Journeys on Screen: Scottish Islands and Lochs

Paul Merton exploring Scotland's Lochs and Islands

If you can't get there by plane, train, or your own two feet, how about grabbing a hot cuppa tea and your tv remote and setting off to explore the Celtic Isles of Ireland, Scotland, and Great Britain! It's great for armchair travelers, cozy couch explorers as well as those trying to plan a journey to these wild and wondrous islands.

BBC One's Grand Tours of the Scottish Islands (seasons 1-4) and Grand Tours of Scottish Lochs (season 1) are two very impressive travel shows hosted by Paul Merton. This show offers some great scenery but also is engages with the unique Scottish culture and explores the history of land and people. Quite a fascinating show that delves way deeper into the land of the Scots than just the normal tourist destinations. They are streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

Scottish Relics: Craignethan Castle

The Castle Keep

Craignethan Castle in Lanarkshire was built around 1530.

 It overlooks the River Nethan and a great gorge. 

Lots of tunnels and corridors to explore here.

The River Nethan from a lookout on short hike from the castle. 

Magical Hawthorn in Bloom

On the hike below the castle

Scottish Relics: Crichton Castle

"That castle rises on the steep

Of the green vale of Tyne;

And far beneath, where slow they creep

From pool to eddy, dark and deep,

Where alders moist and willows weep

You hear her streams repine."

- description of Crichton Castle in1808 

by Sir Walter Scott from Marmion

Crichton Castle rising from the banks of the Tyne below. Built around 1400 by John Crichton. This castle is unbelievably picturesque and grand. Cared for by Historic Environment Scotland and on their Members Pass, about 40 minutes from Edinburgh and well worth a visit.

It was the very end of May when we visited but the May Tree, hawthorn, was at her splendid height of bloom as you can see. The castle overlooks this incredibly lush river valley, a strategic outpost with near 360 degree views and would have held control of the river. 

Unique diamond faceted façade added in 1580 by Francis Stewart - inspired by journeys to Italy.

Inside of the Grand Stables

The Grand Stables

The Gatehouse

Crichton Collegiate Church - Built in 1449 by William Crichton, Chancellor and one of the most powerful people in Scotland at the time.

A Little Scotland at Home

Wild thistles blooming on a cool foggy morning...It is easy to be transported to the Highlands, to imagine traipsing in fields around the misty lochs, exploring ancient battlements. The Thistle is the national flower of Scotland (as the Shamrock is to Ireland, the Rose to England, and the Daffodil to Wales). Though some may consider it to be a noxious weed, the thistle works perfectly to represent the Scottish people and land. It is beautiful, with its delicate purple bloom yet sharp with thorns and resilient. Legend holds that Vikings were attacking a Scottish settlement in the night; to be stealthy they crept in barefoot as the Scots were asleep in town. The barefoot Vikings unknowingly stepped into some thistle, laden with thorns, and shouted in pain, alerting the Scottish, who woke and readied for battle. The thistle saved the day and it is said that from then on it became an emblem for Scotland. 

This is one of my favorite souvenirs from our most recent journey to Scotland. It is a cast carving of a thistle done in a Celtic knot style. We picked it up at Canongate Crafts on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. It is a tiny little gift shop, in my opinion the best one in Edinburgh - if not Scotland. Everything in the shop is made is Scotland. I've also bought from there: a ceramic vase, carved wooden coasters, a handmade button, a Celtic bronze necklace, and a stained glass medallion. They have even filmed some scenes from Outlander just outside the door! Check out my favorite wee shop HERE and HERE. They do take orders over the phone or email if you can't get to Edinburgh. 

My Heart's in the Highlands

Farewell to the Highlands, farewell to the North,
The birth-place of Valour, the country of Worth;
Wherever I wander, wherever I rove,
The hills of the Highlands for ever I love. 

My heart's in the Highlands, my heart is not here,
My heart's in the Highlands, a-chasing the deer;
Chasing the wild-deer, and following the roe,
My heart's in the Highlands, wherever I go.

Farewell to the mountains, high-cover'd with snow,
Farewell to the straths and green vallies below;
Farewell to the forests and wild-hanging woods,
Farewell to the torrents and loud-pouring floods.
My heart's in the Highlands,

-Robert Burns

I've recently returned from the very heart or the Scottish Highlands, an absolutely stunning landascape as sublime as it is romantic. I love the diversity of the landscape, the personality of each mountain range, each soft valley.  Hover photos for caption.

Back From Beyond

Huntingtower Castle, Perth, Scotland

Just back from an epic ramble across Scotland, in full bloom, under sunny clear blue skies, walking ramparts of bygone eras, through ancient woodlands. I'll be sharing more here soon. 

Holiday Markets

On my dream list of things to do someday is to visit Christmas markets around the world. It seems like the Celtic Isles offer their own charming markets. Read about a few Irish ones over at Tourism Ireland. 

For those of us stuck dreaming of such wonder places.... here are some visual gifts. Also, if you are looking for a lovely little Celtic gift from the comfort of your computer, take a look in the Emerald Post Shop, a marketplace of little Celtic wonders (now selling old fashioned Feather Quills!). Do imagine I'm serving hot wassail, under a glowing tent amidst twinkling lights and light snow flurries, with cathedral bells chiming in the distance.  And to make things easier, remember these promotions:

Now until Christmas

 Take 15% off anything & everything in the shop

Use the code HOLIDAY15

Spend $30 (after all discounts, excluding shipping)

& automatically receive a FREE Portal Collection Postcard Set

Galway, Ireland  {source: Tourism Ireland}

Winterval, Waterford, Ireland {source: Tourism Ireland}

Edinburgh Christmas Market {Source: Little Things Blog}

Exeter Market, England {source: Solo Sophie}

Happy Hallowe'en

May your All Hallows Eve be safe, joyous & macabre. 

I'll be filling packages with extra Emerald Post treats for all purchases made today, Halloween, or tomorrow, All Saints Day. Hope over to the Etsy Shop to browse.

Happy Samhain!

For your enjoyment...some scenes from Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh, Scotland...

Scotland - A Spirit of its Own

Visit Scotland has the most amazing EBOOK up now exploring many myths, legends, & hauntings all across the Highlands and beyond to get you in the Halloween spirit. All with great stories, illustrations, maps & more for each story like the one above of the Headless Drummer of Edinburgh Castle. This ebook is seriously spooktacularly awesome. Visit Scotland also has a pretty killer Instagram. Happy Hauntings. 

Anatomy of a Castle: Magic, Myth & Legends

Ivy clad ruins of Ballycarbery Castle, Kerry, Ireland

Many of us have learned most of our knowledge of castles from childhood stories, from books, television and films. Or, at least, that is where we begin. From these interpretations, castles are infused with stories, with legends of King Arthur, visits from Merlin, with legends of ghosts and banshees, with the sadness of unrequited love, the joy of amorous reunions, even the mischief of fairies in the nearby woods. I see a castle turret and wonder who pondered the horizon from that window. I walk into a great hall and wonder who supped at the table. What kings plotted dominion from private chambers, what knights plotted treason from their seat below the lord. What lovers met secretly in dark corridors. All of these inklings woven with the true history and glorious architecture of castles form a truly magical tapestry. For this, I never tire of visiting these strongholds, these homes, these works of arts, these magical realms. I hope you've enjoyed the journey as well.  Here are some (well many!) of my favorite photos through which I hope you can grasp some of the magic.

Cahir Castle, Ireland 

Tower House of Aughnanure Castle, County Galway, Ireland

Courtyard of Craigmillar Castle, Scotland

Chepstow Castle, Wales

Cliffside ruins of Dunluce Castle, County Antrim, Ireland

Edinburgh Castle, Scotland

The remote ruins of Auchindoun Castle Scotland

Hilltop ruins of Carreg Cennen Castle, Wales

View from Kidwelly Castle, Wales

Stirling Castle, Scotland