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Thursday, 16 November 2006

The Clansman Centre - Highlands - Scotland/UK

The Clansman Centre - Highlands - Scotland/UK
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Originally uploaded by { Planet Adventure }.

In Fort Augustus right next to the Caledonian Canal you will find the Clansman Centre, little on the outside prepares you for what to expect when you get inside.

As you enter the doorway there is a grand wee gift shop with many hand made items and tasteful reproductions of traditional items and jewellery, and some fine reproduction weaponry, which begins to give you an idea of what is to come.

It’s when you stoop under the low lintel into the back room that you realise this is no normal gift shop. Met by your kilted clansman, your eyes slowly adjust to the gloom and what you have before you is a 17th century turf house, the typical abode of the local population 400 years ago.

This is no museum though, and it doesn’t take long before you are finding out all you wanted to know about highland life at the height of the clan times, (and a great deal you didn’t). There is a lot to learn about the domestic life, diet, dress and custom of these proud warrior people.

Find out more here

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Urquhart Castle - Scotland/UK

Urquhart Castle - Scotland/UK
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Originally uploaded by { Planet Adventure }.

Pt: Foi construido principalmente como um posto de controle, e atualmente serve como base para aqueles que buscam pelo famoso Monstro do Lago Ness, pois a vista deste ponto permite enchergar desde Inverness ate Forte Augustus

En: It was built principally as an observation post, and is now a haunt of would-be spotters of the famous Loch Ness Monster as it commands a view almost from Inverness to Fort Augustus

The earliest history of the castle goes back to the time of St. Columba, when the castle may have been mentioned in Adamnan's Life of Columba: it is probably the site called Airchartdan, visited by Columba in the latter half of the sixth century during one of his visits to King Brude son of Maelchon of the northern Picts. Columba took the opportunity to convert his host Emchath and his son Virolec to Christianity. Unfortunately, Adamnan’s text gives no specific link to the castle and the location of the episode is described as being the agrum of Airchartdan. This probably means the estate and certainly does not refer to the settlement in which Columba stayed. In view of the use of the term agrum, it would be as easy to see Drumnadrochit as the location of Emchath's residence as there is no mention of a fortified structure. However, one of the radiocarbon dates obtained by the late Professor Leslie Alcock in his 1983 excavations within the castle was in the range 460-660 AD. It is thus probable that there was a fortified settlement on Strone Point during the time that Columba visited the area, and it is reasonable to assume that this would have been the home of Emchath. No other noble is mentioned in this episode, so it is probable that Columba stayed at Urquhart Castle on his way to visit Brude at Craig Phadraig, Inverness.

See the whole article here

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Glen Affric - Highlands - Scotland/UK

Glen Affric - Highlands - Scotland/UK
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Originally uploaded by { Planet Adventure }.

Pt: Pessoal na trilha em meio ao glen

En: Our group walking through the Glen

Glen Affric (Scottish Gaelic: Gleann Afaraig) is a glen south-west of the village of Cannich in the Highland region of Scotland, some 15 miles to the west of Loch Ness. The River Affric runs along its length, passing through Loch Affric and Loch Beinn a' Mheadhoin (Loch Benevean).

It used to be part of the lands of the clan Chisholm.

The area is a Caledonian Forest Reserve, a National Scenic Area and a National Nature Reserve. Often described as the most beautiful glen in Scotland, it contains one of the largest ancient Caledonian pinewoods in Scotland as well as lochs, moorland and mountains.

See the whole article here

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Wednesday, 15 November 2006

The Culloden Batle Field - Culloden - Scotland/UK

The Culloden Batle Field - Culloden - Scotland/UK
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Originally uploaded by { Planet Adventure }.

Pt: Memorial Cairn

En: The Memorial Cairn

The Battle of Culloden (April 16, 1746), was the final clash between the Jacobites and the Hanoverians in the 1745 Jacobite Rising. It was the last battle to be fought on mainland Britain, and brought the Jacobite cause—to restore the House of Stuart to the throne of Great Britain—to a decisive defeat from which it never recovered.

The Jacobites—most of them Highland Scots—supported the claim of Charles Edward Stuart (aka "Bonnie Prince Charlie" or "The Young Pretender") to the throne; the British army, under the Duke of Cumberland, younger son of the Hanoverian sovereign, King George II, supported his father's cause.

The aftermath of the battle was brutal and earned the victorious general the name "Butcher" Cumberland. Charles Edward Stuart eventually left Britain and went to Rome, never to attempt to take the throne again. Civil penalties were also severe. New laws dismantled the Highlanders' feudal clan system, and even highland dress was outlawed.

See the whole article here

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Dunkeld Cathedral - Dunkeld - Scotland/UK

Pt: Foto tirada de dentro das ruinas da catedral

En: Picture taken from inside the catedral's ruins

Dunkeld Cathedral stands on the north bank of the River Tay in Dunkeld, Perth and Kinross, Scotland. Built in square-stone style of predominantly gray sandstone, the cathedral proper was begun in 1260 and completed in 1501. It stands on the site of the former Culdee Monastery of Dunkeld, stones from which can be seen as an irregular reddish streak in the eastern gable.

Because of the long construction period, the cathedral shows mixed architecture. Gothic and Norman elements are intermingled throughout the structure. Although partly in ruins, the cathedral is in regular use today and is open to the public. A small but delightful museum offers a collection of relics from monastic and Medieval times.

Relics of Saint Columba, including his bones, were said to have been kept at Dunkeld until the Reformation, at which time they were removed to Ireland. Some believe there are still undiscovered Columban relics buried within the cathedral grounds.

The original monastery at Dunkeld dated from the sixth or early seventh century, founded after an expedition of Saint Columba to the Land of Alba. It was at first a simple collection of wattle huts. During the ninth century Caustantín mac Fergusa constructed a more substantial monastery of reddish sandstone and declared Dunkeld the Primacy (center) of the faith in Alba.

See the whole article here

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7 Days Tour Through the Scotish Highlands

Pt: Saindo do hostel, prestes a comecar o tour de 7 dias pelas Highlands

En: Leaving the hostel, just about to start the 7 days tour through the Scotish Highlands

This is an amazing tour, I do recommend it. It is great value for your money. Amazing tour-guides, who know just all about the history of the great places you will visit, it is a unique experience. They will take you to places, I doubt anyone could get on his own.

It was far ahead of my expectations, honestly it is without any doubts the best tour available. And I am not even receiving dividends.

For more information, check out their website

High Street - Pitlochry - Scotland/UK

Pt: Predios com a cara de Pitlochry, com cafes, restaurantes, lojas de souvenirs

En: Pitlocry's stylish buildings with cafes, restaurants, souvenir stores

Pitlochry (Baile Chloichridh in Gaelic), estimated population 2,564, is a burgh in the council area of Perth and Kinross, Scotland, lying on the River Tummel.

It is largely a Victorian town, whose success as a tourist resort was due to Queen Victoria visiting the area in 1842 and the arrival of the railway in 1863. It remains a popular tourist resort today and is particularly known as a centre for hillwalking, surrounded by mountains such as Ben Y Vrackie. The town has retained many stone-built Victorian buildings.

See the whole article here

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