Place of interest Archive

Dunadd – In the Footsteps of the Kings of Dalriada

Atop the rock of Dunadd once stood the fortress where the kings of the Scottish realm of Dalriada were crowned. One ritual was especially important. He placed his foot in the carved stone footprint, and the crowd below cheered. From this day on, he, Áedán mac Gabráin, would guide the fate of the kingdom. From […]

Machrie Moor – Arran’s Land of Stone Circles

Sliabh nan Carraigean, Moor of the Standing Stones, is the name of the area around Machrie on the Isle of Arran. Small wonder: eleven stone circles can be found here. But where did their builders disappear to? From the car park, it’s only about two kilometres back to the Stone Age – two kilometres along […]

Auction in Scotland: A Visit to Great Western Auctions in Glasgow

In Scotland, antique auctions are down-to-earth, entertaining, and utterly fascinating. We visited one and are here to tell you about it. “Are you starting a party, my dear?” – I freeze. Did she really just speak to me? Her? Me? Here, while I’m inspecting a whisky collection? She did. Anita Manning, the queen of auctions, […]

Brodick Castle on Arran and the Bizarre Bavarian Summerhouse

Brodick Castle on the Isle of Arran holds wonderful treasures and curiosities within its walls. Yet the most bizarre moment awaits us outside the mansion. The outline of Brodick Castle seems strangely familiar as I approach the main house. Where have I seen this before? Of course! On the Scottish twenty-pound note. Brodick Castle graces […]

Loch Katrine and the Steamship Sir Walter Scott

Scottish folk hero Rob Roy lived on the shores of Loch Katrine, and Scotland’s national poet Sir Walter Scott set several of his works here. A steamer trip into romance. Even the drive to Loch Katrine is picturesque. The last stretch of the narrow road winds through a fairy-tale forest, the trees draped in moss. […]

Bridge of Allan Highland Games – A Day at the Games

Sweating strongmen, graceful dancers, and over it all the drone of bagpipes. A day at the Bridge of Allan Highland Games. There’s a reason the wail of the bagpipes keeps going all day: thirty bands from all over the world go head to head here at the Bridge of Allan Highland Games, in the shadow […]

Glenbarr Abbey – House of the Strange Collection

Anyone expecting an actual abbey at Glenbarr Abbey is in for a surprise. The house and its occupants are far more fascinating than an old monastery. Update: Glenbarr Abbey is currently closed and its future is uncertain. Efforts are finally underway to preserve the house, however. A project was launched in 2025. “Look, darling, an […]

St Conan’s Kirk – An Architect’s Dream

His mother found the walk to the nearest church too far – so he built a new one. St Conan’s Kirk is now one of the most remarkable places of worship in the Highlands. Here’s what makes it so special. With the new railway line, a remote corner of the Scottish Highlands suddenly became interesting. […]

Tantallon Castle – Old Bulwark Near North Berwick

It’s as if someone had put up a wall against the sea – that’s how Tantallon Castle feels. Here’s what else you’ll find in and around this castle. And suddenly you’re standing in front of a wall. A gigantic wall of red sandstone with just a single opening: a narrow door in the middle. But […]

Pennan Inn – Stay Overnight Like the Local Hero

The Pennan Inn became world-famous thanks to the film Local Hero and the phone box out front. But reducing the Inn to just the film would do its owners a disservice. Because Nikki and Peter Simpson have put their own stamp on the Pennan Inn – without denying the house’s history. Walk into the Inn […]