The parish church is on an earlier Christian site, dedicated to Coeddi, Bishop of Iona (died 712), founded about 700 AD from Iona. Preserved in an alcove in the church is an early hand bell in Irish style (iron with bronze coating), dating from the 7th or 8th century, one of several to have [...]
More Oban info, I cannee help it! Oban has been used by humans since at least mesolithic times, as evidenced by archaeological remains of cave dwellers found in the town. Just outside the town stands Dunollie Castle, overlooking the main entrance to the bay, it has been fortified since the Bronze age. Prior to the [...]
Glasgow Green Fridayu 16th August: Grade 1 competition. Saturday 17th: All grades. Two days of competition showcases the extraordinary ability of over 8,000 pipers and drummers taking part (don’t forget the Pipe Majors!). Defending champions Field Marshal Montgomery (Northern Ireland) will face bands from around the world as they try to hang on to their [...]
A HISTORY OF PERTH IN THE MIDDLE AGES Perth is where I lived 20 odd years and like it, overflowing with history … The fair city (as it’s known) of Perth was made a burgh by King David I in the early 12th century (that’s the 1100’s by the way). There was already a settlement [...]
The dates for the International Gathering of the Clan Maclean have been announced as Friday 19th to the Friday 26th of June 2022. The Gathering will be held on the Isle of Mull and further details will be published as they are announced. Private driver guided tours, we have a selection of vehicles available for [...]
Recently, a new breed of owner has emerged alongside attempts by the Scottish government to modernise the rules but I would argue that the reforms have not gone far enough and that the concentration of land in so few hands is still leading to abuse of power. So who owns what in Scotland? A Scottish [...]
Overview - Carnasserie Castle: on the A816, 2 mile north of Kilmartin. The property was held by the MacLachlans in 1436, then by the Campbell Earl of Argyll but was given in 1559 to John Carswell, who built the present castle. Carswell published the first ever book in Gaelic in 1567, the Gaelic version of [...]
NOT ALL SCOTTISH FOOD IS DEEP FRIED! For example; Scotland's 9 Michelin star restaurants. For a gastronomic experience to remember, book a table at one of Scotland's Michelin-star restaurants. Pick from 9 eateries in superb locations, from four one Michelin star restaurants in Edinburgh to two Michelin-star dining in Perthshire, to the UK's most northerly [...]
The Gulf of Corryvreckan, also called the Strait of Corryvreckan by the way, is a narrow strait of water between the islands of Jura and Scarba in Argyll, off Scotland's west coast and a few miles from my hatching place of Oban. The whirlpool is on the northern side of the gulf, surrounding an underwater [...]
An Exelent wine tasting night I was again invited by the good folks at Exel Wines, to a tasting night, this time, no whiskies but grand wines, I had no hesitation in accepting. The usual suspects arrived and the glamour girls (staff) Denise and Keron were on hand as our hosts. I do enjoy [...]
