Scottish Tour Guide's Blog

CatsWhiskersTours provide unique tour experiences tailored to suit you. Call +44 (0) 141 638 5500

Browsing Posts in Eaglesham

 
Fishing, River Spey
Fishing, River Spey, Scotland
 
This evening, I am focusing on fishing for sport in Scotland. This mainly takes place on major salmon and trout rivers such as the Tay, Tweed and Spey. However, there are multiple other possibilities including numerous lochs (lakes), smaller rivers, such as the Garry, Tummel and Esk, and the sea. The fishing season runs approximately from February to October each year. Above and below is a small portfolio of fishing related images which I have accumulated in course of tours around Scotland.
 
Above is a fisherman on the Spey in the Scottish Highlands whilst immediately below is a fishing scene from the River Kelvin in the city of Glasgow.
 
 
Fishing, River Kelvin
Fishing, River Kelvin, Glasgow

 

Here are some  locals enjoying a relaxing time on the ‘bonnie’ banks of Loch Lomond in central Scotland.
 
Fishing, Loch Lomond

Fishing, Loch Lomond, Scotland

 
 
Here is a popular beat on the River Tay, near Dunkeld, also in central Scotland.
Fishing Beat, River Tay

Fishing Beat, River Tay, Scotland

 
This shot was taken on a small loch (lake) near Eaglesham, south of Glasgow. No doubt a club. Note windfarm in distance, Europe’s largest.
Loch Fishing, Eaglesham

Loch Fishing, Eaglesham, Scotland

 
Here is a self-explanatory sign warning non-authorised fisherman to keep away from private fishing.
 
No Fishing Sign

No Fishing Sign, Scotland

 Overall, Scotland offers tremendous opportunities for fishing, from the Borders through to the Tay in central Scotland and the Spey in the north. A large support industry has grown up around this activity. From time to time some of tour guests do seek a spot of fishing as part of their Scotland vacation.

Whitelee Wind Farm

Whitelee Wind Farm, Scotland

This morning, I cycled up to visit Whitelee Wind Farm, near Eaglesham, south of Glasgow. This is Europe’s largest wind farm with a complement of 140 turbines but with a further 75 turbines to be added. When the extended capacity is added Whitelee will have a generating capacity of 539 Megawatts which will be sufficient to power over 300,000 homes. However, at time of my visit not a single turbine was moving, possibly due to the virtual absence of wind.

Whitelee encourages visitors to which end provides a visitor centre, free access and cycling and walking trails. There are also guided bus tours of the site.

Oter facts concerning the wind turbines:

  • Each generates 2.3 Megawatts of electricity.
  • The towers stand 110 metres tall from base to blade tip and are made from steel.
  • Turbine blades are 45 metres long and are made from fibre glass and wood.
  • Each turbine has a three bladed horizontal axis.

In good weather, the elevated position affords good views of the site and the local landscape.

Turbine at Whitelee Wind Farm

Turbine at Whitelee Wind Farm, Scotland

Heather in Bloom at Whitelee Wind Farm

Heather in Bloom at Whitelee Wind Farm, Scotland

 

Turbines at Whitelee Wind Farm

Turbines at Whitelee Wind Farm, Eaglesham Moor

Dunwan Hill (below) is of historical interest. There is speculation that it may have been an Iron-Age fort but more likely the location of  a high status dwelling place from the 1st millennium. 

Dunwan Hill, Whitelee

Dunwan Hill, Whitelee, Scotland

Looking at the bigger picture:

  • Scotland has set a target of 80pct of electricity to be generated by renewables by 2020.
  • Wind turbines produce electricity 70-85pct of the time.
  • Over each year, a turbine will typically generate 30pct of maximum theoretical output.

An interesting visitor experience. I am scheduled to a small tour group to Whitelee later this week.

This morning with sub zero temperatures, a clear sky and lots of snow and ice around I decided to venture up to Eaglesham Moor on my bike with prime aim of obtaining some seasonal images. This was a 12 mile round trip (on my bike) which proved a success notwithstanding the poor road conditions and the fact I was forced to walk the last few miles due to a puncture. The unusually harsh winter conditions provide interesting photo opps and help to keep the adrenalin flowing.

Here is the almost completely frozen over White Cart Water at Waterfoot. 

Frozen White Cart

Frozen Weir

continue reading…