Scottish Tour Guide's Blog » Roman Britain

Tour Hadrian’s Wall, Tour England

catswhiskers — Sun, 05 May 2013 21:17:29 +0000

Roman Cavalryman

This morning, we departed our lodgings at Thirsk, Yorkshire and drove north to viist some of the key sites along Hadrian’s Wall. The Wall was built AD 122-AD138 and extends for 73 miles, coast to coast. Along the Wall major forts were built at 7 mile intervals and smaller ‘castles’ at intervals of 1 Roman mile.

Private Ancestry Tour England, Private Tour England

catswhiskers — Fri, 03 May 2013 20:49:35 +0000

Searching for ancestors at Holme upon Spalding Moor, England

This morning, we departed our lodgings in Boston and then drove to the country town of Alford where the street market was in process. Here we visited the church which was open to the public.

Visit Bowling, Visit Forth & Clyde Canal

catswhiskers — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 20:39:07 +0000

Firth of Clyde from Bowling

This evening, I am focusing on the village of Bowling ( pop 5500) which is situated on the northern banks of the Firth of Clyde in S.W. Scotland.

Visit Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway, Visit Scotland

catswhiskers — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 20:54:44 +0000

Steam Engine at Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway, Scotland

This morning, I took a trip on the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway, a short line which operates steam trains run by the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway. The round trip takes about 70 minutes starting and finishing Bo’ness. Te line passes through Kinneil Halt, Birkhill and Manuel Station. Sites and visitor attractions en-route include:

Cycle to Balloch, Cycle Scotland

catswhiskers — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 22:41:04 +0000

Fly fishing in River Leven with Ballantines Whisky complex in background.

This evening, I am recovering after a 55 mile (88km) round trip cycle ride Glasgow-Balloch (Loch Lomond)-Glasgow wit most of the route following the Forth & Clyde Canal.

Explore Scotland’s Geology, Explore Scotland

catswhiskers — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 21:37:41 +0000

Old Man of Storr, Isle of Skye, Scotland

This evening, I am focusing on Scotland’s fascinating and diverse geology.

Over the past 500 million years the land which now comprises Scotland has drifted from a position well south of the equator up across the equator to its current position about 56 degrees north, on roughly the same latitude as Labrador and Moscow. This long journey entailed exposure to submersion by oceans, desert conditions, tropical rain-forests, ice sheets and a physical join (collision) with England & Wales all of which has impacted on landscapes and geology. The approximate chronology is as follows:

Cycle Forth & Clyde Canal, Cycle Scotland

catswhiskers — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 22:43:47 +0000

Pair of Swans on Forth & Clyde Canal, Scotland

My blog post of Jan 28th 2013 recorded my Glasgow-Falkirk-Cycle ride along the Forth & Clyde Canal. Today, I completed the Western leg, Glasgow-Maryhill-Bowling-Maryhill-Glasgow, a round trip of about 30 miles ( 48 km) which was aided by relatively benign weather.

Visit Roman Baths at Bath, Visit Roman Britain

catswhiskers — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 22:41:17 +0000

This evening, I am posting information on one of the finest spas of the ancient world and which now forms part of a World Heritage Site

The Roman Baths at Bath were orginally constructed around AD 60 and were in use through to the end of Roman rule in AD410, possibly longer.

Visit Kirkintilloch, Visit Scotland

catswhiskers — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 21:58:11 +0000

This evening, I am focusing on the town of Kirkintilloch (pop 20,000) which is located in the West of Scotland, a few miles N.E.of Glasgow. This town and environs has a long history, viz:

Cycle Forth & Clyde Canal, Cycle Scotland

catswhiskers — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 00:12:47 +0000

Maryhill Locks, Glasgow, Scotland

This evening, I am recovering after a 10 hour cycle ride along the Forth & Clyde Canal in the West of Scotland. This entailed a trip from Maryhill in Glasgow to the Falkirk Wheel and back. The cycle trail ( tow path) was heavily waterlogged and hence my feet and clothing finished somewhat on the damp side. Nevertheless, a satisfying trip which I had planned for some time. Along the way I was able to connect with history stretching back nearly 2000 years, some interesting towns and a variety of bird-life. The canal surface was part frozen. Here is a summary of key interests: