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Category Archives: Scotland
Falkirk, Scotland beyond the Kelpies
As I described in a (very) old post, I went to Falkirk specifically to see Andy Scott’s Kelpies sculptures and perhaps some of his other works which can be found in a variety of locations around the town. In the … Continue reading
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
Tattoo – a corruption of a Dutch phrase commanding a pub to close for the night so the soldiers can be sent back to barracks. The word also was used to allude to military music practice and now refers to elaborate … Continue reading
Neolithic Orkney 1 – the Ness of Brodgar and Maeshowe
Blognote – In the interest of shorter blog posts to cater to ever-diminishing attention spans (not least of which is my own!), here is the first of several posts about the Neolithic sites on Orkney. With all the known settlements … Continue reading
A labor of love in wartime – The Italian Chapel, Orkney
Orkney is known for its Neolithic monuments and settlements, but the islands also have their fair share of WWII history and associated sights. One of these is the Italian Chapel on the tiny island of Lambholm in the southeast corner of … Continue reading
Greyfriars Bobby – a grave and a pub
This is another popular attraction in Edinburgh that took me 20-plus years to track down. The red granite headstone marking Bobby’s grave has only been here since 1981 which explains why it looks almost new. Various pictures I found online … Continue reading
A Robert Louis Stevenson tribute
Just about the only benefit of my staying in the Corstorphine area on Edinburgh’s outskirts was this statue across the street from the house and a few steps from the Western Corner bus stop. (The only other worthwhile attraction in … Continue reading
Rooms and their views – summer 2014
While I try to sort out all the fotos and stories from my summer trip, I figured I’d post something slightly out of the ordinary from my usual stuff… these are the views from some of the rooms I called … Continue reading
A wee dram and a tour of Highland Park, Orkney
Several years ago, I got a very useful introduction to single malt Scotch from the landlord at the Ensign Ewart pub, just down the hill from Edinburgh Castle. One of the malts I tried – and liked a lot – … Continue reading
The Kelpies are coming to NYC
From the website I found when searching for info on this year’s Tartan Day parade in NYC. The parade will be held on Saturday, 5 April, 2014 along Sixth Ave, beginning at 2 pm. When I was in Edinburgh this … Continue reading
Introducing Edinburgh Zoo’s penguins
Edinburgh Zoo has a large and renowned collection of penguins – renowned for their daily “Penguin Parade” – when a (variable) number of penguins will take a short stroll along the pathway outside their enclosure at 2 pm each day … Continue reading
A Scottish stone is going walkabout!
From London Independent and Univ of Glasgow. The Hogback Stone, one of the thousand-plus year old Govan stones which live in a Glasgow church, is going on exhibition at the British Museum in London. Here’s more info and a photo, … Continue reading
Valentine’s Day getaways in England and Scotland
From London Independent. Ten great places for that special weekend getaway. I especially like the gypsy caravan. Let’s hope none of them are plagued by the disastrous floods currently inundating the island.
Top Scotch whiskies
From London Independent. Ten top Scotches, a mix of single malts and blends. Blends? Really? I bought a nip of Highland Park in Edinburgh last month; quite nice but, admittedly, not the 25 year old stuff – more like 10 … Continue reading
winter walks around Britain
From the London Independent. Ten ideas for winter walks of varying lengths around Britain, from Wales and Cornwall to London and Scotland. I went on a woodsy walk in the Ashdown Forest (#8) years ago with Dad. It wasn’t quite … Continue reading
Stuff to see (mostly) in London for autumn 2013 and gourmet getaways
From the London Independent. A serious list of fifty arts events and performances, live and recorded, mostly in and around London but there are a few for a day or a weekend away. Pick something and go! I’m a big … Continue reading
A roundup of ‘Euronews’ for spring 2013
From the London Independent, DutchNews, France 24, et al. Ten gardens to visit when the weather cooperates. The Moscow Cat Circus returns. I’m hoping they get animal visas to travel outside Russia soon. Turn on your high-beams in the Netherlands; … Continue reading
Posted in England, France, General magpie travel, Netherlands travel, News from Britain, News from Europe, Scotland, UK news
Tagged Aboriginal art in Paris, Airbnb in Amsterdam, driving in the Netherlands, Dutch - Belgian high speed rail, Marseille museum, Moscow Cat Circus, UK spring gardens
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UK news roundup – April 2013 – field trips, dogs and surcharges
From the London Independent. March/April 2013. A list of ten architecture walks from London to Glasgow and beyond. Ten of the best flea markets around Britain. Mind you, most flea markets in the US are weekly affairs at the very … Continue reading
A new Scottish hotel coming soon
From London Independent. Andy Murray, a top 3 tennis star and the top player in the UK has bought an old hotel in his home town of Dunblane, Scotland and has plans to turn it into a top luxury hotel. … Continue reading
Posted in General magpie travel, News from Britain, Scotland, UK news
Tagged Andy Murray's new hotel, Dunblane, Dunblane hotel, Scottish hotels
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Top ten Scotch whiskies
From London Independent. There was a similar list published in September of 2011. New year, new list and this time, all single malts. Top ten single malts. One entry appears on both lists – the Old Pulteney 12 year old. … Continue reading
Winter walks in the UK
From the London Independent. Floods notwithstanding – and there have been a LOT of them recently – here is a list of 50 winter walks grouped, helpfully, by region. Pull on those boots and get cracking!
Posted in General magpie travel, London travel, News from Europe, Scotland, UK news
Tagged UK travel, UK walks, UK winter walks
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Fireworks from Hogmanay in Edinburgh
A YouTube video of tonight’s fireworks in Edinburgh, Scotland. Happy New Year!
Catherine the Great in Edinburgh
From the London Independent. An exhibition devoted to Russia’s Catherine the Great is running at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh thru October 21. Hmmm. Another possibility for my fall trip.
Upcoming festivals in Edinburgh
Just my luck that my vacation plans didn’t include checking these out first. The Jazz and Blues fest starts Friday, followed by the Arts festival, the Military Tattoo, Fringe, International Festival, Book Festival. These overlap from early August thru early September. … Continue reading
Scottish National Portrait Gallery reopens
from the London Independent… After a huge expansion and updating, the Scottish National Portrait Gallery is open to visitors again.
Posted in Edinburgh, General magpie travel, Scotland, UK
Tagged Edinburgh travel, Scotland travel, UK travel
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Happy New Year from Edinburgh
New York has its ball dropping above Times Square. In Paris, there are the flashing lights of the Eiffel Tower and champagne toasts on the Champs Elysees. In London, the lights on the London Eye go off at the stroke of midnight. … Continue reading
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