Blogs from Banffshire, Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe

Day 18 - Thursday 16 March - Fordyce, Findochty

Europe » United Kingdom » Scotland » Banffshire March 16th 2023

Very sad, our last day exploring in Banffshire. We are pleased though that we did our outdoor things yesterday, our only 100% fine day We drove firstly through Glasshaugh where my 4 greats grandmother was born back in the 1700s, and then continued on to Fordyce. I was really hoping to see a wild deer over the stone wall, as Tom did the other day, but no such luck. We do still see pheasants by the sides of the roads and in paddocks. They have an “old Kirk” at Fordyce that has been turned into a bistro and I thought “great, we’ll dine in my ancestors old church” but then I read that it had been consecrated in 1804 and that’s too recent for my family! The old, old Kirk is my family’s Kirk - St ... read more

Day 17 - Wednesday 15 March - Portsoy and Cullen

Europe » United Kingdom » Scotland » Banffshire » Portsoy March 15th 2023

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redwatt

Well! What a difference a day makes - after our snowy day yesterday, today was quiet, calm and sunny! ‘Twas lovely. We decided to spend the morning doing the one activity that needed to be rain free, and spent the morning walking and driving the streets of Portsoy - the village where my dad’s grandad Davidson (who died in Sydney in 1954) was born, and where the various branches of our family lived 1792-1919. We found two of the streets they lived in and walked up and down them, as well as the main shopping street. We also found one of the houses, if they haven’t been been renumbered since 1895. Grandad Davidson became a baker here in Portsoy (his father was a Cooper in the fish curing business), before moving to Northumberland. We came across ... read more

Day 14 - Sunday 12 March - Sandend

Europe » United Kingdom » Scotland » Banffshire March 12th 2023

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redwatt

We woke really early this morning which was handy because today we left Rothbury and headed north, back into Scotland. We stopped off at a Morrison’s supermarket, our favourite, at Dalkeith, on the Edinburgh bypass, for some groceries and then continued, taking the long scenic way because we didn’t need to be at our accommodation till later in the afternoon. At Morrisons we bought a meal deal each where we got a choice of sandwich (which was really soft and fresh, and the roast beef was sooooo tender), a snack (I chose the millionaires shortbread, which is shortbread, caramel and chocolate) and a drink (we both chose Starbucks chilled coffee). We also stocked up on porridge, frozen curries, chips and cheese and crackers. The Sharwoods frozen curries are sooo good. They are for 1 but we ... read more

The Charismatic Cairngorms

Europe » United Kingdom » Scotland » Banffshire » Tomintoul July 8th 2011

Elgin

macandcaz

Continuing from the last blog: Tues - spent the morning in Elgin, photographing the wonderful architecture and sampling the local pies! Wed - went swimming at Moray Leisure Centre and finally made it onto one of those big waterslides! Then the big event, a 2nd birthday party complete with Thomas the Tank Engine birthday cake. Thurs - a full day out in the stunning Cairngorms mostly - started with a tour and wee dram at Glenlivet Distillery, then on to Drumin Castle, Tomintoul (and the whisky castle), Braemar and Ballater, via incredible views and miles of green open space. Fri - back to Preston by train and bus, through Aberdeen and Glasgow. Scotland has been an amazing experience, what with all the ruined castles, cathedrals and abbeys, luscious greenery, all round views, glorious weather, friendly people ... read more

Fishing villages, a fish supper, and a cracking castle

Europe » United Kingdom » Scotland » Banffshire » Banff September 17th 2009

Fishing gear

Keep Smiling

Portknockie - Bow Fiddle Rock - Sandend - Portsoy - Banff - Gardenstown - Crovie - Pennan - Macduff - Dunrobin Castle - Thurso - Murkle After a grey start and another enormous breakfast, we ventured forth into an increasingly bright Wednesday. Our journeys today took us along the coast road to the east of Findochty, passing hundred-acre fields that had been recently harvested and were now full of giant, cylindrical bales of straw. There were many large herds of sheep here too and occasional small herds of brown, black or black and white cattle. Great flocks of gulls, crows and rooks whirled around inland, settling now and then among the fields of stubble. All the time, the sea beckoned to our left as we wound along the A98. We turned off frequently to visit some ... read more

Brief history of United Kingdom

Great Britain, the dominant industrial and maritime power of the 19th century, played a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science. At its zenith, the British Empire stretched over one-fourth of the ear...more history

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