Scotland Never Disappoints

Scotland is the place to come to nurse disappointment and bruised spirits! It never disappoints her visitors. This is the month of Highland Games, piping, cattle shows, and purple and white heather. I have been busy taking in some of festivities and touring around Aberdeen. I have spent the last few days on my own, as Gretchen has gone to Grantown-on-Spey to greet her family and there is plenty to do in and around Aberdeen.

My first day I grabbed my hiking boots and a double decker bus and headed out to the small coastal community of Stonehaven which is famous for its castle - Dunnottar Castle. The site of the castle has been inhabited since Pictish times (about 5000BC to 700AD) and has been visitied by William Wallace, Mary Queen of Scots and King Charles II. It has been defended against Viking invasion and was where 122 men and 45 women were imprisoned in a vault for refusing to acknowledge the King's supremacy in spirital matters (1685). It now lies in ruins on the edge of a cliff overlooking the sea.

I approached the castle along a the 3.6km coastal path and got some great shots. It was an easy 3.6kms and it was nice to stretch my legs with some walking again after a week of 'rest'. I was getting a bit ansy and needing a walk. It does become a habit quite quickly and I was missing the daily routine of putting on the boots and going. As you can see, you walk quite close the the edge. Well, I manage to get quite close to the edge. It was probably a good thing that Gretchen wasn't there. She gets a wee bit uneasy and has scolded me for getting too close in the past. After my tour of the castle, I hiked back and visited the famous Aunt Betty's, a little ice cream shop in the town. Oh my, I think it rivals Dutch Dreams! I thought I deserved a 'small' treat after my walk.

My second day was spent in Aberdeen walking a loop through Old Aberdeen, along the Esplande (I'm thinking they had the name first before we did in Toronto), to Footdee (pronouced Fitdee - don't ask), and then back up King Street. Old Aberdeen is home to King's College and St. Machar's Cathedral. King's College was founded in 1495 by the Bishop of Aberdeen in order cure ignorance within the parish. The college is now home to a sports centre, Zoology building, Arts Lecture Theatre, Film Studies, and of course Divinity and Relgious studies in the main King's College Building (the one with the crown).

My third day was a real treat. I headed out on another double decker bus to Cruden's Bay, a little community just north of Aberdeen. It has a gorgeous beach and the day was absolutely fantastic! I made my way to a spot on the beach and had a 'wee' lunch before heading out on the real purpose for my visit to Cruden's Bay - Slains Castle. Slains is a deserted castle perched on the edge of a cliff overlooking the sea. I really mean deserted. It is privately owned and was lived in for almost 300 years up to the early 1900's, when it was sold and left abandoned. It is located on private property so it takes a bit to actually get into the castle. Thank goodness for 'right of passage' laws in Scotland - you have a legal right to walk onto someone's private property as long as you respect it. So, there were moments during my visit when I was the only person near and walking around the ruins of this castle! What a treat!

Slains Castle is quite notorious in Aberdeenshire and Scotland. It was visited by Bram Stoker and is said to be the inspiration for the setting of, that's right, Dracula and I can understand why. I was there in the daylight and had moments that sent shivers up and down my spine. I can imagine Stoker standing in front of one of the castle's enormous windows overlooking the sea on a dark and stormy night and creating the sinister Dracula. The sound of waves crashing against the shoreline as electrical, dark, billowing storm clouds rush in toward the shoreline through the inky darkness of night, wind blowing through the hollows of the castle would send anyone's imagination into its darkest corners. The perfect setting for Dracula!

Scotland never disappoints even for the likes of Bram Stoker! Her history, landscape, and the people who live here provide fodder for the soul and the imagination. I have to say it is one of my favourite places in the world! However, as you can see I have now got a way of uploading pictures to my blog and will be starting from the beginning very soon. It may not be until I get back home where I can sit down in front of my computer without the pull of stone circles and castles around me. If you're interested, continue to check back periodically as I will be posting a complete photo journal of my trip this summer over time.

Hope everyone is having a great summer and I will see you soon!

Tammy