A TRIP TO SCOTLAND
In August 2021, after 18 months of self isolation due to COVID 19, we took a short break to Dundee, Scotland, a place we have never visited before.
Fortunately, the weather was kind to us, slightly overcast in the mornings but sunny in the afternoons. I hope you enjoy sharing our experience!
Fortunately, the weather was kind to us, slightly overcast in the mornings but sunny in the afternoons. I hope you enjoy sharing our experience!
HARROGATE
Harrogate is a market town in Yorkshire and we stopped there briefly on the way up to Scotland. Before Covid it was a top destination for conferences, including political conferences. A pleasant enough place for a quick visit.
DUNDEE CITY
A pretty town on the River Tay, Dundee became a powerful industrial town in Victorian times by the near monopoly of the jute industry. Raw jute was imported from India and woven into sacks and bags to pack coal, grain, cotton and a host of other materials. In addition Dundee had thriving jam and marmalade industry and a centre for Scotting newspaper publishing. Most of the old industrial base has now been demolished and Dundee now features prominently in the computer games industry. The old waterfront is being redeveloped withe the centrepiece being the stunning new building if the V&A (world famous Victoria and Albert Museum). Unfortunately we only had one full day in Dundee, (when the V&A was closed) so it was a tiring day to see the major attractions.
THE McMANUS MUSEUM & ART GALLERY
The McManus is housed in a beautiful old building and covers many different aspects of Dundee including natural history, industrial past and art and photography.
THE V&A (Scotland)
Unfortunately the V&A is closed on Tuesdays, the only free day we had to Explore Dundee. The spectacular exterior is based upon the shape of a ship, reflecting Dundee's maritime past. I hope you enjoy the exterior views!
BROUGHTY CASTLE
Brought Castle lies four mile down the coast from Dundee and was built to protect the Firth of Tay. The castle was erected in 1490 by the 2nd Lord Gray, on a charter from James IV, in response to increased English naval activity. It was taken without a shot fired by the English in 1547, and reclaimed by the Scots two and a half years later. The castle fell back into English hands in 1651.
In 1860 the threat of French invasion prompted Broughty’s conversion from a ruin to a modern artillery defence. The castle was further altered in response to the German threat in the two world wars.
The castle now houses a museum run by Leisure & Culture, Dundee. It contains displays on the life and times of Broughty Ferry, its people, the local environment and the wildlife
In 1860 the threat of French invasion prompted Broughty’s conversion from a ruin to a modern artillery defence. The castle was further altered in response to the German threat in the two world wars.
The castle now houses a museum run by Leisure & Culture, Dundee. It contains displays on the life and times of Broughty Ferry, its people, the local environment and the wildlife
THE TAY RAIL BRIDGE
The Tay Bridge carries the railway across the Firth of Tay between Dundee and the suburb of Wormiy n Fife. Its span is 2.75 miles (4.43 kilometres).Plans for a bridge over the Tay to replace the ferry service emerged in 1854, but the first Tay Bridge did not open until 1878. It was a single track lightweight lattice design of relatively low cost. On the night of 28 December 1879 at 7:15 p.m., the bridge collapsed after its central spans gave way during high winter gales. A train with six carriages carrying seventy-five passengers and crew, crossing at the time of the collapse, plunged into the icy waters of the Tay. All seventy-five people on board were killed. The disaster stunned the whole country and sent shock waves through the Victorian engineering community. The incident is one of the greatest bridge-related engineering disasters to have occurred. An enquiry determined that the bridge was insufficiently engineered to cope with high winds.
It was replaced by a second double track bridge constructed of iron and steel, parallel to the remains of the first bridge. Work commenced on 6 July 1883 and the bridge opened in 1887. In 2003, the bridge was strengthened and refurbished, winning a British Construction Industry Engineering Award to mark the scale and difficulty of the project.
It was replaced by a second double track bridge constructed of iron and steel, parallel to the remains of the first bridge. Work commenced on 6 July 1883 and the bridge opened in 1887. In 2003, the bridge was strengthened and refurbished, winning a British Construction Industry Engineering Award to mark the scale and difficulty of the project.
BASS ROCK GANNET COLONY
Bass Rock situated in the Firth of Forth near North Berwick is home to the largest gannet colony in the world. Aroun 200,00 gannets make the rock their summer base before returning to Africa in the winter. Our guide told us, first you will see it, they you will hear it and then you will smell it - and he was correct. The island is covered in gannets, each pat within pecking distance of the others. I had real problems reducing the number of photos, so I hope you enjoy the sights.
THE HIGHLAND WILDLIFE PARK
The Highland Wildlife Park is operated the the Zoological Society Of Scotland, who also own the excellent Edinburgh Zoo. The Wildlife Park features mainly Northern European species that have to put up with the cold welt Scottish climate. Enjoy!
STIRLING CASTLE
Stirling Castle dominates the town of Stirling near Glasgow as it sits on an ancient volcanic plug. We only stopped for AA cup of tea, so no more photos of the town.
GRETNA GREEN
Gretna Green is famous because it was the first place over the Scottish border where eloping couples could be married (by a blacksmith) in old days before the English law was changed. There isn't a lot there apart from a visitor centre and gift shop.
TWYCROSS ZOO