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Visit Commonwealth Games 2014, Visit Glasgow

May 4, 2012 catswhiskers Comments off

Commonwealth Games 2014, Glasgow

This evening, I am focusing on the 2014 Commonwealth Games( the 20th such event) which are to be held in Glasgow, Scotland between July 23rd and August 3rd 2014. Some key facts:

Seventeen sports comprising: Athletics, Aquatics, Boxing, Badminton, Weight Lifting, Lawn Bowls, Hockey, Rugby 7s, Squash, Netball, Cycling, Shooting, Wrestling, Gymnastics, Judo, Table Tennis and Triathlon.
The Games will be staged in three clusters: East End, South Side and West End.
Cost estimated at GBP500m (about USD800m).
6500 athletes.
The biggest multi-cultural sports event hosted in Scotland.
Legacy will be important.

Clearly, the Games will result in a surge of visitor numbers. Already Glasgow attracts some 3.0m visitors per annum.

Glasgow can offer a wide range of attractions and sites including Roman Era, Picts, Medieval, Industrial history, Art, Architecture and Design. See this blog post for an overview.

Art, Culture, Glasgow, Glasgow Architecture, Locations, Roman Scotland, Scotland tour, Sport, Tours none

Tour Speyside, Tour Scotland

April 13, 2012 catswhiskers Comments off

: Fishing on River Spey, Scotland

This evening, I am focusing on Speyside, an area in the central Highlands of Scotland containing a rich diversity of interests, attractions and scenery. This is the single largest whisky producing areas with some 45 distilleries, there is also wildlife, skiing (in season), climbing in the Cairngorms, salmon fishing on the eponymous River Spey, castles, hiking, water-sports, opportunities for photography and much more.Some of the key towns in this area are Aviemore, Grantown-on-Spey and Dufftown.

In course of a year I arrange a number of whisky tours to the area visiting such distilleries as Glenfiddich, Glenlivet, Macallan, Strathisla and Balvenie.

Here is a typical Speyside landscape view.

Speyside Scenery, Scotland

Here is Balvenie Castle which, unusually for a Scottish Castle, was never subject to a hostile siege. For the visitor this castle is conveniently located close to Glenfiddich Distillery.

Balvenie Castle, Speyside, Scotland

Here is a typical Spring scene with the arrival of newborn lambs.

Lambs, Speyside, Scotland

Here is a view of a snow covered Glenfarclas Distillery.

Glenfarclas Distillery in Winter, Scotland

Here is the traditional maltings floor at Balvenie Distillery.

Maltings Floor, Balvenie Distillery, Dufftown

This is the centre of Dufftown duly decoratated for the Dufftown Whisky Festival.

Dufftown, Speyside, Scotland

Here is a whisky tasting in process at Glenfiddich Distillery, one of Scotland’s largest.

Tasting at Glenfiddich Distillery, Scotland

Speyside is a great spot and deserving of inclusion in a Scotland Tour.

Castles, Highlands, Locations, Nature, Scotland tour, Speyside, Sport, Springtime, Tours, Whisky, Wildlife none

Visit Arran, Visit Scotland

April 6, 2012 catswhiskers Comments off

Brodick Bay with Goat Fell, Isle of Arran, Scotland

This evening, I am focusing on the Isle of Arran which is located off the west coast of Scotland and relatively close to Glasgow. Arran is often described as ‘Scotland in Miniature’.

Most visitors arrive via the approximately one hour ferry crossing from Ardrossan which arrives at the island’s principal town of Brodick . Once disembarked visitors are free to explore the many facets of this compact island which includes:

Geology: Arran is one of the world’s classic geological locations which attracts many students of the subject. In the distance past Arran has variously formed part of the ocean bottom or massive continents now gone.
Prehistory: Good examples of stone circles and rock art with Machrie Moor and Stronach Wood respectively being the prime examples.
Castles: Lochranza and Brodick.
Walking Routes: There is a continuous path around the island which includes stretches of roadway, forest track, coastline and mountainous terrain. It is also possible to scale Goat Fell, the islands tallest mountain.
Wildlife and Sightseeing Tours: Boat trips around Arran and nearby islands.
Isle of Arran Heritage Museum: Learn about the way of life from the remote past to the 1920s.
Isle of Arran Distillery: Tour one of Scotland’s youngest whisky distilleries.
Island Products: Include cheese shop, chocolate shop, fish smokery, brewery and aromatics.
Golfing: Seven courses plus driving range and pro-shops.
Holy Island : A small island accessible from Arran which is now, primarily, a Buddhist retreat.
Cycling: Coast road for road cycling plus ideal terrain for mountain biking.
Wildlife: Red squirrels, seals and deer can be spotted with diligence.
Photography: Seascapes, landscapes, wildlife and castles all provide good subjects.
Beaches: Sandy beaches facilitate swimming- in summer time.
Lochranza Castle, Arran, ScotlandDeer at Lochranza, Scotland

Machrie Moor, Standing Stones, Arran

Highland Cow, Arran, Scotland

Clearly, Arran’s diverse range of attractions and interests will satisfy the needs of many visitors.

Arran, Art, Buildings, Castles, Culture, Deer, Golf, Highland Cattle, History, Islands, Islands, Locations, Monuments, Mountains, Nature, Prehistory, Scotland tour, Sport, Stone Circles, Tours, Whisky, Wildlife none

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