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Tour Glasgow, Tour Scotland

April 17, 2012 catswhiskers Comments off

: Constantine Sarcophagus, Govan Old Church, Glasgow

This morning, I collected tour group from cruise ship at Greenock and proceeded on a tour covering some of the principal sites around Glasgow.

First we called in at Govan Old Church to view the famous Carved Stones which date from the 9th-11th centuries A.D. This collection includes the St Constantine Sarcophagus (above) which ranks as the earliest known art work in Glasgow. Below is an image of more of the stones including a ‘Hogback’.

Carved Stones, Govan Old Church, Glasgow

Next we strolled around to the waterfront at Govan to view the Clyde and Glasgow in the distance. Image below shows the Tall Ship ‘Glenlee’ and the the new Riverside Museum

Clyde Waterfront, Govan, Glasgow

Next we briefly called in at the People’s Place on historic Glasgow Green. Image below shows the Doulton Fountain, the largest terracotta fountain in the world which dates from 1888 and features carved images from around the then British Empire

Doulton Fountain, Glasgow Green, Scotland

Next to our 12.00 noon appointment for a tour of Auchentoshan Distillery, which has been producing Scotch Whisky since 1823.

Auchentoshan Distillery, Glasgow, Scotland

Here we were shown the malting, mashing, fermentation.distillation and maturation processes. Tour culminated in a tasting.

Tour Guide at Auchentoshan Distillery, Glasgow

Whisky Tasting at Auchentoshan Distillery, Glasgow

Next, we drove to the popular village of Luss to view to view Loch Lomond. Fortunately, Ben Lomond (mountain) was resplendent, basking in the sunshine with a covering of snow. This made for good photo opportunities.

Snow Capped, Ben Lomond, Scotland

: Photo Opp, Luss, Loch Lomond

Our final stop was historic Glasgow Cathedral which dates from the 13th century, albeit on a Christian site dating back to around the 5th century. This building is special in that it survived the ravages of the 1560 Reformation virtually intact. Now a Presbyterian place of worship.

Tomb of St Kentigern, Glasgow Catehdral, Scotland

Glasgow Cathedral, Glasgow, Scotland

Finally, we returned to Greenock to connect with the cruise ship.

Art, Buildings, Churches, Culture, Glasgow, Glasgow Architecture, Govan, Greenock, History, Locations, Loch Lomond, Loch Lomond, Lochs & Lakes, Luss, Mountains, Museums, Nature, Prehistory, River Clyde, Scotland tour, Tours, Whisky none

Visit Brodick, Visit Isle of Arran, Scotland

April 4, 2012 catswhiskers Comments off

: Brodick Bay, Arran, Scotland

This evening, I am focusing on Brodick, principal town on the Isle of Arran. The name ‘Brodick’ is derived form the Old Norse for Broad Bay and points to the period up to the mid 13th century when large tracts of the West of Scotland were under Norwegian control.

Arran is often called ‘Scotland in Miniature’ and attracts large numbers of visitors who arrive at Brodick via a short ferry ride from Ardrossan on the mainland, in turn relatively close to Glasgow. The key attractions and facilities at/near Brodick include:

Scenic bay.
Shopping: the widest range of shops on Arran.
Brodick Castle: dates from the 13th century and together with extensive grounds is open to visitors.
Goat Fell: a mountain which dominates the local scenery. This is accessible to most hikers. The named derives from the Old Norse for ‘goat hill’. The rugged peak shown in image above is a function of frost shattering during the last ice-age when Goat Fell and some other peaks on Arran remained above the ice sheets.
A wide range of lodgings including hotels, B&Bs and Guest Houses.
Golf: an 18 hole links course.
Some well preserved examples of prehistoric rock art.
Arran Heritage Museum featuring social history, genealogy, archaeology, archives, Viking heritage and geology.
Beach.
Restaurants.

Here is a landscape view of Brodick Castle

Brodick Castle, Arran, Scotland

Here is a close-up of Brodick Castle

Brodick Castle, Isle of Arran, Scotland

Here is the principal ferry linking Arran to the mainland.

Ardrossan-Arran Ferry, Brodick Bay, Isle of Arran

Brodick is a good location to use as a base for touring Arran.

Arran, Art, Buildings, Castles, Culture, Glasgow, Golf, History, Islands, Islands, Locations, Mountains, Museums, Nature, Scotland tour, Sport, Tours, Viking none

Visit Melrose Abbey, Visit Scottish Borders

March 24, 2012 catswhiskers Comments off

Melrose Abbey, Borders, Scotland

This evening, I am focusing on Melrose Abbey in the Scottish Borders, about 40 miles south of Edinburgh.

The founding of Melrose Abbey on its current site (superseding a previous building located about two miles away) was inspired by King David I of Scotland in 1136 AD. The Abbey was built by a group of Cistercian Monks from Rielvaux in Yorkshire, England. Construction is believed to have taken ten years.

Because the Abbey enjoyed Royal favour it continued to flourish despite suffering damage in the Anglo-Scottish wars and being rebuilt in the 15th century. It fell into ruin after being ravaged by English soldiers and Scots Protestants. The last monk died in 1590.

The Abbey is noteworthy for:

Quality of the stone carvings which include an unusual effigy of a pig playing the bagpipes-see final image below.
Burial place of the heart of King Robert the Bruce-see penultimate image.
Museum with evidence of the Roman presence in the area.

The Abbey is a popular attraction with visitors, many of whom go on to visit the other Border Abbeys of Jedburgh, Melrose, Kelso and Dryburgh. The adjacent small town of Melrose is a pleasant to stroll around, visit the shops and avail of refreshment. There is a garden which specialises in producing dried flowers.

Melrose Abbey is usually a ‘must’ in context of a tour of the Borders.

Melrose Abbey, Borders Region, Scotland

Burial place of the heart of King Robert the Bruce

Burial Place of Heart of Robert the Bruce, Melrose Abbey

Effigy of porcine bagpipe player.

Effigy of Pig Playing Bagpipes, Melrose Abbey, Scottish Borders

Buildings, Churches, Edinburgh, History, Locations, Melrose Abbey, Museums, Roman Britain, Scottish Borders, Tours none

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