Nigel's Photo Blog

  Skelbo Castle, Sutherland, Scotland Introduction  This afternoon, I am focusing on Skelbo Castle which is in a ruinous condition. Location is the southern edge of Loch Fleet in Sutherland, north of Dornoch in the Scottish Highlands. Historically, the castle would have commanded control of the important ferry crossing route from/to Littleferry across Loch Fleet. Information on Skelbo Castle   Today, the ruins comprise a keep, curtain wall, courtyard and mansion house. A summary history is as follows: 13th century: Gilbert de Moravia. 15th century: Kynnards. 16th century: William Sutherland of Duffus. 18th century: Eric Sutherland of Duffus. Access to the castle is not assured. The site affords superb views across Loch Fleet which is renowned for its wildlife, mainly birds and seals. Seals at Loch Fleet, Scotland   Embo Beach- 3.5 miles north of Dornoch The above sites are roughly equidistant between Golspie and Dornoch and can be accessed via a shor...

  Introduction  This evening, my theme is the world’s shortest street which is known as Ebenezer Place in Wick , N.E. Scotland Information on Ebenezer Place  The street (illustrated above) extends to just the one door at corner of building and is known as Ebenezer Place.This is the entrance to the somewhat upscale Mackay’s Hotel in Wick, Caithness, north of Scotland. Wick is Old Norse for ‘bay’.  In the 19th century, Wick was known as the ‘Herring Capital of Europe’ as a function of the town’s situation as hub of a vibrant and extensive fishing industry which is now all but gone. I found Wick a pleasant enough place, a good base for touring the far north of Scotland and featuring an excellent Heritage Centre. Wick is on the route of the North Coat 500 tour route.  More Information For more information on touring Scotland, including the North Coast 50 0, please refer to the Visitors’ Guide to Scotland, ISBN 978-1-9161332-0-4. This book is also availa...

  Introduction This post is consequent on my recent visit to Greenoc k in the West of Scotland. Information on the Equine Statue. This is a story of loss and bereavement in context of working relationship between man and his working horse during the 19th century. Greenock was an important port. Before mechanisation, powerful work horses laboured in the shipyards and pulled laden carts to and from the harbour and quaysides to factories and mills on the hillside.Reliable horses were loved and revered by their masters as they represented the cartiers primary income. In the novel 'Dancing at the Rascal Fair' author Ivan Doig describes how on Oct 23rd 1889 Ginger was conveying a consignment of sugar on the quay at Albert Harbour when one of the cartwheels caught a mooring stanchion causing the cart and animal to fall into the water.This resulted in the drowning of the horse.The owner was inconsolable in his grief for his beloved horse and the sudden loss of his livelihood. Greenock...

  Buachaille Etive Mor  Today, I undertook a 60 mile round trip to Greenock (pop 43k) which is located about 25 miles NW of Glasgow on the southern bank of the River Clyde .   Key purpose of the trip was to view an exhibition of local landscape paintings the theme of which is life, light and colour thereby offsetting the drab prevailing weather conditions of late February.  During the round trip I encountered additional sightings of interest,viz: Old timber ponds which emerge at low tide near Port Glasgow . Interesting piece of equine public art in central Greenock. Newly arrived ferry for the Western Isles, the MV Isle of Islay moored at Greenock. Very unusual sighting of a helicopter (presumably police) hovering over central Glasgow.  Paintings shown herein are from a total of 23 on display. Exhibition is titled 'Colourist Light' by Joan McKeeman     Stormy Sky, Lunderston Buachaille Etive Mor     Daff Glen   Rannoch Moo...

    I noticed the above sign in a fast food outlet during a recent visit to Edinburgh.  (£4.00 = $5.40) This harks back to the bad old days when such a product was common in Scotland. Calorie count of the product is between 600-900. Variation depends on presence of additional ingredients, such as ice-cream.   Good for manufacturers of fat jabs! 

  Introduction I last reported on these carvings on Nov 11th 2023 subsequent to which excavations have continued on the important Roman site at Carlisle Cricket Ground. An update was provided per my blog of June 26th 2025 . Carlisle Cricket Ground.  Information on the Carlisle Heads   The image above (top) was taken at a current exhibition at Carlisle's Tullie Museum. Carlisle is a major city in the NW of England close to the Roman-era Hadrian's Wall . The sculptured sandstone heads were discovered at the Cricket Ground site in 2023. They are carved in a style that combines local Celtic and Roman influences and likely represent Roman theatre masks. One of the heads has traces of a carving of a god and an animal on the back which suggests it was made from recycled stone work, possibly an altar. The heads have been carved in a way which suggest they would have been placed high up. In Roman belief heads like these would protect people from the evil eye and bad spirits....