Nigel's Photo Blog

Birnam Oak, Birnam, Central Scotland This evening, unusually, I am focusing on a single tree in central Scotland. This sessile oak (quercus petraea) is commonly known as the ‘Birnam Oak’ and acts as a tangible proxy for the Birnam Wood mentioned in Shakespeare’s Macbeth . Shakespeare wrote Macbeth during the period 1605-6 when he was some 475 miles south of Birnam at a time when communications, both written and physical (transport) were extremely restricted. The question arises as to how the great playwright came to hear of such an obscure wood in a country which, until 1603, was independent of England. There is a record of a company of English actors visiting Perthshire (in which Birnam is located) at a time when the young Shakespeare was known to be a member of group of travelling actors but there is no firm evidence that he ever visited Birnam. However, Shakespeare was very widely read and may have learned of Birnam from other sources. Apart from the specifi

Tombstone of Ammonius This evening, I am posting information on what may be the oldest tombstone in Scotland, possibly Britain, with a literate inscription. The tombstone dates from around AD80-AD90 and was found at Ardoch Roman Fort, near Braco in Perthshire, central Scotland and now forms part of the Antonine Wall exhibition in the Huntarian Museum, Glasgow. The inscription is written in Latin and reads: “To the spirits of the departed Ammonius, son of Damio, centurion of the First Cohort of Spaniards, of 27 years service. His heirs had this erected.” The Ardoch fort pre-dates both Hadrian’s Wall and the Antonine Wall and formed part of the very early Gask Frontier (AD 79-87) established during the Flavian period (Emperor Vespasian and his sons). In essence Gask would have been a very exposed and isolated line deep in enemy territory and situated about 25 miles north of the subsequently built Antonine Wall (approx. AD 142-160) Particular points of note in

This evening, I am focusing on 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  Chiefs of Clan MacLeod  claim descent from  Leod , a high-born  Norse-Gael  who is thought to have lived in the 13th century, but whose ancestors are known from multiple pedigrees at least into the early 12th or late 11th centuries.  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,(1450-1547) rebuilt the church of Rodel on Harris, built the Fairy Tower at Dunvegan and en

(Above capture is that of a Water Lily in flower.) This morning,whilst out on my exercise walk (in Rouken Glen Park) I encountered a Moorhen working very hard building some sort of platform/nest on a bed of water lilies. Approximate location of nesting site. I had assumed the breeding season for this water bird was long past but research indicates t he species have multiple broods each year, managing as many as three on a good year. Apparently, moorhens are poor at picking fox-proof nest sites and make endless attempts as they lose clutches of eggs.In this case the prospective nest is just a few feet from a footpath which may experience a footfall of about 300-500 per day, not to mention dogs. There are islands in the pond which should offer more secure nesting sites. I will watch with interest the progress of this nesting effort. Nest building in progress. Pic of Moorhen family with chicks taken May 20th this year. Water Lilies in the rain today.

Netherton Cross, Hamilton Old Parish Church This evening, I am posting information on the central Scotland town of Hamilton which has a population of 53,000 and is located about 14 miles S.E.of Glasgow. Hamilton was formerly known as Cadzow and has extensive historical connections with leading aristocratic family, the Hamiltons. Today, the Duke of Hamilton is a title in the Peerage of Scotland, created in 1643. It is the senior dukedom in that Peerage, and as such its holder is the Premier Peer of Scotland, as well as being head of both the House of Hamilton and the House of Douglas. Provided below is information on a selection of key sites and artifacts in Hamilton. Above and below are images of the Netherton Cross which now stands in the grounds of Hamilton Old Parish Church, Scotland.This cross: Dates from the 10th/11th centuries. Ranks as the oldest example of Christianity in Hamilton. Is an example of British Strathclyde  sculpture influenced by Man

This evening, I am posting information on the ‘Million Dollar View’.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Image above was taken from the lower reaches of Struie Hill, Ross-shire, Scotland on the A836 looking north. Villages on the edge of the Firth (north) include Kincardine, Ardgay and Bonar Bridge. To the east (right of the picture) the Firth connects with the North Sea. ‘Firth’ is a Scottish word for bay or estuary, in this case where

Antonine Wall at Rough Castle, Bonnybridge looking west. This post focuses on key sites on the 2nd century AD Antonine Wall which, for a short period of about 20 years, was the northern frontier of the Roman Empire. The Antonine Wall is named after the Emperor, Titus Aurelius Antoninus. It was built AD 139-142 and runs for 37 miles in an east-west direction linking Scotland’s east and west coasts. There may have been up to 26 forts along the wall of which 17 have been identified. The motivation for construction of the Wall probably owes more to political machinations within the Roman administration than any military imperative.  Readers should remember that the local adversaries of the Romans were the Picts, not Scots. The latter did not arrive (from Ireland) until around AD500. First site is the fort at Bar Hill, near Twechar, N.E. of Glasgow. Access entails an uphill climb along a rough track for about half a mile completion of which rewards the visitor with vie

Today, we crossed by ferry (1 hour each way) to the nature reserve of the Isle of May which lies off Scotland's Fife Coast. This island has much to offer the visitor including such topics as geology, numerous lighthouses, remains of military installations and medieval religious establishments. However, in space of just the three hours allotted we focused on the bird life, principally the comical Puffins which at this time of year number about 90,000 but other birds which frequent the island which include Guillemot, Razorbill, Shag, Kittiwake, Arctic Tern, Eider Duck and Fulmar. Weather conditions were benign, a feature which contributed to a very rewarding trip. Video clip of Puffin colony Puffins Arctic Tern Herring Gulls Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly and Wasp Shags Island View Thread of seagulls Grey Seals View of part of Isle of May Ferry Boat

Elie beach and village, Fife, Scotland. This evening, I am reporting on the charming Fife (east of Scotland) coastal village of Elie which is located on the northern coast of the Firth of Forth. We spent the afternoon here, basking in the summer sun on the extensive sandy beaches and swimming in the warm waters. Summary information on Elie as follows: Benefits from an extensive sandy beach which is used for a wide range of water sports including windsurfing, canoeing, sailing, pedalos, boat trips, inflatables and water-skiing. Most westerly of the East Neuk villages.In past days its golden sands attracted many holidaymakers. A causeway leads to a rocky islet with panoramic views and the busy water sports centre. Thirteen miles directly south of St Andrews. Combined with nearby Earlsferry, population is about 940. Origin of name is uncertain. Possibly a derivation of the Gaelic word for island (which it once was) or from the Old English ‘isle of eels

This evening, I am posting information on Castle Varrich which is situated on a prominent hill close to the village of Tongue on the north coast of Scotland, about 85 miles directly north of Inverness in the Highlands of Scotland. From a military perspective, the castle dominates the Kyle of Tongue, a narrow waterway connected to the sea. Date of the castle’s construction is not documented but could be 14th century. Historically, the castle is associated with Clan Mackay and is believed to have been the home of the Clan chiefs until they relocated to Tongue House. Landscape view of Castle Varrich The Castle is now a romantic ruin with access restricted for safety reasons.However, there is a path up to the Castle exterior from Tongue which offers good views of the surrounding landscape, including Ben Loyal (a mountain) which reaches 2507 feet. Allow about 60-90 minutes for a round trip hike from Tongue. View of Tongue from Castle Varrich. Key facts concerning