Scottish Tour Guide's Blog

River Esk at Gilnockie Tower, Scottish Borders

Today, we joined other participants of the 2011 Gathering and proceeded as follows:

First to Gilnockie Tower which stands on the banks of the River Esk.  This Tower House dates from the 16th century and is the only survivor out of  60/80 stone or wooden towers in the Scotytish Eskdale, Ewesdale and Liddesdale districts. Now under care of Clan Armstrong, the Tower may have been connected to the legendary Johnnie Armstrong. We were able to tour the Tower which was resplendent in the sunshine.

Gilnockie Tower, Clan Armstrong, Scottish Borders

Touring Gilnockie Tower, Clan Armstrong, Scottish Borders

Next to Stones Barn near Bewcastle for an enjoyable outdoor lunch.

Lunch at Stone's Barn, Bewcastle

After lunch we drove to nearby Bewcastle. Here we first walked about 1 mile to Low Grains, now farm buildings but was formerly a small community with Armstrong connections.The site includes remains of a bastle or fortified house.

Route to Low Grains,Clan Armstrong, Bewcastle

Low Grains, Bewcastle, Scottish Borders

After Low Grains we walked back to Bewcastle and visited the castle and church both of which are located within the boundaries of a Roman fort connected with the Hadrian’s Wall frontier about 10 miles south. The castle was slighted by Cromwell during the civil war whilst the church is of interest due to the incidence of Armstrong graves and the Bewcastle Cross which dates from 700-800 AD and ranks as one of the finest Anglo Saxon crosses in England.

Castle at Bewcastle, Scottish Borders

Bewcastle church was rebuilt in 1792 and repaired in 1901.

Bewcastle Church, England

Overall, an enjoyable day aided by bright sunshine and rounded off in the evening by a Gathering dinner.

This morning we departed our Dunfermline lodgings at 9.00am and then drove for about 45 mins to Rosslyn Chapel, about 7 miles south of Edinburgh. This small church dates from the 15th century and took 40 years to complete. It is famous for (a) quality and intensity of the stone carvings which adorn the interior and (b) connection with Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code. Latter has been double edged in that visitor numbers have multiplied since release of film and book swamping facilities at the Chapel whilst on the plus side the increased revenue has proved of great help in funding the on-going repair and remediation work.

At Rosslyn we joined in the 10.00am tour which lasted about 30 mins and gave a useful and well informed overview of the 600 years of history associated with the chapel which today remains a living place of worship as part of the Scottish Episcopalian Church. Unfortunately, no photographs are permitted inside.

Rosslyn Chapel, Roslin, Scotland

Next we journeyed south for an hour to Melrose Abbey, one of the famous ‘Border Abbeys’. As will evident form the images below, Melrose is a romantic ruin. The building originally dates from the 12th century but suffered extensive damage during English invasions of Scotland during the wars of independence and later with the final coup de grace being the Reformation of the late 16th century. In the Abbey grounds is buried the heart of King Robert the Bruce. The romantic author, Sir Walter Scott was also associated with the Abbey.

Heart of Robert the Bruce, Melrose Abbey, Scotland

Melrose Abbey, Borders, Scotland

We enjoyed a spot of lunch at Melrose (sitting outdoors) and then continued our journey south to Lockerbie and our lodgings at Queens Hotel from where I am writing this post.

Restaurant, Melrose, Scotland

Queens Hotel, Lockerbie, Scotland

Below I have posted some general images of Lockerbie town centre taken this evening. Lockerbie is perhaps best known for the terrorist attack of 1988  when Pan Am 103 exploded over the town with resulting huge loss of life. Today, the town centre is somewhat ‘mixed’ with some retail premises boarded up.

Lockerbie Town Centre, Scottish Borders

Lockerbie Town Centre, Scottish Borders

Tomorrow, we tour important sites connected with Clan Armstrong.

Popular Institute Tower, Tillicoultry

Clock Tower, Tillicoultry

This evening, the focus of my blog is Tillicoultry, a small town of about 5000 persons in Clackmannanshire.

This post is prompted by a visit in context of a recent ancestry themed tour. The town is interesting for the reason it is  not on the ‘tourist trail’ . However, location is convenient relative to Stirling, St Andrews and Edinburgh and, indeed, Tillicoultry is now thought of as a commuter town. Nearby is Castle Campbell at Dollar.

Tillicoultry sits as foot of a line of hills stretching east-west called the Ochills.

Historically, Tillicoultry was heavily involved in the textile industry (washing and dying of wool) and produced serge cloth. Water powered mills started in the 1790s and by 1870 there were a total of 12 plus  a paper mill.  Other local industries included a quartz quarry and a coal mine. Today, the town is well served by a variety of shops and retail outlets plus a number of churches. I can vouch for the tea room!

A selection of images is provided above and below.

Community Hall, Tillicoultry, Scotland

Street Scene, Tillicoultry, Scotland

Street Scene, Tillcoultry, Scotland

Street Scene, Tillicoultry, Scotland

Ochill Street, Tillicoultry, Scotland