cold day at Chatelherault

we took a very quick trip up to Chatelherault County House this afternoon for some fresh air. It turned out to be arctic air! It’s freezing today! Too cold to be out. Back home watching Ben Hur now! A much better way to spend Easter Monday.

great weekend

Some weekends suck.  Some are busy and some are just great.  This weekend was great.

We (all 5 of us) headed down to Keswick in the English lake district and spent Saturday afternoon playing football and rounders (soccer and softball for any Americans reading) in the sunshine.  We had fish and chips for tea and ice cream afterwards.

On Sunday we (and the rest of the world it seemed) climbed Catbells.

What a great way to spend a weekend!

God’s Own Land – Skye

We have just spent a weekend in Skye.  Words cannot describe the rugged beauty of the Island, photos don’t come close to capturing the magnificent landscape but I’ll try.

We set off, Avril and I never having been to Skye, with our companion for the trip Harry, Avril’s father.  He’s been a few times but was keen to go back.  Now I know why.

The journey from home takes us past Stirling, through the Trossachs, Glen Coe where the Campbells murdered the MacDonalds as they slept, past Ben Nevis, Scotland’s highest peak (still with snow on it) and on through Lochcarron to Skye.  It is simply one of the most amazing journeys in the world.

We drove through Skye and arrived at the Darnbrook Guest House on the Waternish Peninsula to find this view…

We could see all the way out to North Uist!  It is stunning.  We sat at our window and just looked and looked.  Such an awesome view.

Our hosts Caryl and Duncan recommended the Stein Inn for a meal and Skye’s oldest inn didn’t disappoint!  Full and happy, Harry went off to bed while Avril and I ventured along to the end of the peninsula to watch the sunset over Harris.  We joined the other people, all huddled in ourcars as we watched the sun go down over the Hebrides.  It was glorious.

Next morning breakfast was superb (try the haggis!!!) and full to bursting we set off to drive round the Trotternish Peninsula in the North East of Skye.  We passed through Uig and on to Kilmuir Cemetery where Flora MacDonald, the woman who helped Bonnie Prince Charlie escape after the failed Jacobite Rebellion in 1745, is buried.

Just along the coast is Duntlum Castle, once the home of the Lord of the Isles. Next door is the only place we recommend you don’t visit (Duntlum Castle Hotel – YUCK!!!). The rest of the Peninsula is a geological marvel with sheer volcanic cliffs towering over the landscape and waterfalls cascading into the sea.  The Old Man of Storr is stunning.  A quick stop for afternoon tea in Portree and on to our final stop was Dunvegan Castle, home of the Chiefs of the Clan McLeod, before returning to the Stein Inn for another great meal.

Unfortunately we had to come home today but the journey, though long, was breathtaking.  We took the west coast road round Skye passing some serious mountains, the Cuillin Ridge (WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and Balven (WOW!!!!!!!!!!!), and back the way we came.

You must go to Skye at least once in your life, and when you do make sure you drive around and see it, don’t just stay in Portree or Broadford.  Lots of photos at Flickr in the Skye set.

If you are ever in … Glasgow

If you are ever in Glasgow I’d recommend a trip to the Burrell Collection housed in Pollock Park.  It is home to over 9,000 items including some truly beautiful Egyptian, Islamic and Chinese artifacts.  It is also home to the guy on the left, ‘The Thinker’ by Rodin and some beautiful stained glass.  I’ve put some more photos in this Flickr set.

We spent a great afternoon wandering around looking at some fabulous things.  And like all of Glasgow’s museums and galleries… admission FREE!

if you’re ever in… Keswick

Climb a hill!

Today we got up early and headed off to one of our favourite places in the world, Keswick in the English Lake District.  The weather was great and we climbed most of the way up Catbells, the hill in the picture above.  (That’s not the top you can see!)  Avril wasn’t feeling great so we came back down before the steep rocky section at the top.

The views are stunning, looking over Lake Derwent Water and Keswick.  We’re heading back down next Saturday with the small boys to meet friends for a mountain climbing adventure!

Scotland Is Brilliant!!!

The Sunday Herald (source of my scorn a wee while ago) has redeemed itself with this fantastic trip through the 99 best things about Scotland.  Numbers 16 (words for being drunk) and 49-60 (Scotland 1-0 France) are my favourites but Heather the Weather, Tunnocks Tea Cakes and Irn Bru all get a well deserved mention.

For the Scots reading this… laugh out loud.  For those readers from further afield… this is our life… no, really!

if you’re ever in… Inverness

This could be the start of an occasional series… If you’re ever in…

The first entry is Roseisle near Kinloss, near Inverness.  We had a great day there on Saturday with Jillian, Scott, Calum and Ewan and their new puppy, Brora.  The sun was shinning on this beautiful wood next to the beach.  We played on the beach and in the amazing dunes, had a picnic and explored the forest on the red walk.  The kids loved it.

The drive home on Sunday was an added bonus.  The road from Inverness to Perth has to be one of the most spectacular in the world!