Scotland: The Fife Coast 3

 

[ Photo Gallery # 98 ]

The Fife Coast: 3

Kellie Castle, Cambo Gardens and Hew Lorimer

Kellie Castle is situated near Arncroach, about 5 kilometres north of Pittenweem in Fife on the Scottish East coast.

The castle is one of fairytale stone towers and stepped gables.  The oldest parts are 14th century, but much of the rest of was refurbished and added to in the late 19th century by the Lorimers, a famous artistic family.  Indoors can be found elaborate plaster ceilings and painted panelling, together with fine furniture designed by Sir Robert Lorimer, who spent much of his childhood at Kellie.

Not far away, near to St.Andrews, is the Cambo Walled Gardens.  This Victorian walled garden has been brought up to date with the introduction of lovely woodland walks leading beside a sparkling burn down to the nearby sea.

 

Kellie Castle, Fife

The Hew Lorimer Studio

Hew Lorimer

Sculpture by Hew Lorimer

Sculpture by Hew Lorimer

Sculpture in the castle grounds by Hew Lorimer

In Cambo Walled Gardens

In Cambo Walled Gardens

In Cambo Walled Gardens

Ireland – The Dingle Peninsula

 [ Photo Blog #57 ] 

Following on from the photographs of my visit to Killarney and the Mulcross Estate, today’s tour is of the Dingle Peninsular, one of the 3 promontories which jut out into the Atlantic Ocean from the south-west coast of Ireland.

Map of South West Ireland showing the Dingle Peninsula

Beach along the southern coast of the Peninsula

Further along the southern coast with a view to the outlying islands

Looking eastwards back towards Dingle

One of the Dingle Peninsula’s many small secluded beaches

The Dingle Peninsula has many dozens of standing stones such as this menhir beside the coast road.

. . .  and this menhir further along the coast

The roadside remains of a one-time occupied croft

Dingle Slea Head Crucifix – one of many such roadside shrines

Seagull on the seawall with the Blasket Islands behind

Sea thrift beside the coast road

Roadside wild foxgloves at the south-western end of the peninsula

 

Glenfinnan

The Glenfinnan Monument, looking South West towards Loch Shiel, Scotland

GLENFINNAN

Glenfinnan is a village in Lochaber, an area of the Highlands of Scotland.   In 1745 the Jacobite Rising began here when Prince Charles Edward Stuart (“Bonnie Prince Charlie”) raised his standard on the shores of Loch Shiel. Seventy years later, the 18 m (60 ft) Glenfinnan Monument, at the head of the loch, was erected to commemorate the historic event.  (Wikipedia).

 

Glenfinnan is one of the most beautiful spots I have ever visited.  In whichever direction one looks the views are stunning.  Even on a rather cloudy day, as it was on my last visit, the scene which confronted me had colour, beauty and drama, and displayed in all its magnificence the manifold beauties of nature – the natural splendour of mountains, water, trees, sky, wild-flowers, all visible from the one spot at the head of Loch Shiel on Scotland’s west coast.   But the scene also resounds with historical drama – signified by the impressive Monument situated at the head of the loch, which marks the spot where Bonnie Prince Charlie’s standard was raised, and where the clans flocked to join his , albeit ill-fated, cause.   As well as the natural beauty of the location there is so much history associated with this particular spot, which marks the commencement of a momentous period in British history.

Although they cannot do true justice to the beauty of the scenery, I reproduce below some of my photographs, all taken in 2007 from the spot at the head of Loch Shiel where the Glenfinnan Monument now stands, most of them taken from the top of the actual Monument itself. 

Loch Shiel from the Glenfinnan Memorial

The Glenfinnan Railway Viaduct

Looking North from the Glenfinnan Memorial

Looking North from the Glenfinnan Memorial – close-up

The Glenfinnan Memorial

Plaque . . .  ‘On This Spot’ . . .

Charles Edward, Bonnie Prince Charlie

In the Shadow of the Glenfinnan Tower

Foxgloves by the Glenfinnan Tower

Bonnie Prince Charlie himself – atop the Memorial

NOTES:

Prince Charles initially landed from France on Eriskay in the Western Isles.  He then travelled to the mainland in a small rowing boat, coming ashore at Loch nan Uamh just west of Glenfinnan.  On arrival on the Scottish mainland, he was met by a small number of MacDonalds.  Stuart waited at Glenfinnan for a number of days as more MacDonalds, Camerons, MacFies and MacDonells arrived.

On 19 August 1745, after Prince Charles judged he had enough military support, he climbed the hill near Glenfinnan as MacMaster of Glenaladale raised his royal standard.  The Young Pretender then announced to all the mustered clans that he claimed the Scottish and the English thrones in the name of his father James Stuart (‘the Old Pretender’).

Eight months later, Charles Stuart’s claim to the thrones of Scotland and England ended in failure at the Battle of Culloden, on the 16 April 1746.

Hogwarts Express on the Glenfinnan Railway Viaduct

 

The filming of the second and third Harry Potter books, ‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’ and ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’ took place in this area with the Hogwarts Express crossing the railway viaduct and calling at Glenfinnan Station.