Nigel's Photo Blog

  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....

This afternoon, I am posting a small portfolio of images taken yesterday in course of my rail trip from Glasgow in SW Scotland to Carlisle in NW England. All of the images were taken from a very fast moving train. I believe the landscape covered is either the Cheviot Hills or Southern Uplands in southern Scotland.  Strangely, this is the best accumulation of snow I have encountered this winter. To date snowfall in Glasgow has been negligible although heavy falls have been recorded in the north and Highlands.           More information The publication Visitors’ Guide to Scotland provides a wide range of information for the visitor. The ISBN is 978-1-9161332-0-4. This book is also available via Kindle .    

 Introduction  This evening, I am posting information on St. Fillan’s Priory in the Highlands of Scotland.  Information on St. Fillan's Priory . The Priory remains can be accessed via a public hiking trail near Kirkton Farm, about half way between Tyndrum , Perthshire and Crianlarich. This site is on the route of the West Highland Way hiking trail.  Crianlarich Hills   The former medieval priory extends now to scant ruins but at its peak in the 14th century was a high status, Augustinian establishment.It was endowed by Scotland’s King Robert the Bruce in gratitude for his being granted sanctuary at the predecessor site following his defeat at the Battle of Methven in 1306. The Bruce suffered another defeat nearby in 1306, at the hands of Alistair MacDougall , in what has been named the Battle of Dalrigh, although he (the Bruce) lived to fight another day. St.Fillan was active some six centuries before Robert The Bruce. He was ...

Introduction This evening, I am posting information on Loch Linnhe (pronounced ‘Linnee’). This loch/lake is located in the Highlands of Scotland running on a S.W./N.E  alignment between Fort William and the  Isle of Mull .  Cruising on Loch Linnhe, Scotland.  Information on Loch Linnhe Total length is about 50km/31 miles. Narrowest point is at the Corran Narrows across which a regular ferry service operates.  North of Corran  the loch is only about 2km/1.2miles wide whereas the southern section of the loch is much wider, opening into the Firth of Lorn and the Atlantic Ocean. In this southern section can be found  Castle Stalker ,  Dunstaffnage Castle  and  Dunollie Castle. Castle Stalker, Loch Linnhe Eilean Musdile Lighthouse, Loch Linnhe Loch Linnhe.   Sailboat on Loch Linnhe. Fort William from Loch Linnhe Most population and activity is on the eastern side of the loch, moving up from  Oban  through C...

 Introduction This evening, I am reporting on a one-day trip to the Scottish Borders .This is an often overlooked part of Scotland with rolling hills, rich arable farmland and ancient buildings. Jedburgh Abbey  Information on the Scottish Borders Tour First stop was Melrose which has a history dating back to the Roman period. Here our key focus was Melrose Abbey . This now ruined structure was originally founded by King David I in 1136 for an order of Cistercian monks. Severe damage was inflicted by English armies during the Anglo-Scottish wars with re-building during 15th century. Catholic worship ceased at the Reformation in 1560 and the last monk died in 1590. Notable for a stone carving of a pig playing the bagpipes and (the alleged) burial-place of the heart of King Robert the Bruce . Melrose Abbey  Burial place of King Robert the Bruce ’s Heart at Melrose Abbey   Pig playing bagpipes at Melrose Abbey  Next, we moved on to nearby J edb...

Introduction This evening, I am posting information on a one-day, small group tour of Clan Armstrong sites.    Connecting with equine residents at Mangerton Tower Information on the Clan Armstrong Tour This morning, I collected tour guests from central Edinburgh , Scotland at 0915 and embarked on a trip to the Scottish Borders as follows: First stop at Johnstons of Elgin, Hawick. This company specialises in cashmere and fine woollen products. We availed of refreshments here and visited the showroom. Johnstons of Elgin Showroom. Next to the village of Teviothead where we visited the  Celtic Goldsmith  showroom. Celtic Goldsmith  Next, to nearby  Carlenrig , This the site where King James V had Johnnie Armstrong and fifty followers executed by hanging in 1530 in context of an initiative to control the unruly Borders region. Next to the small town of  Langholm : Here we called in at the Eskdale Hotel where we visited the Clan ...