Monday 26 May 2014

Liburnums, Lilacs,Rhododendrons, Bagpipes and Music

The first of the Highland Games was held last weekend at Castle Gordon, Fochabers near us


The Pipers are always a stirring sight

The most amazing Rhododendron we have ever seen is at Gordon Castle. It is ENORMOUS - can you see Paula in the front!

Our Laburnums are out now 


and also the ancient Lilacs

We went to a concert of Baroque music at Brodie Castle, in the Drawing Room, also near us


I do hope these Posts are not boring you!
Best wishes, Chris





Views travelling down South

I had to travel down to Norwich and I thought I would attach a few views of the journey :

Not a direct route, but going down through the Cairngorm mountain range past Braemar (where Balmoral Castle is situated) is a hauntingly remote and sparse area, but the views are very lovely nevertheless :


Balmoral Castle 


The down through the town of Blairgowrie

Past the spectacular Blair Castle

Past the town of Stirling and Stirling Castle where Mary Queen of Scots took refuge

and into Glasgow - a rather shabby City

Then down to the Lowlands passing near to Gretna which is virtually on the border where eloping English couples used to come to get instantly married at the Blacksmith's forge!

Then down the Motorway to Penrith

and then travelling through the Fenlands of Lincolnshire and Norfolk where Church spires and towers are easily seen across the flat lands

Into Norwich which is an impressive City with a wonderful Cathedral and Castle


I stopped in at a tiny Georgian town called Hingham with it's charming town square where Paula's Mum spent her last days in a Nursing Home

Travelling back along the East Coast one eventually comes to Coldstream - where the Coldstream Guards come from ;

then back up past Dalwhinnie Distillery

and home - Craigellachie town


















Tuesday 6 May 2014

Tomintoul is a small town located in the Cairngorm National Park (about an hour's drive from us). It is, apparently, the highest town in Britain. The Winters are pretty rough here and it has always had a reputation for being the remotest location in Scotland and therefore during the last Century a hive of illegal stills!
Some views of the surrounding countryside
The town is quaint and supports 7,000 residents
Sometimes the snow gets so high that the roads to the Town must be closed - this is a picture of a snow gate.

During the depths of Winter, the folk used to sit by their peat fires and sip the water of life - they clearly knew what they were doing as the world now clamours for Tomintoul and Glenlivet Whisky!

Closer to us is are the ruins of Auchindoun Castle. There are many castles around us.

Once a mighty fortress, built around 1479 for the Earl of Mar. It did not have a good history and bad things happened here.
All over the Bluebells have sprung up and look beautiful. This year has been a god Spring and we are seeing  more flowers in our little wood, everywhere actually. 
The mild weather has ensured good pastures and lots of beautiful lambs.