Palace of Holyroodhouse

The Palace of Holyroodhouse (or Holyrood palace), as many of you probably already know, is the queen's official residence in Scotland. And whilst it is a 30 odd minute walk from home, up until recently we did not get around to exploring it properly ( other than walking past it every so often). My mum's visit over the summer finally gave us a reason to do so.

Holyrood Palace is a stunning piece of baroque architecture and beautifully symmetric. We started our exploration of the palace at the quadrangle with perfectly manicured lawns where we stood and observed the different levels (floors) of the palace and learned about their significance. The Royal accommodation is on the second floor as was the place where Mary Queen of Scots took residence during her eventful stay here.

Photography was not allowed inside the palace but the Queen's chambers, the royal dining room as well as the chambers occupied by Mary Queen of Scots were fascinating to see and learn about. Mary Queen of Scots lived here for about six years until the murder of David Rizzio and her forced abdication. The listening guides we borrowed were very useful in bringing to life the rich and sometimes dark history of the palace.

After our tour of the palace interiors, we were led to what is left of Holyrood Abbey. Despite the ruins, the abbey is a beautiful place and what remains of the architecture is very impressive. It was built in 1128 as per the orders of King David I of Scotland. A lot of early Scottish history is closely linked with this Abbey.

The palace is surrounded by beautiful  gardens that are also well worth exploring but as we were happening a typically Edinburgh weather day with light drizzle and cool winds, we cut short that part of the tour. We hope to be back on a drier day to walk around the gardens some more.

All in all, I think the palace is great place to explore some European and British history. As we managed to get a year along entry pass when we bought our tickets ( I'm not sure but I think its what happens with all tickets), we will be back to explore it some more.

For more of my photos from the day, check out my Instagram page. Hope you are having a lovely week! Ann x

Wearing: Petit Bateau dress, Muubaa jacket, Bloch ballerinas, Wolford tights and Longchamp bag

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Exploring Scotland: Isle of Arran

Good morning folks! No, I have not given up on the blog yet! As with many of the previous hiatuses, this last one was due to yet another case of work and life not quite being balanced. However, I promised myself that I would make time to write this weekend ( and spurred on by an email asking 'where are your blog posts, Ann?!'). 

Back in July, we took off to the Isle of Arran to mark a special weekend- our wedding anniversary, our being approved to adopt (!!) and my mum's visit. Arran was close enough and warm enough enough (relatively speaking) for my mum to enjoy the trip without turning into a tropical icicle.

I did prepare her for the worst on the weather front and we pretty much got that. As we drove to Androssan, a combination of torrential rain and gale force winds threatened ferry cancellation. We were booked on the last boat to Arran but we luckily made it to our holiday cottage without too trouble.

Our long weekend commenced with a quick recce of the island. Arran is tiny and so you can drive across and around it many times in a day. It is a popular destination for cyclists who take the ferry across the Clyde on day trips to the island. Arran is often referred to as a mini Scotland -agricultural low lands in the South, beautiful beaches along the west and the east and rugged hills to the north.

We were staying on the very south of the island near Kilmory and we started our exploration driving westwards and heading north to Lochranza. We hoped to explore the standing stones at Machrie Moor but the weather wasn't suitable for making my mother walk a long way. We came back the next morning (in the rain) to check the place out. 

Lochranza is beautiful and the castle is set against the rugged mountainous backdrop. From Lochranza we drove south east wards, stopping by the golf course for a quick lunch followed by a quick stop every so often to admire the scenery.

My favourite view of all is the one of Ailsa Craig from the south of the island. Ailsa Craig has a bird sanctuary and also serves as a granite quarry. It was up for sale (by the Marquess of Ailsa) a few years ago but I'm not sure if it did sell. If there are any canny investors amongst you, do check it out!

We also visited Brodick Castle, a beautiful red sandstone building with stunning gardens. Unfortunately, given the weather, we spent more time indoors than outdoors here. The castle serves a decent lunch too.

The beaches of Arran are great for families. The areas of Brodick (more touristy) and Lamlash are popular as there are number of things to do with small kids and family groups. As for us, we chose to simply crisscross the length and breadth of the island several times over, exploring areas that looked interesting and stopping for spectacular views. 

We also visited the Arran Distillery, the Arran Cheese Company and Arran Aromatics, all of which were very interesting. Ed likes his whisky and was impressed with what we tasted at the distillery. My favourite place though was Creelers, the seafood restaurant next to Arran Aromatics which serves fantastic fresh oysters!

There is so much to do and see in Arran-I've only just skimmed the surface in this post. For more of my photos from the weekend, check out my Instagram page. 

Hope you are having a lovely Sunday! Ann x

Wearing: Chinti and Parker cashmere top, Uniqlo trousers, Marni for H&M jacket, Bloch ballet flats, Tom Ford sunglasses, ASOS raincoat and Longchamp Neo bag

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An Afternoon in Biggar

We passed by Biggar on a cloudy afternoon whilst driving back from North Lanark. A colleague said that Biggar was a 'nice wee place' and so Ed and I agreed to make a quick pit stop there on our way back to Edinburgh. It was a Sunday afternoon and the place was quiet and sleepy. 

We wandered along its High Street and explored a few alleyways. There were a number of independent shops, a couple of charity shops and some interesting looking cafes. There were hardly any people or cars on the street so I stood in the middle of the street and took a whole bunch of pictures.

I found the old stone and brick houses with geometric window patterns very cute. Biggar Kirk, I was told, is one of the oldest in the area but it only dates back to the 16th century. I know we are spoilt for choice when it comes to historic buildings in Scotland so 16th century felt relatively 'new' to me!

After a bit of exploration, we settled down for nice cup of coffee and cake at the Olive Tree Deli. We chatted with the couple sat next to us (also from Edinburgh) and were amazed by the amount of travelling they were doing. Whilst they were a fair bit older and we haven't done too badly on the travel front, the conversation inspired me to explore even more of Scotland and the world.

The Olive Tree Deli owners are a lovely couple, originally from the Bedford area. I shared a few 'interesting' memories of my time working on a construction site near there and it was fun reminiscing. They shared their insights into Biggar and its people, which was very interesting.

All in all, a lovely afternoon in which we learnt more about Scotland and were inspired to do more travelling  Have you had any interesting weekends recently?Ann x

Wearing: Maje blazer, Missoni stole/scarf, Muji t-shirt,  old Levis, Tom Ford sunglasses and Bloch ballet flats.

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Scottish Borders: Melrose Abbey and Around

After yet another large dose of busyness with work and life, we decided to spend Easter Monday chilling out and exploring a bit more of Scotland. I think we've done rather well with Scottish travel over the last year, having visited the Highlands, the North West, the West Coast, the Inner Hebrides and the Outer Hebrides and of course lots of Edinburgh and Glasgow. The Scottish Borders seemed close enough to explore on day trips and a visit to Peebles, Selkirk and Melrose seemed like a good plan.

Peebles is pretty and idyllic town with lovely scenery. We went to nearby Kalzie Gardens for lunch which we thoroughly enjoyed. You can catch glimpses of this on my Instagram. We stopped by Selkirk briefly as well as Sir Walter Scott's favourite viewing point before heading to Melrose Abbey. I've wanted to visit Melrose Abbey for  a long while. After having read about its stunning architecture, rich history and mysterious sculptures, the visit did not fail to disappoint.

Melrose Abbey has a long and unique history. The Cistercian monks who founded it 1136 subscribed to a rather austere form of life which mainly consisted of prayer, labour and very simple living. As the monastery grew in power, their sphere of influenced widened and so did their activities. In its heyday, the monastery had a thriving farm and a strong order of lay monks who provided labour. The monks also got paid to pray for their rich patrons in order to reduce their sins and secure them a place in heaven.

The abbey was attacked and re-built during the course of its history with Robert the Bruce being one of its most famous benefactors. Robert Bruce's heart is said to be buried within the abbey grounds and one such heart was discovered in a casket in 1926. Whilst there is no way of proving this is his heart, it seems highly likely given the history.

Melrose town was built around the abbey and is a delightful place with some amazing antique and vintage stores. My favourite was the The Whole Lot where I bought a delicate set of 1920s china for a bargain price. The abbey, town and the shops in it are all well worth exploring.

Hope you are all having a lovely Sunday. Ann x

Wearing: Maje blazer, Hermes scarf, Petit Bateau jumper, (all tres French)  old Levis and Ash boots.

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Spring at Hopetoun House

For all my complaining about the weather, we do get some lovely cold days up here in Edinburgh.  On one such day in early spring, Ed and I drove up to Hopetoun House (which is to the west of the city). We noticed signs for the house many months ago when we got lost in the area and had made a mental note to visit. Hopetoun House wasn't open for the season yet but on this particular Sunday, they had an early public viewing of the gardens and its lovely snowdrop collection.

Hopetoun House is definitely amongst the most spectacular stately homes I have visited in the UK. It is said to be one of the best examples of Georgian architecture in the country. It is in the same sort of league as Chatsworth, Longleat, Burghley etc. The lakefront view of the house is truly stunning. The Earl of Hopetoun and his family continue to live on the estate and I think that gives it a stronger sense of belonging.

The snowdrops at Hopetoun were scattered across the various gardens. However, the best displays were near the bowling green area which is a short walk from the car park. Sadly, pictures don't do it justice. It's at times like this that I miss the garden and allotment we left behind when we moved up to Scotland.

The other attraction at Hopetoun is the deer park which is at the edge of the estate, near the Firth of Forth. Ed and I were chattering away as we walked up the estate and unfortunately our noisy chatter scared a bunch of beautiful deer away. They were far too quick for us to photo-capture. 

We were a lot quieter and watchful on our walk back but just not quick enough. Despite a few sightings and two cameras at hand, the photo below is the best that Ed could get. I think we will be back in the summer to see more deer and perhaps participate in the Deer Walk that the estate organises.

After a brisk walk back to the car park, we drove away from the estate but not before a quick stop for this final shot of the it's magnificent entrance. Hopetoun House is yet another example of the many relatively low profile gems that Scotland has on offer.

Hope you are all having a restful Sunday. Ann x

Wearing: Vintage faux fur coat, Sarah's Bag bag, Levis jeans, Ash boots and Tom Ford sunglasses.

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Photos by Edward Chandler Photography- A Thousand Clicks

Rosslyn Chapel and Castle

Few places inspire the same deep sense of mystery as Rosslyn Chapel. Those who that have either read the Da Vinci code or watched the movie will recognise the name, as it was key to the mystery that the protagonist of the story was trying to solve. One Sunday morning, Ed and I decided to head out to Roslin village  to explore the area and find some more clues to the location of the Holy Grail!

 

The chapel wasn't open when we got there so we decided to go for a wee wander around the area. There a number of walking routes here, some of which are quite steep. We weren't bothered about working up a sweat and instead ambled across to the old ruins of Rosslyn Castle. The castle looms at a strategic height over the River Esk which presumably would have been advantageous to keep an eye on, and subdue, enemy forces. Part of the old castle has been discreetly renovated and is now a pet friendly B&B.

After a bit of wandering in the cold, we headed back to the chapel area for a quick lunch followed by exploration of the chapel. Photography is prohibited inside the chapel so there are no mysterious images of strange creatures to share. But there were plenty of mysterious carvings and sculptures densely packed within the small chapel. The inside of the chapel is exquisitely beautiful with many intricate carvings and stained glass paintings. The ceiling of the chapel is particularly stunning! I found the guide booklet to the chapel very helpful in deciphering the various crpytic symbols and sculptures.

After reading through the guide and working our way across the inside of the chapel, we stepped outside to wonder at more structures and carvings that surrounded it. There are guides and interactive things too, to try and engage those who are inclined to learn more about the place. The view of the snow covered Pentland hills from across the chapel adds to it's beauty and mystique.

There is more to see and do around Roslin village itself, including the Roslin Institute where Dolly the Sheep was cloned, the first mammal to be cloned. I'd forgotten about Dolly until our visit to Roslin and it reminded me yet again that Edinburgh truly is an intellectual hotbed!



Have you been anywhere mysterious recently? Do share! Ann x

Wearing: Stefanel Argyll Knit Dress, ASOS hat, Next boots and Tom Ford sunglasses.

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Things to do in the Outer Hebrides: Harris

Travelling around the Outer Hebrides was a surreal experience. It was as if time and distance had somehow preserved a very unique culture in a spectacular setting. There is so much to share about our Autumn trip ( yep, speed-blogging is not my forte) around the Western Isles that I will write separate blog posts for Harris and Lewis. And I'll write another one for the Isle of Skye (which is part of the Inner Hebrides).

The landscape of Harris is mostly rugged and mountainous with a stunning coastline that contains the most amazing beaches in the world. Luskentyre is definitely one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen...move over Zanzibar. Yes, the weather is often wild but on the positive, gale force winds are also matched by amazing displays of northern lights. Our biggest disappointment was to have missed this due to the cloudy skies whilst we were out there.

Like many of the Hebridean islands, they are sparsely populated and those who live here are part of a very close knit community. Everyone does know everyone! The community are extremely religious too, following Christian traditions that the rest of the country have long lost touch with such as keeping the Sabbath.

We drove all the way to the very south of the island to check out the medieval St. Clement's Church in Rodel. From there, we drove through miles of hilly terrain, passing by stunning mountain ranges and beaches, to arrive at the Harris Tweed Company shop in Grosebay.

Ed and I love Harris Tweed. Procuring the tweed straight from the weavers was another motivation for visiting the Outer Hebrides. Although we did a fair bit of window shopping around Harris, we finally bought our tweed from a weaver in Lewis. I'd like to have visited Donald Mackay's ( well known Harris Tweed weaver) shed in Luskentyre but we ran out of time. If you do visit the area, I think it would be good to look him up.

Other things to do in Harris include checking out more beaches, 'black houses' and hill walking. We did some of this in Lewis rather than Harris and I'll provide a more detailed account of it in my upcoming post.

The peace and quiet, soulful scenery, the community that lives simply with very grounded values, the people that soldier on despite the constantly wild weather...they all make Harris particularly good for the soul.

I am a huge advocate for the Western Isles and I can't wait to go back. I hope you plan a visit too. Ann x

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