Arran and the Borders

Arran and the Borders

This is not an aberration or a Photoshopped picture – the sun shone!  And in spite of Scottish squalls, kept shining for most of the trip.  Of course, there were castles; this one is Hermitage – very solid and near to nowhere. And there were distilleries....
Faces and figures

Faces and figures

The Kelpies stand 30 metres high in the flat Falkirk landscape. A mix of myth and heritage, the kelpies are shape-changing spirits inhabiting Scottish and Irish lochs and also a tribute to the tough workhorses who pulled the barges and carried out other hard work in...
Two concerts and a sculpture garden

Two concerts and a sculpture garden

The first live concert for months! Snake Davis, virtuoso sax and flute player, with Helen Watson, superb vocalist. Not the Ropewalk this time but an unusual venue: the land behind Wootton village hall. Heavy rain held off until the last couple of numbers were due. The...
How far to Forfar?

How far to Forfar?

Quite far, is the answer. But worth the journey. The Three Witches take pride of place – they, along with six other sculptures on a Macbeth theme, are to be found in the woods next to Glamis Castle. Not merely woods but a Pinetum with, we are told, the tallest...
Westward Ho

Westward Ho

There are enough pictures of pretty bays and beaches but you can never have too many gardens. So here is Diffryn Fernant, near Fishguard. Go see it, says Monty Don, so we did and he’s right. It ranges from the cottage and kitchen garden areas near the house...

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