Isles and Trials

Category: scotland

  • Shetland

    Shetland

    I took the overnight ferry to Shetland. I couldn’t convince any others in the family to join me. I originally thought I would bring my bike. There were marked bike routes. Then maybe I’d hire a bike. It was foggy and hilly when I got there. (It’s probably been hilly for some time.) So I aborted the bike idea (it would have taken me a LONG time to cover the 25 miles to Sumburgh to see the lighthouse.

    I really thought the island would be a lot more deserted – but it was kind of bustling. (And there are only like 2 roads so that made things a bit more trafficky on those routes.)

    Here is a video with a bunch of highlights.

  • Manual transmission!

    Manual transmission!

    Scary! But done!

  • Buildings

    Buildings

    Some buildings here are in disrepair and need to be renovated. Here is one viewed from an alley.

  • Smile – windmills

    Smile – windmills

    If you zoom way in – there are some windmills. They can be seen from a golf course named for (owned by) a famous person back home. We didn’t visit this golf course.

  • Cool old suspension bridge

    Cool old suspension bridge

    Over the River Dee

  • Provost Skenes House

    Provost Skenes House

    A very cool museum in the Aberdeen city center – with salutes to famous Aberdonians. They made the first MRI scanner here! (And interestingly made their own iron lung after seeing one in America …)

  • Seals!

    Seals!

    The seal preserve about a 30 minute drive north of Aberdeen was amazing! (I should have brought my American iPhone as my Scottish one doesn’t have as good a camera.) It is in Newburgh. (And to be clear – that is pronounced Noo-burra!)

    The landscape at the seal beach!
  • On to Drum Castle, the grounds

    On to Drum Castle, the grounds

    The final castle of our tour – Drum. An interesting find! Last time I saw a tree like this – it was at Muir Woods (named for the Scottish born American naturalist). This one is estimated to have been planted in the 1860s.

  • Inside Crathes Castle

    Inside Crathes Castle

    This is the ceiling with some intricate paintings. They nicely provide mirrors so you don’t have to bend your neck much.

  • Crathes Castle

    Crathes Castle

    A different flavor of castle! This one was apparently occupied until around 1950. They have a a ParkRun here! It also has a lovely garden – hope to be back there in spring when more of the plants are in bloom.