Saved From Ruin: Castle Menzies

As with so many Scottish castles, Castle Menzies was on the brink of utter ruin by the mid-20th century.  Roofs were in a state of collapse and ancient walls were crumbling.  Once the seat of one of Scotland’s powerful Clans, it has apparently come to a sad end. That is, until the re-formed Menzies Clan…

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Athelstaneford Parish Kirk, Scotland

  With connections to a prince, a king, a well-known songwriter, and the birth of the Saltire (Scotland’s national flag), the little parish kirk in Athelstaneford is steeped in history.  So, naturally, I was delighted when I stumbled upon it during one of my “drive-around-and-see-what-we-discover” trips in Scotland.   A Victory for the Picts With…

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St Martin’s Kirk, Haddington

  Very, very few 12th-century parish churches survive in Scotland today.  Through wars, Reformation, and general neglect, most such buildings have sadly been lost to us.  So, when I spotted an old ruin in Haddington – and realised its age – I was delighted!   A Gift From Countess Ada   Ada de Warenne was…

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Urquhart Castle, Scotland

  In the Great Glen of the Scottish Highlands, you will find the magnificent Loch Ness – the second largest lake in Scotland. And on the rocky western bank of the loch, stands the ruins of Urquhart Castle – a place with a long and violent history.   Early History of Urquhart Castle, Scotland  …

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The Culloden Battlefield

  It is windswept.  It feels desolate.  There is a sadness to this place, like I have never experienced before.  This is the place where the Battle of Culloden took place in 1746.  This is the place where Scotland’s story took a turn towards a very different future.   Leadup to the Battle of Culloden…

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Greyfriars Church, Edinburgh

  When James I of Scotland invited several Franciscans from the Low Countries, to settle in Edinburgh, they very quickly accepted the invitation.  In 1447, six friars arrived and settled at the corner of the Grassmarket and Candlemaker Row.   The Friary enjoyed royal patronage and connections.  Mary of Guelders stayed there in 1449, and…

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Two Men Gave Their Lives to Deliver the Mail

A heavy snowstorm was blowing around the town of Moffat, on 1 February 1831.  The Mail Coach from Dumfries pulled up at the Star Inn, in the small town, laden with 100 pounds of mail and a few passengers.  In charge of the coach was Guard James McGeorge and Driver John Goodfellow.  They were all…

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Holy Trinity Church, St Andrews

  Sometimes when a day’s plans go “off-script”, the day turns out even better than expected.  On a recent trip to St Andrew’s on the Scottish east coast, exactly that happened.  We were planning to explore St Andrew’s Castle and St Andrew’s Cathedral that day but stopped for breakfast first (one needs all the energy…

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St Andrews’s Castle, Scotland

  Once the residence of bishops and archbishops, St Andrew’s Castle stands majestically overlooking St Andrew’s Bay, on the East coast of Scotland.  Within these walls, Scottish kings held elaborate feasts, high-ranking prisoners were kept, and the bloody murder of a cardinal took place.  During its long history, St Andrew’s Castle have accumulated a great…

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Beauly Priory, Scottish Highlands

  They came from Dijon in France – the Valliscaulians – and settled here at Beauly Priory in the Scottish Highlands.  The monks belonging to the Valliscaulian Order, were quite different from the monks of other religious orders.  For them, it was all about their personal salvation and less about the world at large.  For…

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