a being in folklore that reputedly inhabits Loch Ness, a lake in the Scottish Highlands. It is similar to other supposed lake monsters in Scotland and elsewhere, though its description varies from one account to the next, with most describing it as large. Popular interest and belief in the creature’s existence has varied since it was first brought to the world’s attention in 1933. Evidence of its existence is anecdotal, with minimal and much-disputed photographic material and sonar readings. The most common speculation among believers is that the creature represents a line of long-surviving plesiosaurs.Much of the scientific community regards the Loch Ness Monster as a modern-day myth, and explains sightings as including misidentifications of more mundane objects, outright hoaxes, and wishful thinking. The creature has been affectionately referred to by the nickname Nessie (Scottish Gaelic Niseag) since the 1940s. The term “monster” was reportedly applied for the first time to the creature on 2 May 1933 by Alex Campbell, the water bailiff for Loch Ness and a part-time journalist, in a report in The Inverness Courier. On 4 August 1933, the Courier published as a full news item the assertion of a London man, George Spicer, that a few weeks earlier while motoring around the loch, he and his wife had seen “the nearest approach to a dragon or pre-historic animal that I have ever seen in my life”, trundling across the road toward the loch carrying “an animal” in its mouth. Other letters began appearing in the Courier, often anonymously, with claims of land or water sightings, either by the writer or by family or acquaintances, or stories they remembered being told. These stories soon reached the national (and later the international) press, which described a “monster fish”, “sea serpent”, or “dragon”, eventually settling on “Loch Ness Monster”. On 6 December 1933, the first purported photograph of the monster, taken by Hugh Gray, was published in the Daily Express, and shortly afterwards the creature received official notice when the Secretary of State for Scotland ordered the police to prevent any attacks on it. In 1934, interest was further sparked by what is known as The Surgeon’s Photograph. In the same year R. T. Gould published a book, the first of many that describe the author’s personal investigation and collected record of additional reports predating 1933. Other authors have claimed that sightings of the monster go as far back as the 6th century (see below).
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Villages & Places At Drumnadrochit is the “Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition” which examines the natural history and legend of Loch Ness. Boat cruises operate from various locations on the loch shore, giving visitors the chance to look for the “monster”. Urquhart Castle is located on the western shore, 1 mile (1.6 km) east of Drumnadrochit. Lighthouses are located at Lochend (Bona Lighthouse) and Fort Augustus.
“ Urquhart Castle is located on
the western shore�
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Loch
Duntelchaig Along the Loch Ness - Loch Ness - 71
Loch Duntelchaig (from the Scottish Gaelic Loch Dun Seilcheig) is a loch in the traditional county of Inverness-shire in the Scottish Highlands. It extends 5 km from the southwest to its outflow in the northeast and measures up to 1.75 km at its widest. The loch drains via Loch a Chlachain into the River Nairn. Loch Duntelchaig is over 60m deep towards its south end. It is also the main reservoir for Inverness sitting less than a kilometre from the secondary reservoir Loch Ashie.
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Along the Loch Ness - Loch Duntelchaig - 75
Loch
Mhor Along the Loch Ness - Loch Ness - 77
Along the Loch Ness - Loch Mhor - 79
“ Loch Mhòr was originally two separate lochs,
Loch Garth in the southwest and
Loch Farrali in the northeast.”
Loch Mhòr is a loch in the traditional county of Inverness-shire in the Scottish Highlands. It occupies much of the wide floor of Stratherrick which runs roughly parallel to Loch Ness around 3 miles (5 km) to its southeast. A generally shallow body of water, Loch Mhòr achieves a depth in excess of 20m towards its southern end. Loch Mhòr was originally two separate lochs, Loch Garth in the southwest and Loch Farraline in the northeast. The water level was raised, so it could be used as a reservoir for a hydro-electric scheme and associated aluminium smelter at Foyers (the smelter closed in 1967, but the Loch is still used as a reservoir for a pumped-storage hydroelectricity facility). This joined the two lochs into one, though they are still divided by a causeway carrying a minor road. In its middle reaches, a broad and shallow embayment on its southeastern shore contains a scatter of islets. The main rivers into the Loch are the River E, and some of the flow of the River Fechlin, which has been diverted through an aqueduct. The waters of the loch empty as the River Gourag below a dam at its southwestern end. This short river joins the River Foyers which empties into Loch Ness.
ine
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Suidhe Viewpoint
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To the East of the southern of Loch Ness, the land rises steepy into the mountains, to a place called Suidhe Viewpoint. You leave Fort Augustus by the main road, the B862 and wind your way around the tail of Loch Ness and up a steep road which climbs for what seems like hours. Eventually the road drops briefly, down into a dip in the mountains that holds Loch Tarrf, before climbing again steeper still.
As you crest the summit, your breath is taken away by the view, mountains and lochs. The area is jammed for of photographic potential, not least the wonderful Loch Ness. There is Fort Augustus, with its many stepped lock gates, or Inverness with its busy shopping streets, pubs and river walks. But non of these compare to the wilds of the area. Just get in your car and drive, follow the road. Along the Loch Ness - Suidhe Viewpoint - 85
“As you crest
the summit,
your breath is taken away
by the view,
mountains and lochs.”
Along the Loch Ness - Suidhe Viewpoint - 87
surrondings
Loch Shiel (Scottish Gaelic Loch Seile) is an 11.3 miles long freshwater loch, 120 m (393 ft) deep, situated 12.4 miles west of Fort William in Lochaber, Highland, Scotland. Its nature changes considerably along its length, being deep and enclosed by mountains in the north east and shallow surrounded by bog and rough pasture in the south west, from which end the 4 km River Shiel drains to the sea in Loch Moidart near Castle Tioram.
Loch
Linnhe Loch Shiel surroundings - Loch Linnhe - 91
Loch Shiel surroundings - Loch Linnhe - 93
Loch Linnhe is a sea loch on the west coast of Scotland. The part upstream of Corran is known in Gaelic as An Linne Dhubh (the black pool, originally known as Loch Abar), and downstream as An Linne Sheileach (the salty pool). The name Linnhe is derived from the Gaelic word linne, meaning “pool�. Loch Linnhe follows the line of the Great Glen Fault, and is the only sea loch along the fault. About 50 kilometres (31 mi) long, it opens onto the Firth of Lorne at its southwestern end. The part of the loch upstream of Corran is 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) long and an average of about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) wide. The southern part of the loch is wider, and its branch southeast of the island of Lismore is known as the Lynn of Lorne. Loch Eil feeds into Loch Linnhe at the latter's northernmost point, while from the east Loch Leven feeds in the loch just downstream of Corran and Loch Creran feeds into the Lynn of Lorne. The town of Fort William lies at the northeast end of the loch, at the mouth of the River Lochy.
“ The name Linnhe is derived from
the Gaelic
word linne,
Loch Shiel surroundings - Loch Linnhe - 95
meaning ‘pool’.”
Loch
Shiel Loch Shiel surroundings - Loch Linnhe - 97
The surrounding mountains are picturesque but relatively rarely climbed as none quite reaches the 3,000 ft (910 m) required for Munro status. The area is well wooded compared to the many Highland areas that have suffered from overgrazing, and much of the shore is designated a Special Area of Conservation. Uniquely for a major loch, the flow is not regulated. Boat trips for tourists have recently started on the loch. Loch Shiel is only marginally above sea level and was in fact a sea loch a few thousand years ago when sea levels (relative to Scotland) were higher.
History A ruined chapel can be found on the largest island said to be the first home on the Scottish mainland of St. Finan, a teacher of St. Columba. Acharacle, at the south of the Loch, is the site of the 1140 battle in which Somerled defeated the Norse to found the ruling dynasty of Lord of the Isles. During these times, the loch had strategic importance as a communications route through the mountains, as the short River Shiel was easily navigable in ancient times, however is no longer navigable as the depth drops to less than a foot. Alexander MacDonald (Alasdair MacMhaighstear Alasdair), the famous poet and supporter of Bonnie Prince Charlie, was born and raised in the neighborhood. In 1745, after disembarking at Moidart, Bonnie Prince Charlie was rowed the length of the loch in order to raise his standard at Glenfinnan.
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In fiction
Loch Shiel is the location of the fictional Black Lake near Hogwarts in the film versions of the Harry Potter series. It is also the fictional birthplace of Connor and Duncan MacLeod from the Highlander franchise as well as the actual location of the boat scene with Ramirez in The Highlander (1986). The loch was also used in the filming of the movie The Master of Ballantrae starring Errol Flynn.
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“ Loch Shiel is the location of the fictional
Black Lake near Hogwarts
in the film versions of
the Harry Potter series.�
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Tioram
Castle
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Castle Tioram (pronounced “Chee-rum” from Scottish Gaelic Caisteal Tioram meaning “dry castle”) is a ruined castle that sits on the tidal island Eilean Tioram in Loch Moidart, Lochaber, Highland, Scotland. It is located west of Acharacle, approximately 80 km (50 mi) from Fort William. Though hidden from the sea, the castle controls access to Loch Shiel. It is also known to the locals as “Dorlin castle”. The castle - a listed building and scheduled ancient monument - is the traditional seat of Clan MacDonald of Clan Ranald, a branch of Clan Donald. Castle Tioram was seized by Government forces around 1692 when Clan Chief Allan of Clanranald joined the Jacobite Court in France, despite having sworn allegiance to the British Crown. A small garrison was stationed in the castle until the Jacobite Uprising of 1715 when Allan recaptured and torched it, purportedly to keep it out of the hands of Hanoverian forces. It has
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been unoccupied since that time, although there are some accounts suggesting it was partially inhabited thereafter including storage of firearms from the De Tuillay in the 1745 Jacobite Uprising and Lady Grange's account of her kidnapping. The castle appears to have originally been a principal stronghold of Clann Ruaidhrí. The island the fortress sits upon is first recorded in possession of Cairistíona Nic Ruaidhrí (fl. 1290–1318), daughter of Ailéan mac Ruaidhrí (died ×1296).According to early modern tradition, the castle was erected by Ailéan's granddaughter, ‘Amie’ Nic Ruaidhrí (fl. 1318–50) in the fourteenth century. The castle served as the seat of latter's Clan Donald descendants the next four hundred years. The castle is now in extremely poor condition and in 1998 was closed to the public at the request of Highland Council; a major structural collapse occurred at the north west curtain wall in 2000.
“ (‌) the castle
controls access to
Controversial proposals to restore the castle by the new owners, Anta Estates, were announced in 1997 and received planning consent from Highland Council. This included the creation of a clan centre/museum, domestic apartments, and public access. However, Historic Scotland refused Scheduled Monument Consent - a decision upheld after a local public inquiry. The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland holds a substantial archive of research information, drawings, and photographs lodged by the current owners. The castle can be reached on foot across the tidal causeway, but there is no access to the interior because of the risk of falling masonry. Eilean Tioram is one of 43 tidal islands that can be walked to from the mainland of England, Wales & Scotland and one of 17 that can be walked to from the Scottish mainland.
Loch Shiel.�
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Glenfinnan
Viaduct
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Glenfinnan Viaduct is a railway viaduct on the West Highland Line in Glenfinnan, Lochaber, Highland, Scotland. Located at the top of Loch Shiel in the West Highlands of Scotland, the viaduct overlooks the Glenfinnan Monument and the waters of Loch Shiel.
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Across
&
Glen Coe (Scottish Gaelic Gleann Comhann) is a glen of volcanic origins, in the Highlands of Scotland. It lies in the north of Argyll, close to the border with Lochaber. It is often considered one of the most spectacular and beautiful places in Scotland, and is a part of the designated National Scenic Area of Ben Nevis and Glen Coe. The narrow glen shows a grim grandeur. The glen, approaching from the east on the main A82 road, is surrounded by wild and precipitous mountains. Further west at Invercoe, the landscape has a softer beauty before the main entrance to the glen. The main settlement is the nearby village of Glencoe located at the foot of the glen. near the site of the 1692 Massacre of Glencoe. The Glen is named after the River Coe which runs through it. The name of the river is believed to predate the Gaelic language and its meaning is not known. It is possible that the name stems from an individual personal name, Comhan.
Glencoe
& Ben Nevis
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Glencoe or Glencoe Village (Gaelic A’ Chà rnaich) is the main settlement in Glen Coe in the Lochaber area of the Scottish Highlands. It lies at the north-west end of the glen, on the southern bank of the River Coe where it enters Loch Leven (a salt-water loch off Loch Linnhe).
The village falls within the Ross, Skye and Lochaber part of the Highland council area for local government purposes. It is part of the registration county of Argyll and the lieutenancy area of Inverness for ceremonial functions.
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“ Standing at
1,345 metres
above sea level (‌)�
Ben Nevis (Scottish Gaelic Beinn Nibheis) is the highest mountain in the British Isles. Standing at 1,345 metres (4,411 ft) above sea level, it is located at the western end of the Grampian Mountains in the Lochaber area of the Scottish Highlands, close to the town of Fort William. The mountain is a popular destination, attracting an estimated 100,000 ascents a year, around three-quarters of which use the Pony Track from Glen Nevis. The 700 metres (2,300 ft) cliffs of the north face are among the highest in Scotland, providing classic scrambles and rock climbs of all difficulties for climbers and mountaineers. They are also the principal locations in Scotland for ice climbing. The summit, which is the collapsed dome of an ancient volcano, features the ruins of an observatory which was continuously staffed between 1883 and 1904. The meteorological data collected during this period are still important for understanding Scottish mountain weather. C. T. R. Wilson was inspired to invent the cloud chamber after a period spent working at the observatory.
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Stirling
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Stirling (Scots Stirlin; Scottish Gaelic Sruighlea) is a city in central Scotland. The city is clustered around a large fortress and medieval old town. Stirling is the administrative centre for the Stirling council area, and is traditionally the county town of Stirlingshire. The city is located several miles to the west of the mouth of the River Forth. Historically it was strategically important as the “Gateway to the Highlands�, with its position near the Highland Boundary Fault between the Scottish Lowlands and Highlands and has been described as the brooch which clasps the Highlands and the Lowlands together. Its historical position as the nearest crossing of the Forth to the river mouth meant that it attracted invaders. The beast of Stirling is the wolf, which it shares with Rome. According to legend, when Stirling was under attack from Viking invaders, a wolf howled, alerting the townspeople in time to save the town. Once the capital of Scotland, Stirling contains the Great Hall (restored 1999) and the Renaissance Palace (restoration completed 2011) within Stirling Castle. Stirling also has its medieval parish church, the Church of the Holy Rude, where King James VI was crowned King of Scots on 29 July 1567. The Holy Rude still functions, with a service every Sunday. Stirling is a centre for local government, higher education, retail, and industry. The 2011 census recorded the population of the city as 45,750, the wider Stirling council area has a population of 89,850. The majority of the population is located in its southeast corner, in the City of Stirling and in the surrounding area. One of the principal royal strongholds of the Kingdom of Scotland, Stirling was created a Royal burgh by King David I in 1130, which it remained until 1975, when the burgh as an administrative unit was abolished. In 2002, as part of Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee, Stirling was granted city status.
“ Historically it was
strategically important
as the ‘Gateway to the Highlands’,
with its position near the Highland Boundary Fault
between the Scottish Lowlands and Highlands.”
History Stirling was originally a Stone Age settlement as shown by the Randolphfield standing stones and Kings Park prehistoric carvings that can still be found south of the town. The city has been strategically significant since at least the Roman occupation of Britain, due to its naturally defensible crag and tail hill (latterly the site of Stirling Castle), and its commanding position at the foot of the Ochil Hills on the border between the Lowlands and Highlands, at the lowest crossing point of the River Forth. It remained the river's lowest crossing until the construction of the Kincardine Bridge further downstream in the 1930s. It is supposed that Stirling is the fortress of Iuddeu or Urbs Giudi where Oswiu of Northumbria was besieged by Penda of Mercia in 655, as recorded in Bede and contemporary annals. A ford, and later bridge, of the River Forth at Stirling brought wealth and strategic influence, as did its port. The town was chartered as a royal burgh by King David in the 12th century, with charters later reaffirmed by later monarchs (the town then referred to as Strivelyn). Major battles during the Wars of Scottish Independence took place at the Stirling Bridge in 1297 and at the nearby village of Bannockburn in 1314 involving William Wallace and Robert the Bruce respectively. There were also several Sieges of Stirling Castle in the conflict, notably in 1304. Sir Robert Felton, governor of Scarborough Castle in 1311, was slain at Stirling in 1314. The origin of the name Stirling is uncertain, but folk etymology suggests that it originates in either a Scots or Gaelic term meaning the place of battle, struggle or strife. Other sources suggest that it originates in a Brythonic name meaning “dwelling place of Melyn�. The town has two Latin mottoes, which appeared on the earliest burgh seal of which an impression of 1296 is on record : Hic Armis Bruti Scoti Stant Hic Cruce Tuti (The Britons stand by force of arms, The Scots are by this cross preserved from harms) and Continet Hoc in Se Nemus et Castrum Strivilinse (The Castle and Wood of Stirling town are in the compass of this seal set down.) Standing near the castle, the Church of the Holy Rude is one of the town's most historically important buildings. Founded in 1129 it is the second oldest building in the city after Stirling castle. It was rebuilt in the 15th century after
Stirling suffered a catastrophic fire in 1405, and is reputed to be the only surviving church in the United Kingdom apart from Westminster Abbey to have held a coronation. On 29 July 1567 the infant son of Mary, Queen of Scots, was crowned James VI of Scotland here. Musket shot marks that may come from Cromwell's troops during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms are clearly visible on the tower and apse. Another important historical religious site in the area is the ruins of Cambuskenneth Abbey, the resting place of King James III of Scotland and his queen, Margaret of Denmark. During the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, the Battle of Stirling also took place in the centre of Stirling on 12 September 1648. The fortifications continued to play a strategic military role during the 18th century Jacobite Risings. In 1715, the Earl of Mar failed to take control of the castle. On 8 January 1746 (OS) 19 January 1746 (NS), the army of Bonnie Prince Charlie seized control of the town but failed to take the Castle. On their consequent retreat northwards, they blew up the church of St. Ninians where they had been storing munitions; only the tower survived and can be seen to this day. Economically, the city's port supported overseas trade, including tea trade with India and timber trade with the Baltic. The coming of the railways in 1848 started the decline of the river trade, not least because a railway bridge downstream restricted access for shipping. By the mid 20th century the port had ceased to operate.
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Scotland (Scottish Gaelic Alba) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and covers the northern third of the island of Great Britain. It shares a border with England to the south, and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, with the North Sea to the east and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the south-west. In addition to the mainland, the country is made up of more than 790 islands, including the Northern Isles and the Hebrides.