Scotland Daily Gallery | byrdnestconsulting

Daily Gallery

Click on the beginning picture to see it larger

August 6-7--Fly on British Airways to Heathrow Airport in London, then on to Glasgow Airport arriving on August 7th. Transport to the Malmaison Glasgow Hotel and have joined the welcome dinner this evening at the Kelvingrove Museum. The Kelvingrove Museum is a city museum, free, and has an eclectic display of Scottish history, natural history, paintings, etc. "Tea was served in a large open area of the museum--the same area where the conference was held about a month ago that Biden attended.

Our Flying Longhorn tour name

On a hill above the museum is the University of Glasgow started in the 1400's

Our hotel is Malmaison Hotel here in Glasgow

The front of our hotel

<=== Click on pictures to enlarge and view!

This building across from our hotel shows a problem many Glasgow buildings have. They are made of sandstone and have really darkened over time. But they are afraid to pressure wash as it would probably flake off much of the stone.

This was our ferry to go to the island

Mike took this panorama shot of the from of the ferry as we crossed.

One of the many fields with dairy cows

A view of the coast from across from the hotel where we ate lunch

The coast looking the other direction

A family and their dog were playing on the beach but didn't go far into the water because it is very cold!

Looking out to the water was a small island with a lighthouse

Hydrangeas grow prolifically here and in all shades of pink to purple. Beautiful!

Back at Brodick (the town where the ferry comes in) we took pictures toward the south end of the island

Looking north from the ferry boarding point.

This is taken looking to the north part of the island

August 8--After breakfast in the hotel, we boarded the bus for the coast west of Glasgow. We boarded a ferry and had an hour crossing to the Isle of Arran. It is one of the many bigger islands off Scotland's west coast. Driving to the ferry and on the island, we saw many fields with dairy cows and with sheep. This area is known for its dairy products and also Arran potatoes. We first drove down to the south end of the island they back to a town called Lashlam for lunch at a small hotel. Then the afternoon was spent driving to the north part of the island. The island is split much like Scotland, with the lowlands and highlands. So the north is more mountains, but all of the island (and the part of Scotland we drove through) is lush and green! We had dinner at our hotel, and the last 9 pictures show all of our group. Most from UT, but a few from the Naval Academy and other schools.

Looking out over Loch Lomond

The small church by the Loch with many old gravestones

The Norse burial stone in shape of the Norse long houses

Lynne coming out of gift shop by the Loch

A house near the chutch with flowers all over

More hydrangeas

A modern day phone booth but now for internet use!

We had a short bathroom break along the way and two of the typical Scottish cattle were in a side field to great the tourists. Much heavier coats for their cold winters here

Waiting to enter Sturling Castle

After entering castle we first walked into the garden area

One group of flowers in the garden

Looking up at the castle walls--the dungeon was at the bottom of this round structure

Part of the castle

At one time the whole castle was coated to be this color. Now most has worn off --they only had one building restored to that color

The colored building

One top of this building, they had a unicorn sculpture (one of the symbols for this area)

And a lion sculpture on the roof too

Mike standing at the castle kitchen entrance

Kitchen was set up as it might have looked with fake food, bread, etc

Another view of kitchen

Following pictures are looking out from the castle to the flat land below

August 9--We got our big bags outside our room at 7:30, then ate breakfast. The bus was on the road by 8:30. We first drove to Loch (lake) Lomond, one of the larger lakes in Scotland. At one time the Norse people invaded here. We walked to a small church where they had a Norse burial stone from the 1200s and, of course, saw the Loch! We then traveled to Stirling Castle set on top of a large granite outcrop with flat countryside all around--very strategic for security for the castle. We could eat lunch while at the castle, but we have already eaten too much, so we just had a drink and a few small shortbread cookies. We drove on then to a place in Dochart that whiskey smokes salmon and cheese for a tasting. Interesting and tasted good! From there we drove on to our hotel by way of Glen Coe (a large valley with mountains all around. The mountains here are very different. They are outcroppings of granite that have worn down over millions of years (some of the oldest mountains in the world). There is low vegetation on them but few trees. Our hotel tonight is in Fort William.

We tried to get a UT group photo but not all had come back to the bus yet. We'll try again somewhere on the rest of the trip

A pub/hotel right before the bridge to Isle of Skye. There were ruins at this point of a castle once there and it was rumored originally built for a Norwegian princess known as 'Saucy Mary' who would charge a toll to any boat using the narrow channel by hanging a chain from the castle to the mainland to prevent unpaid crossings. This building is named after her

At the hotel where we had lunch

The bridge to Isle of Skye

Our ferry back to the mainland

This and next image are of the Glenfinnon viaduct for the railroad

At Glenfinnon they had an unusual tre, called a monkey tree--because the limbs look like monkey tails

Just another example of the hydrangeas--this time a dark blue

The heather here is just starting to bloom--so you can see the beginning of pinkish purple flowers

The rest of the pictures were taken thru the bus window trying to capture the unusual mountain formations here

August 10 --Today started out with the whole tour group singing Happy Birthday to Lynne (a very young 78 years of age). After breakfast, we headed to the Isle of Skye but stopped at the Eilean Donan Castle in Dornie, Scotland, sitting on an island where 3 of the biggest lochs come together. Although first inhabited around the 6th century, the first fortified castle was built in the mid-13th century and stood guard over the lands of Kintail. Since then, at least four different versions of the castle have been built, and re-built as the feudal history of Scotland unfolded through the centuries. We didn't go inside as the present castle was only rebuilt in the early 1900s after sitting in ruins for 200 years. On to the Isle of Skye via the bridge over the Kyle of Lochalsh (a narrow channel between the mainland and the Isle of Skye).

We drove north into part of the isle (time did not permit seeing the whole island). At Armadale on the isle, we boarded the ferry for a 30 min ride to Mailalig. We drove on to Glenfillen. You could see the Glenfillen viaduct (train bridge) from a high viewpoint. Here you can see the Hogwarts Express steam train.

Riding back to the hotel were many more chances to see the unusual mountain topography of Scotland--so different from any we've seen before! This trip reminds us of when we went to Scandinavia--most of what you are there to see is scenery--more than places. This means more time on a bus, but you must travel to see all the scenery!

Since today was Lynne's birthday, we had a surprise birthday cake at dinner at the hotel and an another round of singing "Happy Birthday"!

Commando memorial--overlooks training areas of the Commando Training Depot in 1942 and is a memorial to the men who trained there and then served in WWII

A logo on a buildng in Fort Augustus for the Caledonia Canal

3 bots going thru the loch on the canal

As mentioned on the first day of the trip, there are fields everywhere of cattle and sheep all over the country. I kept trying to get a picture of a field of sheep from the bus but hard to do as you drive by.

We got to the castle a little too early so we drove to another little town. Mike posed in front of this "yellow submarine" which was taken down below in Loch Ness looking for Nessie! No luck!

Looking down on the ruins of Urquhart Castle from the visitors center

Looking down the castle grounds and up Loch Ness

As we walked down to the castle, a man dressed in his Scottish garb was walking up and agreed to a picture!

Mike headed to the castle

Lynne in front of the inside gate of the castle

Mike posing with a "hairy coo" (hairy cow) made out of twigs

Near the dock where we were to catch the boat to Inverness, 2 men had pulled up their catamaran apparently to rest for a while.

Right before we were to board our boat, the guys on the catamaran decided to head out again. Only then did we realize that they both were pedaling!

Our boat--the Jacobite Rebel

The wind was blowing pretty hard and you can tell with the sail boat as it is really leaning to one side

The next couple pictures are taken from the boat showing the topography around Loch Ness. The whole northern part of Scotland is largely granite. One sign said that these mountains had at one time been as high as the Himalayas but time and the Ice Age had worn them down

As our boat went along a rubber raft came zooming by us

We ended up catching up and passing the catamaran

A few more pictures from the boat

August 11 -- We stopped for a short time at a memorial to the Commandos who trained in the area near Loch Ness for WWII. Then we moved on to Fort Augustus, where we saw the Caledonian Canal in operation. It is 60 miles long and joins Loch Lochy, Loch Oich, and Loch Ness, providing a link between SW to NE Scotland. We drove on the Urquhart Castle, which sits on a small peninsula into Loch Ness. It is probably the most photographed castle in Scotland.

After touring the castle, we had a boat ride from the castle to Inverness. It was nice to see the loch, surrounding mountains, and countryside from the water. The weather has been nice, mostly blue skies and warmer than we expected though you still need a light jacket off and on. With the blue sky, Loch Ness was really blue--beautiful. Once we exited the boat, we drove into Inverness--some of us got off downtown to look around and shop, and others went on to the hotel. We had a little over an hour downtown--Mike went into a whiskey shot--tasted, and bought some. Lynne went to several stores with a few other women. We stayed in a nice hotel--KingsMill Hotel, but by the time dinner was over and we got back to our room, we were too tired to finish the blog, so catching up now on the 12th!

While eating supper at the hotel, a bagpiper wandered in for a short tune. Enjoy the video!

Demonstrating weapons used by the Jacobites

A sign as we went to the battlefield

As we walked out into the battlefield, there were many clumps of heather--just coming into bloom in last week

Closeup of the heather

Heather in front of the memorial to those fallen in the battle on both sides

Inscription at the memorial

Our tour guide standing in front of one of the stones put up much later commentorating different clans

Another clan stone

Another clan stone

Red flags showed where the English forces started the battle. On other side of field were blue flags for the Jacobites

Replica of cottage that stood there at the battle-it was used as a Brit hospital for the wounded when battle was over. There was "no quarter" for the jacobites (just like at the Alamo). The Brits terriorized Scotland so the next several years -- pillaging, raping, etc.

a Rowan tree--our guide said the more red berries it has the worse the winter is going to be

One of many fields of barley that is used in the making of whiskey--especially at the distillery we visited

The Glen Grant Distillery-establish 1840

Distillery sign by the street

Maggie, our tour guide checking us in for our tour

Kirsty, our distillery tour guide

The "bairn" or stream that runs thru the distillery property--they use water from the bairn and from a well on the property for the whiskey

Once the whiskey is in barrels, the evaporation process puts out bacteria that turns the buildings black

Field with sheep

More sheep

A church once used by John Knox (Scottish Presbyterian) that was destroyed

More heather

and more heather

August 12 -- We left the hotel at 8:15 to get to Culloden Battlefield before it opened to the public for a private tour. This was the site of a civil war battle in 1746 between the Jacobites and the English. The Jacobites were trying to win back the throne from the protestant king of England. The battle was over in about an hour. The Jacobites were no match for the English troops as they had marched all day and night and with little provisions in cold, wet weather. After explanations of weapons used (with some of our group as "actors," (see video) we walked part of the battlefield which was a large farm field. They served us a small lunch at the museum and then we drove on the to Glen Grant Distillery. We had a tour of their operation and then had samples of two of their whiskeys--Mike bought another bottle here. We drove on to Aberdeen and checked into the Norwood Hall Hotel in Aberdeen. We are near Balmoral Castle where the royal family often vacations. Very nice hotel!

Double click on picture to get video going (make sure your volume is up)!

Mike talking to another in our tour in front of hotel in Inverness

The ship Discovery which went on expedition to Antartica and got stuck in the ice for 3 years before another ship could rescue them

The railroad bridge crossing the river in Dundee--the bridge is a cantilevered design

In front of the Holyrood Palace before we went inside for the tour

The other end of Holyrood Palace

Lynne in front of Holyrood Palace

Mike in front of Holyrood Palace

Before Holyrood was a palace, it was an abbey. The abbey is now in ruins

Another view of abbey

Closeup of arch on the abbey wall

Maggie, our guide, with gate into Holyrood Palace in background

The front of our hotel--it was surprising how far back and up it went

The Edinburg castle gate where many of the groups in the Tattoo Military show came out

To the left of the gate, was a choir group--only later did we see that they were a youth choir

This was the start of the Tattoo show. This group was the Massed Pipes and Drums. They included: The Royal Highland Fusillers,; 2nd Battalion of The Royal Regiment of Scotland Pipes and Drums; The Black Watch; 3rd Battalion of The Royal Regiment of Scotland Pipes and Drums; Combined Scottish Universities Officers' Training Corps Pipes and Drums; 4th Battalion of The Royal Regiment of Scotland Pipes and Drums; Royal Air Force Pipes and Drums; The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Pipes and Drums; The Crossed Swords Pipes and Drums; Brisbane Boys College Pipes and Drums; Paris Port Dover Pipes and Drums; The Pipes and Drums of Christchurch City

More of the first group

Dancers with the first group

More of the dancers

US Army Field Band

Singer for the US Army Field Band

US Army Field Band--thee were 3 different singers in this group

Banda Monumental de Mexico--Aztec Warriors

The Royal Edinburgh Millitary Tattoo Performers

Beginning dancers that came out with the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Pipes and Drums

Two of the dancers

Double click on picture to get video going (make sure your volume is up)!

August 13 -- We left Inverness for Edinburg, stopping for a short break in Dundee. Once we got to Edinburg, we did a short bus trip around the town for orientation and exited the bus to have lunch on our own and then walk to Holyrood Palace. Though once an abbey, it was later made into a palace. This is where the royals stay when in Edinburg on official business. We had a tour of most of the palace. Then we met the bus and went to the hotel to check-in. We had an early (4 pm) dinner at the hotel as our tickets for the Tattoo Military show were for 6:30 pm. Once we were through eating, we all walked to the castle (uphill) for the show. We had great tickets--the arena holds about 8000 people. The whole show was great and even included a US Army band and the US AF rifle drill team (awesome!). After the performance, we walked back to the hotel. On Saturday nights, they do two performances, so we had to clear out pretty quickly. It was late by the time we got back to the room, so didn't get the blog finished then.

Military Tattoo Video

Click on button above to go to YouTube to watch

Military Tattoo (about 81 mins).

Glamis Castle as we arrived. They greeted us in their kilts or plaid attire

Bagpiper greeting us

Former kitchen area where we all met for coffee, tea, homemade shortbread cookies and a taste of Glamis Castle Blended Scotch Whiskey

Samples of Castle wiskey.

Mike holding his samples

Castle dining room. Silver sailing boat centerpiece was a present to Queen Mother on her marriage from the German government

The flag of the castle representing the Bows and Lions family crest

Fireplace in one of the rooms with crest in middle. Not sure why the woman on left is holding one breast

The same room--Lynne looking at fireplace

The man in the middle is the one who added on and made the castle bigger. In the picture he is pointing to castle in background. The odd attire on him was a suit made to make him look very virile.

The piano in this same room.

Pages of music sheets were in a holder by the piano--top page had "Byrde"

Photo of Queen Mother and her husband, George, who later became King when his older brother abdicated the throne to marry the American divorcee

Queen's bed and cradle next to it. The embroidered bedspread and canopy curtains were made and embroidered by her mother. Inside the curtain, she embroidered each of her children's names and their birth dates

St Andrews had a festival going on on the main street of town. You can barely see the carnival rides, etc behind Mike

A lot of the restaurants were full, but we found this pub, The Central, and had lunch

The inside had the square bar in the center of the room. Mike ordered a dark stout that was on tap.

As we walked around the town of St Andrews, we saw this house with all its beautiful flowers. Amazing how things grow so well in Scotland! Might be because they have rain there!

One of the churches we passed in St Andrews

West Port of St Andrews -- gate of city when walled. We met the bus near here to head back to Edinburgh

Another field of cows

They bail their hay in round bails as done in states, but they cover each bail with a thick black plastic. Here is a long row of these

We passed a number of these vegetable and fruit farms that are under plastic covers

A hill with heather--it had just started to bloom

another hill of heather--the green below are ferns

Double click on picture to get video going (make sure your volume is up)!

August 14 -- Because we had tickets for the Tattoo on Saturday, we had to go to Edinburg directly on Saturday. So today we backtracked a bit to go to Glamis Castle and to St Andrews. There are no Tattoo performances on Sundays. So first we went to Glamis Castle where the Queen Mother (Queen Elizabeth's mother) was born and raised. She often came back to visit the castle and though Queen Elizabeth was born in London, Princess Margaret (her younger sister) was born at the castle. We had a tour of the castle and then met in the lower floor which used to be the kitchen for coffee, tea and homemade shortbread (Yum!). They also had some of the Glamis Castle whiskey for tasting--Mike took advantage of this!

After the castle, we drove to St Andrews and had free time. There was a festival going on in the downtown area with carnival rides and vendors. But we were able to find a pub that wasn't real busy and Lynne got fish and chips. The pub was sort of like Cheers with the bar in the middle and tables around the outside rim of the room. We walked around town a little and then it was time to go meet the bus. That evening we went to a restaurant near the castle for a 5 course farewell dinner. Though it was very nice, it was too much food! Back at the hotel everyone said goodbye and headed to our rooms as many of us had an early departure time.

Sunday--August 15 -- We left the hotel at 4:30 am Scotland time. Our flight to Heathrow and the flight home to Austin were on time and we arrived in Austin about 4 pm. By the time we got thru customs, got the truck, got a quick supper in Austin, groceries in Bee Cave and drove home, we finally got in the house about 7 pm. So nice to sleep in your own bed!

Double click on largest photo to see all photos larger

Daily Gallery

Click on the beginning picture to see it larger

Double click on picture to get video going (make sure your volume is up)!

Double click on picture to get video going (make sure your volume is up)!

Double click on picture to get video going (make sure your volume is up)!