Scotland – Page 3 – Travel Britain – United Kingdom Travel Guide for England, Scotland, Wales, & Ireland

Crail

August 15, 2015July 22, 2015 Laura GinnCrail, Scotland0 comment

Crail is a very pretty fishing village on the East Neuk of Fife coast. It is about 10 miles south of St Andrews and 90 minutes from Edinburgh by car. The village has a long and interesting history, dating back to the Pictish period. Robert the Bruce granted permission for a Sunday market in the village; John Knox delivered a fire and brimstone sermon from the pulpit in Crail Parish Church, and Queen Mary landed at Crail in 1538, to be formally received in St Andrews a few days later.…

Orkney Scotland

Orkney

August 1, 2015July 22, 2015 Laura GinnOrkney, Scotland0 comment

Orkney is an archipelago of 70 small islands north of Caithness in Scotland. The Scottish mainland is only a few miles away from the Orkney Islands, but once you set foot on one of the grassy, flat isles, it can feel like you have stepped back in time several thousand years. The majority of the island’s population live on Mainland, which is the largest island. Kirkwall is the capital, but Stromness, the second largest town, has a port, and both are easily accessible via ferry from the mainland. The Orkney…

Livingston Scotland

Livingston

April 1, 2014June 12, 2014 Laura GinnLivingston, Scotland0 comment

Livingston in West Lothian, Scotland, was once a small mining village, housing the workers for the booming shale oil mining industry in the 1800s. According to historians, the name Livingston derives from a Flemish gentleman called De Leving, who came to the region and built a large tower. The tower is no longer in evidence, but the town now bears an approximation of his name. Livingston was the home of Robert Burns, who was inspired enough by at least one local lady to write his famous song: the Bonnie Lass…

Hawick Scotland

Hawick

February 7, 2014June 12, 2014 Laura GinnHawick, Scotland0 comment

You know that as a border town Hawick is going to be pretty, but it has to be exceptionally pretty to be the holder of as many floral awards as it has. This is the largest of all of the Border towns and more than anything is known for the high quality of its knitwear. As with all of the town in the Border regions, it has a long and often unsettled history. Current records can trace life in the town back to the 12th century, under the rule of…

Scotland Troon

Troon

February 3, 2014June 12, 2014 Laura GinnScotland, Troon0 comment

The pretty coastal town of Troon is located in Ayrshire, around eight miles to the north of the city of Ayr. The town lies on the Firth of Clyde and from the seashore you can clearly see the beautiful Isle of Arran in the distance. There are regular ferry links from Troon across to Northern Ireland and the harbour port and yacht marina are some of the most active parts of town. Despite its tranquillity Troon is in fact only a few miles away from the Glasgow Prestwick Airport and…

Dornoch Scotland

Dornoch

January 27, 2014June 12, 2014 Laura GinnDornoch, Scotland0 comment

Dornoch is something of a hidden gem, considered by many to be too far off the well trodden tourist trail to visit. However, the pretty Royal Burgh if Dornoch is only an hour away from the airport at Inverness and offers you a true taste of Scottish life which is unspoiled by the heavy hand of the tourist industry. This picturesque small town lies on the edge of the beautiful Dornoch Firth which itself has been declared an area of outstanding natural beauty. The location is both scenic and tranquil…

Scotland Stornoway

Stornoway

January 20, 2014June 12, 2014 Laura GinnScotland, Stornoway0 comment

Stornoway is the largest and main town on the beautiful island of Lewis which is part of the Outer Hebrides. This was once an important settlement for the Vikings as it placed them within easy reach of the mainland yet gave them a strong defensive position. Stornoway is now the major transport centre for access to the rest of the islands. There are regular ferry arrivals and flights to the island from Inverness, Edinburgh and Glasgow. As it has always been, the harbour is still very much the main focus…

Aviemore Scotland

Aviemore

January 3, 2014June 12, 2014 Laura GinnAviemore, Scotland0 comment

Aviemore is located right at the edge of the Cairngorms National Park and is one of the most popular holiday resorts in Scotland. No matter what time of year you visit, the beauty of the mountains and the landscape will astound you. During the winter months the resort is filled with winter sports enthusiasts whilst the summer sees people coming here to make the most of the beautiful surroundings of the park and all of the highland attractions that the area boasts. Aviemore is one of the major Scottish ski…

Scotland Wick

Wick

December 23, 2013June 23, 2014 Laura GinnScotland, Wick0 comment

The town of Wick that we know today is actually built on the site of an ancient Viking settlement; this was at one time the main town for the northern Highland region. The town of Wick sits either side of the river of the same name and stretches out along both sides of Wick Bay. The bay itself was at one time the busiest herring port in the whole of Europe; this was during the mid nineteenth century when the fishing industry was at its peak here. Commonly referred to…

Brechin Scotland

Brechin

December 13, 2013June 23, 2014 Laura GinnBrechin, Scotland0 comment

Brechin is located along the banks of the River South Esk in Angus. Although small, this was once classed as a city and the cathedral still looms large in the centre of town today. It is home to an impressive round tower dating from the 11th century, one of only two of its kind in mainland Scotland. This is a part of Scotland that was once home to the Picts, and visitors can learn more about these ancient people at Pictavia which is located in a beautiful countryside park in…