Scotland Travels for Feb/March

Well here we are in April and its time for another update of our travels while abroad.

 From Mid-February to Mid-March we took a few road trips to explore around Scotland.  Our first road trip was a 3 hour drive to Aberdeen.  Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city (also ranks third in shopping). 
We spent the weekend exploring the cities historic sites, great restaurants, pubs and of course, shopping.  Lots and lots of shopping! 


  Aberdeen City Center

                                

    Aberdeen Beach

                            

Aberdeen Harbour

 

Aberdeen Harbour is Europe's principal marine support centre for the energy sector in the North Sea and Atlantic Margin, and is the main commercial port serving North-East Scotland with shipping links to more than 47 countries worldwide

Footdee War Memorial

Girdleness Lighthouse

Girdleness Lighthouse was designed by Robert Louis Stevenson (grandfather to the author of the same name) and built in 1833. 

Torry Battery

An artillery battery which has overlooked the city's harbor since 1860.  It was used to defend the city during both World War I and World War II

On our way back home we stopped in the Seaside town of Stonehaven

Stonehaven War Memorial

Dunnottar Castle

Quite possibly one of the most breathtaking sights that 

we have ever seen

Dunnottar Castle is best known as the place where the Honours of Scotland, the Scottish crown jewels, were hidden from Oliver Cromwell's invading army in the 17th century

  

 The ruins of the castle are spread over 3.5 acres surrounded by steep cliffs that drop to the North Sea, 160 ft below. A narrow strip of land joins the headland to the mainland, along which a steep path leads up to the gatehouse. 

       


On our Second road trip we headed south to Ardrossan and took the ferry over to the 
Isle of Arran

Isle of Arran is the largest island in the Firth of Clyde.  With an area of 167 sq miles it is the seventh largest Scottish island.   Arran is sometimes referred to as "Scotland in miniature", as it is divided into "Highland" and "Lowland" areas by the Highland Boundary Fault which runs northeast to southwest across Scotland

View of Holy Isle from our room at the Lamlash Bay Hotel 

 

The inner lighthouse on Holy Isle

The south part of the Isle

Torrylin Cairn

These slabs are the remains of a cairn in which people were buried over 5000 years ago

 

Ailsa Craig 

Ailsa Craig is an island of 219.69 acres in the outer Firth of Clyde, 10 miles from mainland Scotland, upon-which blue hone granite was quarried to make curling stones. The now uninhabited island is formed from the volcanic plug of an extinct volcano.

Pladda

Pladda is a small, flat, teardrop-shaped island, less than a kilometre along its length and rising to just 89 ft above sea level. Unusual for such a small island it has its own source of fresh water.  

                  Pladda Lighthouse and its ancillary buildings stand at the southern end of Pladda.

 

Glenashdale Falls

 

The North Part of the Isle 

Brodick Castle and County Park

 It was previously a seat of the Dukes of Hamilton, but is now owned by the National Trust for Scotland.

Since 1987, an illustration of the castle has featured on the reverse side of twenty pound notes issued by the Royal Bank of Scotland. The 1998 film The Governess, starring Minnie Driver, was filmed at Brodick Castle.

 

Lochranza Castle 
Lochranza Castle was used as the model for the castle in The Adventures of Tintin adventure, The Black Island.

 

Brodick Bay 

The wildlife was abundant on Arran and not camera shy at all.  There were many herds of Red Deer roaming the northern Highlands.  The hotel manager was telling us about the unusually high number of albino Red Deer on the island but we weren't lucky enough to see any.

A flock, gaggle, herd, whatever of swans swam by our hotel one evening.  

We saw at least a dozen pheasants like this cock.  And, like most of Scotland, everywhere you look there is a sheep's butt.

The Isle of Arran is a nice, quaint area to visit.  

It is quiet and beautiful but has much more to offer than just the scenery.  

The pizza at the hotel restaurant was the best we have had in Scotland so far.  There is a nice distillery which was dedicated by the Queen herself and a wonderful little brewery.  They also make their own cheese and chocolate on the island, which is just delicious. We brought back a sampling of everything, which probably will not last very long.

While we are not jet-setting around the world, we have been enjoying our new hometown of Helensburgh and our new friends as well.

Our Neighbors, Iain and Kirsty 

Euan and Lynne                                               Claire

Well that's it for now, as we have to finish packing for our Mediterranean cruise this weekend. 

Sending much love to all of our family and friends,
John and CJ
CHEERS!