Nigel's Photo Blog

 Introduction This evening, I am posting information on Crail Pottery.Location is Scotland’s Fife Coast, about 10 miles S .E.of St. Andrews. Information on Crail Pottery The Fife Coast is home to many artists, galleries and craftpeople covering a wide range of skills. Crail Pottery has a history dating back to 1965. It is housed in a classic old cottage typical of the area. Inside, all the products are made in the traditional manner using a potter’s wheel. The range includes: Stoneware. Terracotta. Raku Hand-painted earthenware. A small but friendly business where visitors are free to browse and view the entire production process.  The village of Crail is worthy of a visit in its own right, particularly the quaint and popular harbour.     Traditional pottery making in process.   More information  For more information on Fife and Scotland in general please refer to Visitors’ Guide to Scotland, ISBN 978-1-9161332-0-4. This book is als...

On Saturday, September 5th 2026 my wife and myself visited the  The International Ayr Show Festival of Flight. This was held at Ayr , a popular coastal town south of Glasgow S.W. Scotland . Included in the festival was a display of classic cars under the auspices of the Ayrshire Classic Cars Club. Photographs of representative vehicles are provided below.  Classic Mini   Triumph   Alfa Romeo    Nissan Figaro    Citroen 2CV    MG    MG Classic Vintage   Here is a link to another classic car event, held in Glasgow.  Motor vehicles can be seen in the Kelvingrove Museum ( Glasgow ) and National Museum ( Edinburgh ). Information on both museums can be found in the Visitors’ Guide to Scotland, ISBN 978-1-9161332-0-4.This publication is also available via Kindle.    

Introduction This afternoon I am reporting on the long line of hereditary chiefs of Clan Macleod and their seat at Dunvegan on the Isle of Skye.   Main entrance to Dunvegan Castle today       Information on MacLeod Chiefs MacLeod of MacLeod the chiefs of which have occupied Dunvegan Castle (above and below) on Isle of Skye for twenty generations. Over this long period of occupation the MacLeods have hemorrhaged some of their extensive lands due to inadequate (or non-existent) legal titles. The MacLeods adhered to the Roman Catholic faith during turbulent times in the 17th and 18th centuries. They fought for the Royalist cause in the Civil War of the 17th century and suffered huge losses at the Battle of Worcester in 1651. However, the MacLeods are perhaps best known for their cultural achievements, viz: 8th Chief, Alasdair Crotach, rebuilt the church of Rodel on Harris , built the Fairy Tower at Dunvegan and encouraged piping. 15th Chief, Sir Roderick...

Introduction Today was harvest time in our garden with focus on Sea Buckthorn.    More information  About 10 years ago I purchased a small number of young Sea Buckthorn shrubs. Despite a horticultural expert pronouncing the shrub as unsuitable for this environment we now have a small forest of the species. Some of the shrubs are about 10 feet high. Berry production has proved erratic. Last year there was a negligible crop whereas this year we have one shrub laden with berries whilst the others are bereft.  Actually picking the berries is a challenge.This is because the shrub's branches are populated with thorns but I have found a workaround. According to research on the web sea buckthorn berries are nutrient-dense fruits that support skin health, immunity, heart function, digestion and provide powerful antioxidant protection. Wow! We usually use the berries to supplement our breakfast.  Finally, whilst picking the berries I came across the insect below which I a...

 Introduction This evening, I am posting information on Blair Athol Whisky Distillery. This is located in the Highland village of Pitlochry , Perthshire, Pitlochry is about ninety-five miles north of Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh     Information on Blair Athol Distillery  Blair Athol has a history dating back to 1798. Subsequently there occurred four ownership changes and a period (1932-1949) when the distillery was mothballed. A key ownership change occurred in  1933 when Arthur Bell & Sons gained control. From thereon Blair Athol became closely associated with Bell’s blended whisky.This blend is a top seller in England . Ownership now rest with drinks giant, Diageo. Entrance to Visitor Centre    Production equipment comprises a 8.2 ton semi-lauter mash tun, six washbacks and two pairs of stills.Capacity is 2.8m litres p.a. Location is conducive to high volumes of tourist visitors with numbers reaching about 35,000 p.a. Both ex-sherry c...

 Introduction  This morning, I was delighted at long last to have an encounter with a dipper, a bird species which can "fly" under water.   Information on the dipper species . From past experience I would assign a 1000:1 chance of spotting a dipper whilst out in the countryside.Even then there is usually insufficient time to position the camera before the bird flies away. This morning I hit the jackpot whilst at Rouken Glen Country Park near Glasgow , I had an unrestricted view of the bird whilst standing on the river bank during which the bird seemed indifferent to my presence. Upshot was a good video clip of the bird's modus operandi .     Information sourced from Wikipedia The white-throated dipper is closely associated with swiftly running rivers and streams or the lakes into which they fall. It often perches bobbing spasmodically with its short tail lifted up on the rocks around which the water swirls and tumbles. It acquired its name from these sudde...