Nigel's Photo Blog

(Above image is of Atholl Road in the centre of Pitlochry.) This evening, I am posting information on the popular central Scotland town of Pitlochry. Pitlochry has a population of 2776 and is located about 84 miles N.E. of Glasgow. More information: The name is derived from the Gaelic Baile Chloichrigh and may mean 'place of the stepping stones'. The 'Pit' element suggests that Pitlochry has Pictish origins and thus may date back, possibly, at least 1500 years. Situated close to the River Tummel which in turn feeds into the River Tay. Landscape view of Pitlochry Home to: Two whisky distilleries: Edradour and Blair Atholl. The well regarded Pitlochry Festival Theatre.  Explorer's Garden aka The Scottish Plant Hunters Garden. 18 hole, par 69 golf course. A wide range of shops including the unique Heather Gems which produces jewellery products manufactured from local heather. Many hotels, b&bs and guest houses. The Pitlochry Dam Visito...

(Above image is a capture of the 'Ha'penny Bridge over the White Cart in Linn Park.) This morning, I was tempted out by a combination of clear blue skies, low angle sun and frosty conditions. This report provides images of my hiking/cycle trip along the bank of the White Cart Water (river) at Linn Park in south Glasgow.  First stop was the historic and attractive 'Ha'penny Bridge' information on which has been sourced from Historic Environment Scotland and provided below. Dates from around 1811-1820. Single-span, ornamental cast iron bridge crossing the White Cart Water at Linn Park, Glasgow. The bridge is 43 feet long and 12 feet wide with a semi-elliptical depressed arch formed from four iron ribs spaced 4 feet apart and braced by rectangular frames held by bolts with square nuts. Each rib is cast with a decorative Greek frieze, pierced saltire lattice-work, gothic spandrels and distinctive 'ha'penny' roundels. The bridge has sandstone...

This evening, I am posting information Eilean Donan Castle which is close to the village of Dornie in the Scottish Highlands. Dornie is a relatively small village sitting at confluence of Lochs Duich, Alsh and Long. There are shops and accommodation available.Population is 360 persons. Each year about 500,000 people stop off at Dornie to visit the famous Eilean Donan Castle, which is very photogenic and has featured in numerous feature films including James Bond . More information on Eilean Donan Castle: Name is derived from Gaelic and means 'island of Donan'. The name may be derived from a 6th century AD Irish saint named Donan who was a bishop and subsequently canonised. Located ten miles east of Kyleakin (Isle of Skye) and eleven miles S.E. of Plockton on the mainland. Completed in its present form in 1932. There has probably been a fortification on the site since the 13th century but the previous fort was blown up by the British navy in 1719 during on...

(Above image captures Campsie Fells in distance, as viewed from a snowbound Williamwood Golf Course.) Winter finally arrived in Glasgow today, about one month late. With temperature down to around freezing we had a light snowfall this morning which provided opportunity for some useful landscape shots, benefiting from low angle sunlight directed on the Campsie Fells, a range of hills situated directly north of Glasgow. (Campsie is derived from the Gaelic term cam sith for 'crooked hill' whilst fell is derived from the Old Norse (Viking) fjall meaning 'hill'. Thus the two parts of the description mean essentially the same thing (in different languages) and reflect the migration patterns of around 1300 years ago.) Clouds, snow and Campsie Fells from Williamwood Golf Course.

(Above image shows the town centre viewed from the harbour.) This evening, I am posting information on the popular town of Oban which is located on the west coast of Scotland, about 100 miles N.W. of Glasgow . Oban has a population of 8500 and can be accessed via road or rail.There is a small airport situated 5 miles N.E. of the town which services local islands. Many visitors use Oban as a transit point en-route, via ferry, to/from the nearby islands of Mull and Iona . View of harbour and ferries from McCaig's Monument . More information on Oban: The name evolved from Old Norse (Viking) into Gaelic and means 'little bay of Lorne'. Two castles are located in close proximity: Dunstaffnage and Dunollie. At top of the cliff overlooking Oban Harbour can be found McCaig's Monument, a 19th century folly modeled on the Coliseum in Rome. In the town centre can be found Oban Distillery, which has been producing whisky since 1794. Seals can be viewed via boat...

(Above image captures start of principal race.) This afternoon, I attended a cyclocross event at Rouken Glen in Glasgow. Cyclocross competitors use modified road bicycles to participate in races which take place off-road across grass, mud, woodland and sand.The season for such races is now, i.e. autumn (fall) and winter. The weather today was relatively mild for time of year; just a few degrees above freezing, dry and wet underfoot. The principal race lasted about one hour and attracted 50-100 competitors of both sexes. Finish line Hill climb Navigating through the mud Competitor Section of course layout Competition in process

(Above image illustrates the three mountains collectively known as the 'Paps of Jura'.) © Nigel P Cole/Catswhiskerstours Limited This evening, I am posting information on the Isle of Jura which lies off the west coast of Scotland in the chain of islands known as the Inner Hebrides. This is a remote and sparsely populated wilderness with key facts and information as follows: Area 142 square miles. Population about 200 persons which are outnumbered by some 5500 red deer. Due to their isolation these deer are of a pure blood line because they have not been hybridised. Jura has been occupied by man since the Neolithic period, about 5000 years ago. Separated from Islay to the south by the Sound of Islay across which the local ferry plies back and forth, transporting people and merchandise. Principal settlement is the village of Craighouse on the south of the island. At Craighouse can be found the Isle of Jura Distillery which has an excellent reputation for its single...