Scottish Tour Guide's Blog

Broadford Bay, Skye, Scotland

• Castles
• Gardens
• Mountainous landscapes.
• Seascapes
• A whisky distillery ( Talisker).
• Wildlife including raptors and seals.
• Prehistoric standing stones.
• An iron age ( 2000 year old) dwelling called a broch.
• Traditional peat cutting.
• Waterfalls.
• Artists and craft people. Combination of ever changing light conditions and landscapes offers superb raw material for photographers.
• Colourful harbourside at Portree, the island’s capital.
• Fascinating geological history.

A basic tour of Skye can be undertaken in one full day but some visitors may wish to linger and explore this multi-faceted island.,

Portree, Isle of Skye, Scotland

 

 

Popular Mealt Falls in the north of Skye.

Mealt Falls, Skye, Scotland

 

Kilt Rock, adjacent to Mealt Falls. So named due to similarity with a pleated kilt.

 

Kilt Rock, Skye, Scotland

 

 

Rugged scenery featuring the Old Man of Storr (perpendicular rock in right of image).

Old Man of Storr, Skye, Scotland

 

The Quiraing, rugged scenery due to a massive landslip.

 

Quiraing, Skye, Scotland

 

Here is the ferry port of Uig. Connections to the Hebrides available from here. Good stop for lunch in course of a one day island tour.

 

Uig Bay, Skye, Scotland

 

Fairy Glen near Uig. Name inspired by the strange conical hills.

 

Fairy Glen, Skye, Scotland

 

Here are the remains of an Iron-Age Broch. Just the foundation remains. When complete the structure was probably a high status dwelling and about as tall as a lighthouse.

 

Dun Beag Broch, Skye, Scotland

 

Here is Dunvegan Castle, home to the Chief of Clan MacLeod for hundreds of years and open to the public.

 

Dunvegan Castle, Skye, Scotland

 

Interesting view from Elgol at end of a long and winding road from Broadford.

 

Elgol, Skye, Scotland

 

 

 

View of Cuillin Montains

 

Cuillin Mountains, Skye, Scotland

 

 

Sky ablaze at dawn.

Sunrise, Isle of Skye, Scotland

 

 

View from Isleornsay

Isleornsay, Skye, Scotland

 

Invariably, Skye features in my round Scotland tours.

Greenbank House, Clarkston, Glasgow

• Dates from around 1771 when built on behalf of local merchant, Robert Allason but architect unknown. It is believed that Allason’s wealth was acquired through thee expansion of trade, including tobacco dealing, which drove prosperity in and around Glasgow up until the time of the American Revolution.
• A classic Georgian country house with a walled garden stretching to the south.
• Allason died 1785 having sold Greenbank as a function of the downturn in trade due to American Independence.
• Greenbank House subsequently underwent various changes of ownership as fortunes of the owners ebbed and flowed.
• Then acquired by local man (from East Kilbride), John Hamilton who became the first of four generations of Hamiltons to own the property.
• Greenbank was acquired by W.P. Blyth from Busby in 1962 who incepted the ornamental garden.
• In 1977 Greenbank was transferred to the National trust for Scotland on condition it should serve as a garden advice centre, an objective which has been faithfully adhered to. The garden contains 4000 named cultivars and holds major collections of bergenias and narcissus.

The images shown cover the house at different seasons. Here is a video clip of the front elevation. A fascinating site for students of architecture and/or horticulture.

Greenbank House, Clarkston, Glasgow

 

 

Greenbank House, Clarkston, Glasgow

 

Changing of the Guard, Buckingham Palace, London

 This evening, I am focusing on Buckingham Palace, the principal residence of the British Monarchy and a major tourist attraction. Here are some key facts:

• Originally built 1705 for the Duke of Buckingham.
• Acquired by King George III in 1761.
• Enlarged in 19th century by architects John Nash and Edward Blore.
• Became an official Royal residence on the accession of Queen Victoria in 1837.
• Queen’s Gallery was built and opened in 1962.
• Located at opposite end of the Mall from Admiralty Arch and close to a triumvirate of parks: Green Park, Hyde Park and St James’s Park.
• Open to the public during August and September each year.
• The famous Changing of the Guard  ceremony takes place at 11.30am every day in summer and on alternate days during winter.

A visit to the Palace and/or Changing of the Guard  is almost  mandatory in course of a tour of  London.