Fife Coast | Scottish Tour Guide's Blog

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Tour Fife Coast, Tour Scotland

April 19, 2012 catswhiskers Comments off

West Wemyss, Fife Coast, Scotland

This evening, I am focusing on the popular tourist route along the Fife Coast of Scotland which encompasses: interesting geology and raised beaches, prehistoric carvings, medieval castles, 16th century architecture, quaint fishing villages and sandy beaches. Above is 16th century buildings at West Wemyss.

Below is one aspect of Macduff’s Castle at East Wemyss.

Macduff's Castle, East Wemyss, Scotland

Here is a pleasant sandy beach at Lower Largo, birthplace of Alexander Selkirk who was the real world role model for Robinson Crusoe.

Lower Largo Beach, Fife Coast,Scotland

Here is the Alexander Selkirk statue

: Alexander Selkirk Statue, Lower Largo, Fife

Sandy bay at Elie

Elie, Fife Coast, Scotland

Here is St. Monans Church , a historic site and popular with visitors.

St Monan's Church, Fife Coast, Scotland

Here is Pittenweem Harbour, home to a fleet of still active fishing boats.

: Pittenweem, Fife Coast, Scotland

Here is Anstruther or ‘Anster’ as pronounced by the locals. This seaside village is very popular with visitors, not least because of its acclaimed fish and chip restaurant, one of the top such establishments in Scotland.

Anstruther Harbour, Fife Coast, Scotland

Here is Crail, a former fishing port with quaint and colourful harbour. Popular with artists and craft specialists.

Crail, Fife Coast, Scotland

I invariably include a tour along the Fife Coast as start of a Scotland tour.

Art, Buildings, Castles, Churches, Culture, Fife Coast, Locations, Scotland tour, Tours none

Visit Edinburgh’s Leading Attractions, Visit Edinburgh

March 21, 2012 catswhiskers Comments off

Edinburgh Castle, Scotland

This evening, I am focusing on a selection of the key visitor sites in Edinburgh, capital of Scotland.

We start with Edinburgh Castle which has a long history dating back to the 11th century. There is much to see here including Mons Meg Cannon, the National Memorial and the Crown Jewels of Scotland. Great views from the battlements as per image no 3. Allow about 90 mins.

: Edinburgh Castle, Scotland

Here is a panoramic view of Edinburgh taken from the Castle and which includes Waverley Station, the Balmoral Hotel, Calton Hill skyline, the Scott Monument and Firth of Forth (bay).

: Edinburgh Panorama, Scotland

Here is a view of the Royal Mile which runs from the Castle at top to Palace of Holyroodhouse at bottom. Very busy in the summer tourist season.

: Royal Mile, Edinburgh, Scotland

Here is St. Giles Cathedral which is technically no longer a cathedral as is now part of the Presbyterian Church.The current building mainly dates from the 14th century albeit on a site being place of Christian worship since the 9th century.

: St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh

Here is John Knox House, home of the 16th churchman who converted from Catholicism to play a major role in the Reformation. Knox was the first minister at St. Giles.The property is open to visitors.

John Knox House, Edinburgh, Scotland

Here is the World’s End Pub so named because it is located on the boundary of old Edinburgh. In medieval times residents would rarely venture past the city boundaries and hence the name ‘World’s End’.

World's End Pub, Edinburgh, Scotland

Here is the new Scottish Parliament building which opened in 2004 to house the newly devolved Scottish Parliament. The design is considered controversial by some. Visitors can enter the interior and watch debates in progress.

Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, Scotland

Here is the Palace of Holyroodhouse which is located opposite the Parliament building. It is the Queen’s official residence in Scotland. Most of the building dates from the 17th century. Open to visitors during most of the year.

Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, Scotland

Here is the National Monument which forms part of the Calton Hill skyline. The site offers superb views of Edinburgh City, Leith, the Firth of Forth and across the weater to the Fife Coast.

Calton Hill, Edinburgh, Scotland

Here is the Royal Scottish Academy, home to collections of contemporary art. The building itself is of architectural merit.

Royal Scottish Academy, Glasgow, Scotland

Here is the Scott Monument which dates from 1844. Erected in memory of famous Scottish romantic novelist, Sir Walter Scott.

Scott Monument, Edinburgh, Scotland

Here is the Royal Yacht Britannia , moored at Leith (about 10 mins from Edinburgh). This is a now retired mini-cruise ship dating from the 1950s and formerly used by the British Royal Family.

Royal Yacht Britannia, Leith, Scotland

Clearly, Edinburgh has much to offer the visitor. Consider the foregoing as a sample.

Art, Buildings, Castles, Churches, Culture, Edinburgh, Fife Coast, Locations, Tours none

Visit St Andrews Castle, Visit Scotland

February 25, 2012 catswhiskers Comments off

St Andrews Castle, Fife, Scotland

This evening, I am posting information on one of the most important fortifications on Scotland’s east coast, namely St Andrews Castle.

The site is a logical one for defensive purposes, being a coastal promontory protected on the north and east by cliffs and the sea whilst a deep ditch protects the south and west sides.

A castle has occupied the site since the 12th century with the current structure dating from a re-build in the late 14th century. Over the years St Andrews Castle has been fully exposed to the physical turbulence of Scottish history including the Wars of Independence ( 13th C) and Reformation (16th C). A brief chronology is as follows:

St Andrews was the power base of the bishops who controlled the Scottish Church during medieval times. (Close by is the ruins of the once magnificent St. Andrews Cathedral.) The castle formed the residence-and power base- of the Scottish bishops from around AD1200.
During the Wars of Independence with England the castle frequently changed hands and was subject to a cycle of destruction and repair. In 1337 it was dismantled by Sir Andrew Moray to prevent the building falling into English hands.
The castle remained a ruin for about 50 years post 1337 until rebuilt by Bishop Walter Traill in the late 1300s.
The 1540s witnessed major turbulence when the castle was under control of Cardinal David Beaton (1539-46). This Catholic official took a firm stance against the encroaching Reformation and had George Wishart burnt to death for heresy in 1546.Within a short period the Cardinal himself had been murdered by Protestants who took control of the castle and then came under siege for 12 months until bombardment by a French fleet forced the surrender by John Knox and others. During the long siege of 1546-7 underground mines (tunnels) and counter-mines were dug under the castle and these can still be viewed.
Repairs were undertaken to the castle in the 1560s by Archbishop Hamilton who was, unfortunately, hanged in 1571.
Post the 1560 Reformation some attempts were made to re-establish the authority of the bishops and by implication the castle but the final death knell occurred after 1689 when bishops were abolished by King William and Queen Mary subsequent to which the castle progressively fell into ruin, a process exacerbated by the local council who used the masonry to repair and extend the harbour pier.

A tour of the castle ruins can include the South Front, Fore Tower, Entrance Gateway, South Range, Blockhouse, Chapel Range, Mine and Countermine, East Range, Kitchen Tower, North Range, Sea Tower and ‘Bottle Dungeon’.

St Andrews Castle, Fife, Scotland

At St Andrews the castle is probably the third ranked visitor attraction after the Old Course (golf) and Cathedral.

Buildings, Castles, Churches, Fife Coast, Locations, St. Andrews, Tours none

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