Highland Games

Highland Games

The Highland Games happen in different villages around on different days. We hoped for good weather and drove up to Pitlochry (about 2.5 hours north). It was a gorgeous day! The atmosphere was a family day out mixed with a school track and field day. It was amazingly organized and coordinated (they've had about 150 years to tweak it!).

We found a place that was front and center (though I think you could sit anywhere around the track and have a pretty good view of many of the different competitions).  Scottish dancing went on all day--the same competitors with 4 different dances (and outfits) done twice...2 to 4 dancers on each stage at a time.

Behind that were the heavy lifting and throwing competitions. Tossing the caber (the telephone pole) is not about how far you can throw it but how straight it lands after being flipped end over end (aiming for 12 with the thrower at 6 on the imaginary clock). Throwing the stone- with the stone in the crook if the neck either from a standing position or after spinning. Throwing a ----- , they stand backwards and sling it around before letting it fly behind them! These competitions were done twice, one for locals and one open (those who compete all over - not randoms from the audience). One of the locals broke a few records for the Pitlochry games! He made it look pretty easy!

There were races both in foot and on bicycles, children through adults. Males and females ran together as did different ages. They had someone who would set a handicap at the starting line. We happened to sit right where they placed the finish line.

There were 16 (or so) Pipe Bands from all over who marched in and around the track as they were introduced. They then came back one by one for the competition. At the end they marched in together as a mass band (divided into 2 mass bands) and played all as one. That was impressive (very glad we were outside!). 

And in the very back of the field there was a tug of war. I'm not aire I've seen adults tug if war...each round took ages as the teams would lean back to almost horizontal and then wait for minutes before anything else happened. I'm not sure if it was a signal from their captain or a feeling that someone on the other team had loosened their grip...There would be some grunting and movement before they settled into the horizontal 'resting' position. The announcer made several quips about them being there until 7 that night or even the next morning. 

Falls of Clyde

One of our hikes was to see waterfalls. There had been some rain so the river was up...It sprinkled a little but for the most part it was a gorgeous day. Every new bend in the trail/river led to another fall (we might have counted 13?) and spectacular views. Known to be a good place for some bird viewing...though we didn't see anything.  

In the past, I think it was a loop trail, and we did see people across the river occasionally, but this bridge was the end of our trail! The sign on the gate says that the metal bridge was constructed to replace the rustic timber bridge in the early 19th century. The warning at the bottom says that due to missing segments the metal bridge is structurally unsafe and asks that you not attempt to cross it...we didn't. 

Isle of Arran

Isle of Arran

We caught the ferry across the water to visit the Isle of Arran. We could see it across the water most days from the house but it was in the habit of hiding behind clouds when it was misty/rainy.

There is a road around the island and one that crosses the middle and that is about it. Many different villages around the track and some beautiful things to see. 

The first is a Scottish castle- Lochranza. The Scottish castles were basically stone square towers. Doors and windows were all pretty high to discourage unwanted visitors. In later years (after construction) new owners would add on if they wanted or had the means.

We hiked to Glenashdale Falls through beautiful forests with ferns and heather and mosses--looked like a great place for fairies! The falls were very tall and the hike was worth it though there was quite an incline to the too and around.

There are many stone circles. At Machrie Moor there are the remains of circles and a lovely walk across pastures at a working sheep farm.

Connie and Clive

Week 2-Maidens

In our second week in Scotland, the Andersons flew home and we moved to Maidens with Connie and Clive. They have spent considerable time at the Open Door in Atlanta where Emma lived and had offered to host us for the rest of our stay. We jumped on the opportunity and absolutely loved our visit! They showed us so much of Scotland!

They live just down the beach from Culzean (pronounced cull-ain?!?) Castle with a view of the Isle of Arran and Ailsa Craig (after which their home is named) just over the back garden. We took many walks to Culzean and wandered the grounds, had tea and visited the caves that are underneath in the cliff face. Along the beach, through forests, the paths lined with heather and black berries, gorgeous ocean views and a castle. We could have been happy exploring there for most of our trip but there was so much more to see!!!

One of our outings was to Galloway where the poet Robert Burns is commemorated. He lived there and spent time in Maidens, too. There was a wonderful museum that had a video rendition of the poem about Tom O'Shanter as well as many interactive displays. A walk along a path with statues of things from his poems leads to the house where he grew up. He was one if the leads in using Scots in literature.

Isle of Arran

Culzean Castle

Ailsa Craig

Tom O'Shanter fleeing the witches from Robert Burns's poem

More from the first week

We visited Loch Lomond and the village of Luss. Climbed up one of the mountains overlooking the loch. They looked like hills to us being from the mountains of North Carolina until we started climbing...we thought we were getting close and we would come to another rise with more to go. We didn't make it to the top--our parking meter time was up--but we did make it to some great views both over the village and up the loch.

That afternoon we went to watch the Badminton World Championships! 5 courts all going at the same time, games ending and starting as they go...always something to watch. It doesn't seem to matter about body type in this game though a long reach is helpful, the birdie (shuttle cock) slows enough on the way down...at least I think that is what happens.

On Sunday I (we) got to meet Rhona's parents! (I lived with Rhona my first year in Malawi.) Alan and Allison came to pick us up and took us for coffee and then to their home for lunch- a wonderful prawn paella (thanks Alan!) Then we went for a great walk around Helensburgh. So much fun to meet them!

Other highlights of the week:
  the hedge maze at Scone Place in Perth (the scones were OK)

  a demo of hunting birds such as falcons and owls at Scone Palace

  a visit to the Auchentoshan Distillery where we had a very enthusiastic tour guide and a tasty sample of one of their whiskeys.

First week

Emma and I spent the first week with the Andersons, family friends who came over for a month. We were outside of Glasgow in the small village of Bishopton.

We visited the Kelvingarde Museum which is an art museum in a wonderful building and the Riverside Museum (Transportation) that has all kinds of transport (planes, trains and automobiles as well as bikes and boats). There is a ship to tour out in the River Clyde and a ferry across the river. The museums are very family friendly with lots of interactive exhibits and the information is easy to read (both informative and not too much!)

 We spent a day in Edinburgh. We parked the car in Bolerno where Mama Jane and Papa Eade stayed during their year in Scotland and visited the site where their apartment was. Then we bused into the city which was full of people there for the festival...many street performances and fliers for later shows.

Ivy and I climbed the memorial to Sir Walter Scott and took in the views. We walked down the Royal Mile.

Emma and I found a photo exhibition in the Parliament building that we really enjoyed. Then we separated from our crowd...Emma and I thought we would walk to the Royal Infirmary (where Mama Jane had given birth to her first child) and meet the others there (they were in a taxi)...but the infirmary had been moved...They taxied to the new one and Emma and I walked to the old site (now apartments). Not having a phone or another place to meet up, Emma and I returned to the car in Bolerno...some hours later Scotty came to check as they had been waiting at the new infirmary...but all was well and we made our trip back to Bishopton.

Scotland!!!

My sister and I are exploring Scotland for about 3 weeks. We've come over and for the first week we stayed with our family friends the Andersons just outside of Glasgow. They have been here for a month and we swooped in for the last week of their stay.

The accents are difficult to understand -- they speak so quickly with different vocabulary and lilt to what we are used to -- but the spirit if being helpful (and repeating themselves) is always there. One woman walked outside into the rain to better point where we should continue!

The weather has been amazing! So much talk of the terrible rains (right before we arrived I guess). It is cloudy and often drizzles but we've seen some sun and the weather hasn't kept us from anything. I've only pulled out and worn my poncho once! (Though I carry it almost everywhere)

Public transport is very good though we don't have to use it much.  The house is a block from the Bishopton rail station and when we have more than 5 people for an activity we meet them at the other end and it worked wonderfully most of the time.