Clatteringshaws Loch

This beautiful reservoir (which was created by damming the River Dee as part of the Hydro Electric Scheme) is in Galloway Forest in the south of Scotland. We went there a few times in the early 2000s. There's a visitor centre there too but we were there each time out of season when it was closed, unfortunately.

The reconstructed Iron Age Roundhouse near the banks of the loch

Geoffrey inside gauging the height of the roof!

There were some extremely tame robins and chaffinches in the car park which took food out of the hand. All we had to offer was a crisp but they seemed to like it!

Killin

The picturesque village of Killin in Perthshire is in the heart of the Highlands. I have been there several times (mostly on the way to Aberfeldy) but only have a few photos which I took in 1972, when I visited Killin with my aunts.




Killin lies below the impressive Tarmachan and Ben Lawers range of mountains at the head of Loch Tay, with the beautiful Falls of Dochart flowing through the heart of the village. I'd love to return there one day.

The Undiscovered Scotland webpage about Killin can be found here.

Loch Garry

This is a large expanse of fresh water in Glen Garry, described as the longest and most beautiful cul-de-sac in Britain! The road follows the shores of Loch Garry and Loch Quoich for 22 miles all the way to Kinloch Hourn, at the head of Loch Hourn, a sea loch on the north-west coast. Loch Garry is known as the "Map of Scotland" as its shape at one end is roughly the shape of mainland Scotland.

Loch Garry - two of my old joined photos from a trip north in 1980!

Alloway

As far as I can remember, I only visited Alloway, near Ayr, once. That was in 1980 with my aunt. I have always loved the poetry of Robert Burns and it was fascinating to see his birthplace.

Here I am with Aunt Gwen with the Burns Monument behind

I'm outside the cottage where Burns was born on the 25th January, 1759 and spent the first seven years of his life. It was built by his father, William. It is now laid out inside much as it would have been in Burns' day and it's very interesting to see.

Lots of information can be found about Alloway here

Edinburgh

I cannot find all my photos taken in Edinburgh through the years where we have been mostly to visit my cousins who live there. However, here are a few below!

A photo I took in Princes Street in 1987

The Royal Observatory, 1989 - a great place to visit. Here's the website.

The view from the Braid Hills, 1989

(Above and below): the Forth Road and Rail bridges
See a lot of information and great photos here!

Here's a first day cover which commemorates the opening of the bridge in 1964

A busker playing and singing - and hanging from his feet - in the centre of Edinburgh!! 1996

Geoffrey and I the right way up

A postcard I bought of Princes Street in 1996

Below, photos I took from the top of the Scott Monument the same year; built in honour of Sir Walter Scott, it's well worth climbing the 287 steps to see the marvellous views!

I've scarcely scratched the surface of this wonderful city with these few snaps but I can recommend the Undiscovered Scotland Edinburgh page for lots of photos and information!

Cairnpapple

In 1996 my cousins took us to see this fascinating prehistoric burial site, on the summit of Cairnpapple Hill in the Bathgate Hills, West Lothian (not far from Edinburgh). Cairnpapple was used from about 3,000 BC to 1400 BC firstly as a ceremonial site then several centuries later as a burial site. There are stunning views from here over central Scotland, and even as far as Goat Fell on Arran on a clear day!

There's a very interesting website about it here and the Undiscovered Scotland webpage here (the two best sites which I have come across).

Isle of Skye

I went to the Isle of Skye with my aunt in 1980 - my gerbils went too because there was no one to look after them! Their big cage can be seen below on the back seat of the car. We went over on the ferry from the Kyle of Lochalsh to Kyleakin because the bridge wasn't built until 1995.

We stayed at "Woodside" in lovely Portree

Mrs Davidson at the front door (she didn't mind having gerbils in the bedroom!!)

A visit to beautiful Uig to find an elderly friend's brother's house though we didn't have the address. However, he had lived there most of his life and was quite well known. We stopped to ask someone if they knew where it was and, amazingly, we had parked right outside the very house we were looking for!

One reason for going to Skye was to visit the Gaelic college as I was very keen on learning at the time. It was very disappointing that the people who worked there at the time weren't at all friendly or interested in talking to me. It was quite a blow to my enthusiasm for a while as I had looked forward to going there since it opened in 1973. Hopefully it is quite different now, all these years later. It's certainly much bigger since those days, with new buildings added to the renovated barn, and there are a lot of courses on offer. Here is the website.

Here I am with Aunt Gwen, clutching a few Gaelic books which I bought.

We also visited Dunvegan castle - this is the only photo I have unfortunately, but the website is here.

Here are the Undiscovered Scotland web pages for North Skye and South Skye. There are many links and photos to make up for the lack of mine! I'd love to return there one day.

Dumfries 1

We went to Dumfries in southern Scotland several times for work but managed to make some time to look around the town and vicinity each time! We like the area very much and would like to explore more thoroughly when time permits. The photos below were taken in 2002.

There are some excellent walks alongside the River Nith

Robert Burns spent the last years of his life in Dumfries (he died in 1796) and there's much to see around the town in commemoration of the great poet. The pub above was one of Burns' favourite places to drink. Here is the Official Robert Burns site. "The Banks of Nith" was written soon after he moved to the town. In a letter, he wrote, "The following is the first Compliment I have paid the Nith."

The Banks Of Nith
Robert Burns, 1789

The Thames flows proudly to the sea,
Where royal cities stately stand;
But sweeter flows the Nith to me,
Where Comyns ance had high command.
When shall I see that honour'd land,
That winding stream I love so dear!
Must wayward Fortune's adverse hand
For ever, ever keep me here!

How lovely, Nith, thy fruitful vales,
Where bounding hawthorns gaily bloom;
And sweetly spread thy sloping dales,
Where lambkins wanton through the broom.
Tho' wandering now must be my doom,
Far from thy bonie banks and braes,
May there my latest hours consume,
Amang the friends of early days!

Kirkcudbright

An attractive little town in the far south of Scotland. I don't know why I can only find one photo as the weather has usually been good when we've visited! The town's website is well worth a look here and (as usual!) I recommend the Undiscovered Scotland page here.

Kirkcudbright, 2002

Most people probably go there for the art galleries or sailing but we have visited primarily for the best swimming pool we have ever encountered; the warmest, cleanest and friendliest and the best facilities for the disabled. We often say, after trying out a new (and usually disappointing) pool on our travels, "If only we were in Kirkcudbright"! It really is an impossible act to follow. Click here for the pool's site.

Another place well worth a visit is the Galloway Wildlife Conservation Park, only one mile from Kirkcudbright. It does a lot to help in the conservation of threatened species and is a wonderful day out too. These two photos are from August, 2003 when we 'met' some of the friendly resident snakes.

Newton Stewart

A small town on the River Cree in South West Scotland - "Gateway to the Galloway Hills"; we've visited a few times. Here is a good website about the town and area; here is the Undiscovered Scotland page with more information, and below are three of my photos taken on the outskirts of the town in 2002 and 2003!

Blair Drummond Safari Park

A visit to Blair Drummond Safari Park near Stirling in 1972 (it opened in 1970): just a few snaps and my (very cheap) ticket! I'm sure it's changed a lot since those days, both the price and the animals. The website is here.

The Road to Ullapool

In 1972 we drove the 60 miles from Inverness to Ullapool on the north-west coast. Very few of my photos remain and none at all of Ullapool itself! However, to fill in all the gaps there's always the Undiscovered Scotland website which is the best in my opinion! (Click here)

The road from Inverness to Ullapool, 1972

From a postcard I bought at the time of lovely Loch Garve which we passed

Garve Crafts

Some waterfalls along the way

The peak of An Teallach (from a postcard I bought at the time)