The Haunted Castles of Scotland

October 15th, 2010
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Scotland’s Halloween’s roots lie deep in the mystical Celtic New Year festival of Samhain, the season is celebrated with great enthusiasm throughout the countryside. Undoubtedly, Scotland’s spooky history has left plenty of haunted castles, blood-chilling legends and fascinating speculation on the lives — and deaths — of the Clans who built the magnificent estates with their formidable castles. Each year, many of these castles open their doors on Halloween to let the public experience the hair-raising ambiance of some of Scotland’s most haunted castles.

Glamis Castle

Glamis Castle

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Near the village of Glamis — which is just 5 miles west of Forfar — stands the infamous Glamis castle, renown as the scene of Shakespeare’s great historical tragedy, Macbeth. This ancestral home of the Lyon family has many secrets to hide and the hair-raising tales whispered about the secret rooms known only to the Laird and his heirs have added further mystery to this legendary castle, including stories of an eternal card game between the Earl of Crawford and the devil himself that began 300 years ago and continues to this day in a secret chamber. Every year, the castle sponsors Halloween events that allow their participants to have access to areas of the castle usually restricted to the public.

Cawdor Castle

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Just 12 miles east of Inverness is the Cawdor Castle, also rumored to be the site of Macbeth, but actually too young to have been part of this drama, but nonetheless the site has its share of mystical legends about ghost who still roam the grounds. Ancestral home of the Campbell Clan, this castle’s history is full of brave women who played pivotal roles in the battles that raged during the 15th century between warring houses and to this day the “lady in the blue velvet dress” is spotted by castle regulars, and according to some sightings she has no hands. Annual Halloween festivities include live music, dancing and storytelling.

Blair Castle

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In the Perthshire region near the village of Blair Atholl, the Blair castle has long held a strategic position in the Central Scottish Highlands and has been the scene of much conflict and power through the years. Also nearby is Diana’s Grove — rumored to be the site of many mystical ceremonies, is the home of Scotland’s tallest tree.

During Halloween, guest are invited into tour the castle — but must beware of all the bats that take up residence there and depart every evening. This tour is followed an eerie tractor ride through Diana’s Grove that is sponsored by the Atholl Estates Ranger Service. Afterwards, guests gather at Saint Brides to listen to scary stories.

Whale Watching in Scotland

October 15th, 2010
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As the summer comes to a close, the whales begin their migration from the Arctic regions where they have feasted on krill all season. The outer islands around Scotland provide a birds’-eye view of the seas where the whales announce their passage with water spouts and spectacular breaches.

Thanks to the decline and the Scottish fishing industry, whales are flourishing and more abundant with each passing year, providing a wonderful new source of income for the local communities and a fascinating adventure for visitors to Scotland’s shores. The seas around Scotland offer ample oppourtunities for coastal whale-watching or you can climb aboard a boat tour where the whole family can get up close and personal with these gentle giants of the oceans, who seem just as interested in you as you are in them.

Shetland Isles

Known as the best place to spot the Orca — or killer whale — the region around Moray Ness is becoming a guaranteed spot to catch a glimpse of these magnificent creatures at play, sometimes very close to the shore as they try to catch the seals that wander too far from the protective shallow bays. Some visitors report that the Orca almost get close enough to touch from the overhanging cliff lookouts.

The Isle of Skye

South Skye and the small islands surrounding it are a whale watchers’ paradise in the late autumn months when these beautiful creatures join with the porpoises and dolphins to enjoy the last warm days before winter. Many whale watch tour companies have professional photographers on board to help you record the experience of meeting these amazing creatures in their natural setting. Chances are you will see humpback whales, Minke whales, Orcas and possibly even Beluga whales.

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Island of Mull

Explore the Hebrides Islands and the Ardnamurchan Peninsula on a magnificent two-day tour where you can have the best of both worlds! Travel in your charter boat across the waves to catch glimpses of not only whales but playful dolphins, sleek porpoises, basking seals, prowling sharks, soaring eagles and nesting sea birds. Pull up to the docks and slip in for a quick nip at one of the local taverns, or scout out a deserted beach along one of the Small Isles for private picnic and hike to the top of the rugged seashore cliffs for views that will take your breath away.

Five Interesting Places to Visit in Dundee

September 8th, 2010
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Located near Birkhill Castle is the thriving Scottish city of Dundee, which is been occupied continuously since Mesolithic times and became a major export center in the 19th century, earning it the epithet as the city of  “jam, jute and journalism”.

Promoted as the “City of Discovery,” the harbour contains the RRS Discovery, the last British wooden three-masted ship in which Robert Falcon Scott explored the Antarctic and that was built in Dundee and launched from her port in 1901.

The city’s vibrant atmosphere has supported the development of many fascinating attractions — many which contain wonderful restaurants and cafes — where visitors and townsfolk alike can learn about the local culture and international concerns.

The Dundee Contemporary Art (DCA) Centre

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The DCA complex, which opened in 1999, has become a cultural centre for the city. Within its environs are an art gallery, a print studio, a visual research center and a two-screen cinema which hosts film festivals that combine film and experimental music to create an avant Garde cinema and symposia experience.  The center is provides space for lectures, seminars and community events througout the year, and will host the “Discovery Film Festival: Scotland’s International Film Festival for Young Audiences” from October 16 through November 3, 2010.

Sensation Science Centre

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This nonprofit organisation opened in July 2000 as part of the Millennium Commission project — therefore is funded by public and private donations — and cost around £5 million to build.  The extensive facility features interactive exhibits — mainly about Life Sciences — with a focus on robotics and practical science topics.  The Dundee Science Center is the only UK interactive museum that is based on the five senses and focuses on bringing science to life in imaginative demonstrations with friendly staff members on hand to make sure everyone gets the most out of their experience.

Caird Hall

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Built in the early 1920s by the jute baron James Key Caird, this stately hall is used by the University of Dundee and the University of Abertay Dundee for the graduations, but during the rest of the year it plays host to many concerts and music festivals, ranging from opera to pop/rock.  The facility also serves as a conference center and meeting place for corporate events.  Once a year Caird Hall hosts the city Dundee’s traditional Remembrance Festival that features the Band of HM Royal Marines Scotland and The Pipes and Drums of Angus Dundee Battalion Army Cadet Force as well as Community Singing lead by local soloist Billy Naismith.  This year the festival be held on November 6 and 7:15 PM.

Verdant Works

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Jute has played a very important role in the growth an economy of Dundee, and the Verdant Works is a former Jude mill which was restored in 1996 and opened as a public museum dedicated to the textile industry.  Located in the Blackness area of Dundee, this building has survived with little changes from the 19th century.  Listed as an official historic building of Scotland, the museum includes educational exhibits and host functions for both community events and corporate functions.

Dundee Mountain Film Festival

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This unique event began as a one day fundraiser to build a new bridge and became such a success that it has continued to present day.  The festival celebrates mountaineering sports and is supported by the Scottish Mountaineering Trust.  Musicians, independent filmmakers and mountaineering enthusiast express their love of the mountains through music, videos, photographs and lectures.

This year the festival will run from November 26 through 27 and will feature South African mountaineer and explorer Cathy O’Dowd and composing team Robert and Anni Hogan, who play live sound tracks to the films they created with footage from their journeys into the Himalayan mountains.

Foods that Taste Amazing with Scotch Whisky

September 8th, 2010
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If you spend time in Scotland, you’ll eventually have a chance to enjoy the pride and joy of Scottish distillers, an aged single malt whiskey. Knowing what kind of foods go well with which version of these fine Highland single malts can make experience all the more pleasant.

Cheese

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Scotch whiskies, especially the single malts from Islay, are excellent with a strong cheddar cheese because the spicy, smoky bite of the scotch is beautifully tamed by a good sharp cheese, especially with salty crackers or smoked fish. For smelly cheeses like Roquefort, Talisker from the Isle of Skye is ideal, and it is even more enjoyable with smoked almonds on the side. The soft French cheeses like Brie go beautifully with Ardbeg single malt, which also is complemented by a strong Parmesan cheese and makes it a natural with a pizza.

Dinner

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As you might suspect, Scottish whiskies go best for Scottish food, especially wild game dishes like venison, quail or duck, and Bowmore’s single malt has just the right rich, peaty taste that complements these dishes perfectly. The boldness of Oban whiskey is the traditional favorite with haggis, kidney pies and the spicy sausages so loved in the Highlands. Slow-cooked roasts of lamb, beef or pork prefer the subtle nuances of a Craggamore single malt.

Desserts

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Although it may be hard to imagine at first, single malt whiskies and chocolate combine into a wonderful taste sensation, and should be savored by holding the scotch in your mouth until the vapors fill your head, then slowly eating the chocolate so the sweet taste will follow the vapors and fill your whole face with a wonderful sensation.

Oban is the traditional favorite with a dark chocolate, especially those with a 85% cocoa, and are also excellent with fresh chocolate chip cookies. Dalwhinnie works well with rich cakes and pastries and makes an excellent addition to hot chocolate.

The Cowal Highland Gathering

August 13th, 2010
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The largest highland gathering in the world — the Cowal Highland Gathering — takes place the final weekend of August each year in the Scottish Town of Dunoon. Also known as the Cowal Games, this event began in 1894 and by 1901 over 5,000 attendees came to see the first American competitor take part in the games.

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Celtic Music Radio broadcast live performances during the event, which can be heard within the Glasgow transmission area or can be accessed on-line. These broadcasts include interviews with musicians, sports competitors and attendees and also have updated reports on the results of the many contests.

In recent years, controversy has surrounded the games because of debates over whether to close many of the athletic competitions to let the pipe bands move closer to the crowd. After testing this system in 2008, the controversy died down because the revised layout got very positive reviews from attendees and participants.

A new feature is the “Most Entertaining Band” and the “Mace-over-the-Bar” contests which offers competitors lighthearted event s that are enjoyed by both the musicians and the crowds. The Ceilidh tent, which was added in 2008, has become a regular attraction because it was such a big hit. This year, the headline act Skerryvore is back by popular demand as well as Deoch n Dorus (Deoch pronounced Jock), an exciting young band who will start the show at 12.00pm on Saturday August 28, 2010.

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An average of 150 five bands march through the streets of Dunoon to open the ceremonies. At the end of each day’s events, the bands participate in what is known as “the march-past” — where 3000 pipes and drums salute the Chieftain of the Games. The march ends at the pier where the bands proudly display the trophies they have won that day.
The Cowal Gathering hosts some of the most prestigious international dancing competitions, including the World Highland Dancing Championships that draws contestants from as far away as New Zealand. The three day competition test the skills of up to 750 dancers and the finalist compete in the Scottish Highland dancing finale on the last day.

This tribute to Scottish culture and history features traditional costumes, instruments, food spirits and entertainment. Each year the Cowal Games attract up to 20,000 spectators to watch 3500 competitors from Thursday to Saturday, and the weather is typically fine and warm, although sometimes cloudy.


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Scotland’s Enigmatic Past

August 6th, 2010
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Standing stone circles are remnants of a Neolithic age that used a technology that modern archaeologists are still struggling to understand.

The far flung islands of Scotland’s northwest coast are studded with ancient stone rings that have survived for centuries. The sparsely populated region seems a strange place to find such timeless monuments, and to this day their presence is wrapped in many fascinating legends and modern-day mysteries.

Callanish Stones


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The Callanish Stone circle is categorized by archeologists as belonging a group of at least 19 different circles, standing stones and cairns that are scattered across the islands of the Outer Hebrides, also known as the Western isles of Scotland. Visitors to the main site on the west coast of the isle of Lewis will find a visitor centre that features an exhibition hall and nearby shops.

Studies of these stone relics have dated their construction between 2900 and 2600 BC, although it is believed some of the buildings could be over 3,200 years old. The stones actual patterns seems to be in the formation of a Celtic Cross inside a circle. The stones are made of local Lewisian gneiss and can vary in height from 1 to 5 meters.

Local Legends

The folklore of the region tells of a race of giants that once liven on the island, and their refusal to covert to Christianity caused Saint Kieran to turn them all into stones as punishment. But more distant legends tell of the sunrise at midsummer that served as a path from other worlds for “the shining one” who would walk along the stone avenue, “his arrival heralded by the cuckoo’s call,” which is still considered the birdcall that heralds the arrival of the spring rains to the region.

John Morisone wrote in1680 that:

It is left by tradition that these were a sort of men converted into stone by ane Inchanter: others affirme that they were sett up in places for devotione.

Astronomy

The stones are tied to a nearby horizon phenomenon made by the undulating hills of Mt. Clisham, sometimes referred to as “Sleeping Beauty” or “Cailleach na Mointeach”, the “Old Woman of the Moors,” who was the goddess who married the Sun god.

The network of standing stones at Cailleach align to the moon’s rare moment in its orbit, when it stands still in the heavens, an event that only happens every 19 years.

The moon rises between the twin peaks, or “breasts” of these hillocks and is “reborn” five hours later. The moon’s rays silhouette anyone standing on the natural outcrop in the stone circle. This intricate complex was aligned to many celestial events and might have been viewed by the ancients as the hill of creation — or place of emergence — for the goddess Cailleach herself.

Creating Scottish Whiskies

August 6th, 2010
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The whiskies of the Scots are known world-wide for their mature, subtle flavors that Scottish distilleries have been producing for centuries. Understanding how their whiskey is made will help you appreciate sampling the many varieties of fine spirits that are brewed with loving care from ingredients native to Scotland.

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Barley and Water

The brewing process begins when barley grains are spread out across the floor of the malting house to be steeped in water. As the grains sprout they are turned with paddles that causes the starches in the barley to break down into sugars. When the mixture is just right, the barley is poured into hot, peat-fired kilns to stop the germination and prepared for the next step.

Grist, Mash & Wort

When the barley is dried, it is milled to produce the grist which is mixed with hot water to produce a mash. This mixture is transferred to a mash tun and pails made of pine or cypress are used to draw the wort. It is set aside in wooden washbacks where the fermentation process begins.

Wash & Distillate

The fermenting mash is moved to copper pot stills where the spirits go through a series of steps, first producing low wines and eventually top quality whiskies. The results are tested and the brews moved into casks were they can mature. Usually the barrels selected for maturation have previously been used for other alcohols such as bourbon, sherry, port or rum.

Cask & Bottle

Unlike wine, whiskey only matures in the cask and not in the bottle.  Because they spend so long in the cask each year, up to 2% of the spirits will evaporate, which is called “the Angels’ share.”  This is one reason that whiskey that has matured longer is considered more valuable.

Tasting Whisky

When you settle back to enjoy a glass of find Scottish whiskey, there are a few tips you can use to make the most of experience. First, watch how the whiskey swirls in your glass and note the colour and how the whiskey flows down from the lip of the glass –ideally it should form a teardrop shape that forms ” legs.” You can tell the age of the whiskey by how slowly the teardrops form and how far apart the legs are in the glass.

To correctly sample the first taste of the whiskey, you’ll want to judge the ” mouth feel” or mellow sensation, which indicates how expertly the distiller has aged his product. Since the aroma can take awhile to spread through your face, hold it in your mouth until you feel the vapors move into your nose, so you can smell what you are tasting.

You can swirl the whiskey around your palette to detect the many flavors and subtle undertones of the region where it was distilled.

Finally, you’re ready to swallow the whiskey, which is referred to as the ” finish” of the experience. This is when you finally get to enjoy the full beauty of all that goes into making a fine blended Scotch whiskey.

Understanding Traditional Scottish Attire

August 6th, 2010
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As we all know, the Scottish are famous for their kilts, those knee-length skirts that beg the question –

What do Scotsmen wear underneath their kilts?

Leaving that mystery aside, there are many aspects to the garb worn at traditional  Scottish events that are often misunderstood by visitors.

Tartans

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Tartan is a fabric usually made with wool interwoven into bands of colors creating “setts,” to create the traditional checkered patterns. These are woven into right angles with lengthways thread — known as the ‘warp’ –that  is determined by the set of the loom on which it is woven.

The ‘warp and sett’ of a tartan pattern is like a calling card to Scotsmen, and proclaims clan affiliation as effectively as a name badge.

Formal occasions such the Highland Games require dress tartans — as opposed to casual hunting tartans.

Plaid
Often visitors confuse the phrases tartan and plaid, since in America “plaid” refers to the Tartan pattern associated with the Scottish regalia.

But to a Scotsman the plaid is not a pattern, but rather a single rectangular piece of Tartan cloth that can be draped over the shoulder rather like a shawl. Adding a belt to the plaid for the style that is recognizable today was a later development

To don a traditional plaid skirt, the belt is first laid on the ground and the plaid is laid on top of it and pleated. Then the Scotsman lies on the plaid and fastens his belt around him so that the it wraps around his body and hangs down to his knees.

Kilts

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A tradition since the 16th century, the kilt consists of overlapping layers of tartan fabric that hangs from the waist down to the knees. It is pleated in the back and the flat overlapping layers — known as flaps — are created by wrapping the cloth around the body. It is fastened by a kilt pin in the front or on the side.

The pleats at the back of the kilt are achieved in two ways. When they are folded to make vertical stripes down the center of each pleat, it is referred to as “pleating to the stripe” or “military pleats”.  If the kilt is “pleated to the sett,” then the fabric is folded so that a certain pattern is repeated all the way around the kilt.

Pleats are characterised by their width and depth. The depth is the inside fold and is determined by the pattern of the tartan weave, and the overlying protruding pleat is the measure of the width.

Fife and St. Andrews: History and Attractions

June 30th, 2010
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The Kingdom of Fife, as this Scottish council area is often called, has a history that one might not expect from its unassuming place in the modern United Kingdom. Its towns are now dwarfed by sprawling cities like Edinburgh and London, but for centuries it was an essential holding of Scotland’s kings and an important hub for international trade.

Kilconquahar, Fife
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Fife was settled very early on, during the Stone Age. The Firths of the rivers Tay and Forth provided these early men with a convenient source of seafood. The first residents were eventually ousted by Celtic invaders who gained their first ground in Scotland along the River Tay. The realm of the Picts was eventually divided into seven provinces after the death of the legendary king Cruithne, and this particular one became known as Fife.

It was later described as a “beggar’s mantle fringed in gold” by King James IV of Scotland. In his time the area’s worth came from its numerous fishing villages and trade routes with merchants in the Low Countries; the interior was largely unused. Many years would pass before the rich farmland and coal deposits of Fife were properly utilized.

Today, the largest settlements in Fife are Glenrothes, Kirkcaldy and Dunfermline. Dunfermline is home to a large and ancient Benedictine abbey that houses the remains of many a Scottish noble, but for much of the Medieval period the church’s seat of power in Scotland was located in the coastal burgh of St. Andrews. This is where one of the first Christian missionaries to reach Scotland is said to have come bearing the relics of St. Andrew himself.

St. Andrews is the site of a monument to that early priest: St. Rule’s Tower. It’s all that remains of the original cathedral built to house the holy relics; it’s also older than the larger cathedral that sits in ruins nearby. The younger church, the Cathedral of St. Andrew, was built later while the town served as the ecclesiastical capital of Scotland for centuries. With the coming of the Scottish reformation it fell into disrepair and misuse but at one point was the largest cathedral in Scotland.

St. Andrews is also home to some more lasting institutions and customs. The University of St. Andrews was founded in the 1400s and is still one of the most prestigious schools in the British Isles. The town is commonly known, however, as the home of Scotland’s most widespread cultural export: golf. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club, the organization responsible for governing the sport’s rules, is based here.

Just a short distance away from St. Andrews is Birkhill Castle, hereditary estate of the Earl of Dundee. This castle on the shores of the River Tay estuary was built in 1780 and is now open to the public for events, tours or just a simple visit.

The Great Highland Scottish Bagpipes

June 20th, 2010
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The haunting sound of a bagpipes floating over the Scottish landscape invokes visions of a rich musical tradition that has been handed down for generations. Each of the ancestral families of Scotland have developed their own distinctive melodies that identify their Clan and help define the mood of their ceremonies.

Bagpipes in the Highlandsimg credit - (cc) licensed

Enthusiastic and romantic tunes that encourage dancing are played for weddings, birthdays and anniversaries. But during dignified ceremonies like funerals and christenings, the Scottish bagpipes can evoke a deep spiritual tone that suits the occasion and is believed to help connect the participants to the mystical aspects of life.

Although not native to Scotland, bagpipes were adapted during Medieval times and effectively used to terrorize British invaders when they would sound their “call to war” charge on the bagpipes as they marched into battle. It was so disconcerting that when the Scottish were finally defeated in 1745, an official ban on both bagpipes and kilts was instituted, with a penalty of death for offenders.

By the time the ban was lifted in the 1800s, much of the oral and written history of Scottish bagpipe music had been compromised, but role of bagpipes in traditional ceremonies was quickly revived because some brave souls sequestered their knowledge and passed it on in secret.

The Scottish Highland Regiments brought worldwide attention to the the Great Highland Scottish Bagpipes role in warfare when they were integrated with the British troops and these warriors quickly gained a reputation amoung their enemies for ferocity and bravery. From the Napoleonic battles to the great World Wars, the Scottish regiments lead the charge to strike fear in the heart of their enemy. By the time trench warfare was developed, the bagpipers role as leader of the charge was modified because they were easy targets, so they were ordered to remain behind in the trenches so their art form would not be eradicated.

The Great Highland Bagpipe has developed a strong following around the world, and societies and individuals dedicated to preserving this unique heritage have cropped up wherever the Scottish have settled.

In the United States, over 200,000 people converge in Pennsylvania each year to hear pipe bands and soloist compete, and both New Zealand in Australia have very active bagpipe associations. Even Canada sends representatives to the World Pipe Band Championships held each each August in Glasgow.

The finale each year for the worldwide champion bagpipe player is held in Dunoon at the conclusion of the Cowal Highland Gathering.

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