Lochs and Glens Books

Friday 27 July 2007

Glen Prosen Village


Glen Prosen Village, Angus, Scotland.

Thursday 26 July 2007

Glen Sannox Ferry


Glen Sannox was the first purpose-built car ferry for the Isle of Arran.

Loch Lee


Loch Lee, Glenesk, Angus, Scotland.

Tuesday 24 July 2007

Loch Katrine Ellen's Isle


Loch Katrine by William McGonagall.

Beautiful Loch Katrine in all thy majesty so grand,
Oh! how charming and fascinating is thy silver strand!
Thou certainly art most lovely, and worthy to be seen,
Especially thy beautiful bay and shrubberies green.
Then away to Loch Katrine in the summer time,
And feast on its scenery most lovely and sublime;
There's no other scene can surpass in fair Scotland,
It's surrounded by mountains and trees most grand.

And as I gaze upon it, let me pause and think,
How many people in Glasgow of its water drink,
That's conveyed to them in pipes from its placid lake,
And are glad to get its water their thirst to slake.
Then away to Loch Katrine in the summer time,
And feast on its scenery most lovely and sublime;
There's no other scene can surpass in fair Scotland,
It's surrounded by mountains and trees most grand.

The mountains on either side of it are beautiful to be seen,
Likewise the steamers sailing on it with their clouds of steam:
And their shadows on its crystal waters as they pass along,
Is enough to make the tourist burst into song.
Then away to Loch Katrine in the summer time,
And feast on its scenery most lovely and sublime;
There's no other scene can surpass in fair Scotland,
It's surrounded by mountains and trees most grand.

'Tis beautiful to see its tiny wimpling rills,
And the placid Loch in the hollow of a circle of hills,
Glittering like silver in the sun's bright array,
Also many a promontory, little creek, and bay.
Then away to Loch Katrine in the summer time,
And feast on its scenery most lovely and sublime;
There's no other scene can surpass in fair Scotland,
It's surrounded by mountains and trees most grand.

Then to the east there's the finely wooded Ellen's Isle,
There the tourist can the tedious hours beguile,
As he gazes on its white gravelled beautiful bay,
It will help to drive dull care away.
Then away to Loch Katrine in the summer time,
And feast on its scenery most lovely and sublime;
There's no other scene can surpass in fair Scotland,
It's surrounded by mountains and trees most grand.

The mountains Ben-An and Ben-Venue are really very grand,
Likewise the famous and clear silver strand;
Where the bold Rob Roy spent many a happy day,
With his faithful wife, near by its silvery bay.
Then away to Loch Katrine in the summer time,
And feast on its scenery most lovely and sublime;
There's no other scene can surpass in fair Scotland,
It's surrounded by mountains and trees most grand.

Best Scottish Poetry.

Loch Long and Ben Lomond


Loch Long at Arrochar, Scotland, with Ben Lomond above.

Loch Awe Ben Lui


Some magnificent views can be seen across Loch Awe to Ben Lui, Scotland.

Sunday 22 July 2007

North West Highlands of Scotland


Best Scottish Walks. North West Highlands of Scotland. The North West Highlands, which for the purposes of this book includes all the Scottish mainland north and west of the Great Glen together with the Isle of Skye, is the last area in Britain which could truthfully be described as genuinely wild. This guide to twenty four of the finest walks and tours in this gloriously lonely and often breathtakingly beautiful Scottish landscape is aimed, not at climbers, who are already well catered for, but at walkers who wish to enjoy the wild country and, while prepared to tackle rough terrain, do not necessarily have the skills and equipment that may be needed on the higher hills. The walks, which range from six to seventeen miles in length are mostly circular and in all cases begin and end at sites with space for parking and access to public transport. Some of the routes, though by no means all, run through land owned by the National Trust for Scotland. The landscapes through which they pass range from the tightly packed hills and glens of Ardgour, Moidart and Knoydart in the south to the wild moors of the extreme north over which a few peaks like Suilven, Canisp and Quinag tower in splendid isolation. Chris Townsend guides his readers with an infectious enthusiasm, sound advice and knowledgeable observations of the wildlife and geology of the Highlands. The book also includes a glossary of Gaelic and Scots words. The Guide to Walks in North-West Highlands (National Trust for Scotland).

Saturday 21 July 2007

Lochearnhead


Bagpipers at the Lochearnhead Highland Games, Scotland.

Friday 20 July 2007

St Fillans Loch Earn


St Fillans, Perthshire, Scotland, lies at the eastern end of Loch Earn. The village was laid out in the nineteenth Century by the Drummond family. Tour St Fillans on the Best Scottish Ancestry Tours.

Thursday 19 July 2007

Loch Doon


Tour Scotland on the Best Scottish Tours. Originally known as Balliol Castle, Loch Doon Castle in Ayrshire was built after 1275 on a small island in the middle of the loch. Its unusual eleven sided outline stems from the fact that its curtain wall simply followed the shape of the islet. The depth of the surrounding waters made it difficult for besiegers to build a causeway out to the castle and it was far enough from land to be out of range of most siege weaponry. Besiegers could only hope to take Loch Doon by trickery, by negotiation with a famished garrison or by a hazardous ship based assault. Nevertheless the castle was besieged several times.

The ancient seat of the Lords of Carrick, Loch Doon Castle first appears in documented history in the wake of Robert the Bruce's defeat at Methven in 1306. After helping the unhorsed Bruce back on to his steed, Sir Christopher Seton and the remnants of his men quit the field at Methven and made for the safety of Loch Doon. The castle governor, Gilbert de Carrick, believed that the House of Bruce was fully vanquished and handed Sir Christopher over to a besieging English force. Seton was promptly hanged at Dumfries.

Although today a much abused ruin. Loch Doon Castle has a very special place in Scottish history. In 1333, at one of the lowest points in the Wars for Scottish Independence, Loch Doon remained loyal to the Stewart cause and flew the standard of David II when almost every other stronghold in the land had declared for the English puppet Edward Balliol. Only five others, Dumbarton, Urquhart, Lochmaben, Lochleven and Kildrummy, remained true to the patriot cause. The example of Loch Doon's castellan John Thomson was the turning point that led to eventual Scottish victory.

The full power of the noble House of Douglas was unleashed against Loch Doon in 1446. William, the 8th Earl of Douglas, saw Loch Doon as an important strategic asset in his feud with the neighbouring Kennedy clan. Although Loch Doon Castle held out for several weeks, its small garrison was no match for the skill and resources of the Douglas military machine and the castle was surrendered.

By the late fifteenth century the castle was held by the ambitious Maclellans of Dumfries who tried to challenge the power of the Douglasses in Carrick. Loch Doon Castle was subsequently won back by the Kennedies when they in turn found themselves under attack in 1510, this time by Sir William Crawford of Lochmores. The Kennedies had gentrified the castle around 1500 by adding an oblong tower residence. They needn't have bothered, as the castle was burned down and seriously slighted in the 1520s by James V as part of his clampdown on the more unruly elements of the feudal nobility. The iron portcullis was cast down into the loch and has resisted several attempts since to raise it to the surface. Tour Loch Doon on the Best Scottish Tours.

Wednesday 18 July 2007

Loch More


Loch More, Caithness, Scotland. Loch More is the source of the River Thurso. Visit loch More on the Best Scottish Tours.

Tuesday 17 July 2007

Loch Ainort


Loch Ainort is found on the eastern coast of the Isle of Skye. This stunning sea loch overlooks the island of Scalpay across to the Red Cuillin. From the loch, there are unsurpassed panoramic views of sea, island and mountain. Tour Isle Of Skye on the Best Scottish Tours.

Sunday 15 July 2007

Loch Ness Monster


Loch Ness Monster. For many years it has been supposed that there is a large dinosaur like monster resident in Loch Ness. Have a look for yourself on the Best Scottish Tours of Loch Ness.

Saturday 14 July 2007

Loch Fyne


Loch Fyne, Scotland. Search for your Scottish Roots on a small group tour of Scotland.

Wednesday 11 July 2007

Dunoon and Cowal


This selection of wheels related photographs features modes of transport ranging from horse-drawn coaches to buses, cars, lorries, paddle steamers and even a steamroller. Illustrating a large but sparsely populated area, Old Dunoon and Cowal charts the development and vital importance of road transport in this part of Argyll. Combined with steamer services, the road network and the vehicles that plied it meant that most parts of the peninsula were accessible to both local people and tourists using public transport. Locations featured include Sandbank, Coylet Inn, Inverchapel pier, Innellan, Strachur, Kames, Glendaruel, Cairndow Hotel, Port Lamont, Strone and Lochgoilhead, while lots of pictures show vehicles en route at famous scenic locations around Cowal. Wheels Around Dunoon and Cowal. Visit Dunoon on the Best Scottish Tours.

Tuesday 10 July 2007

Loch Ussie


Legend has it that the Brahan Seer lived near Loch Ussie; where he was apprehended. Before being taken to Fortrose on the Black Isle to be tried for witchcraft, he threw his oracle stone into the loch and said it would one day be found in the belly of a fish. The Brahan Seer, was a seventeenth century prophet of the Highlands of Scotland. The Prophecies of the Brahan Seer (Miscellaneous).

Sunday 8 July 2007

Loch Loskin


Loch Loskin is located on the A885 Sandbank road about one mile from Dunoon town centre.

Saturday 7 July 2007

Loch Eil Scotland


Loch Eil, near Fort William, Scotland.

Friday 6 July 2007

Loch Garve


The kelpie of Loch Garve was a kind-hearted soul who loved his wife. But his wife was unhappy. They lived in a house under the water of the loch . There was no heating - kelpies are cold blooded and don't feel the cold. There was no fire to cook food either and so they ate raw fish, waterweed and even water molluscs such as mussels and snails.

The kelpie came home one day with a large raw salmon for dinner. As he came near the house he heard his wife saying, "I'm so cold, so cold!" The kelpie decided to do something about it, so he set off for the village of Garve. When he came out of the water he changed his shape into that of a land horse and galloped off towards the village. At the village he sought out the local builder. The builder seeing this lovely horse climbed up onto the its back for a ride. Not a clever idea if you live near a loch with a shape-shifting kelpie in it. No sooner had the builder climbed up, but the horse let out a fierce neigh and started to gallop towards the loch. The builder hung on for dear life. He was terrified and was even more terrified when the horse approached the loch's shore and gave no sign of stopping. The horse leapt into the water and, with the builder clinging on, swam beneath the waves.

When they arrived at the kelpie's house, the kelpie explained his problem to the builder. He said that if the builder made him a fireplace and chimney, not only would he take the builder back home but also he would give the builder a basket of fish whenever he wanted it. The builder agreed and built a fine chimney. The kelpie kept his word and took the builder back. If ever the builder wanted fish he had only to go to the loch's side and say, "Fish" and the next day he would find a basket of fish waiting for him in a secret place. So the builder was happy. The kelpie's wife was happy, she could keep warm and eat cooked food. And the kelpie was happy because his wife no longer moaned about the cold. Quest for a Kelpie (Kelpies).

Carlingwark Loch


Carlingwark Loch is located just south of Castle Douglas, Scotland.

Thursday 5 July 2007

Loch Ness John Cobb Memorial


The cairn by Loch Ness was built by the people of Glen Urquhart with a bronze plaque by George Bain. The inscription reads, On the waters of Loch Ness John Cobb, having travelled 206 m.p.h. in an attempt to gain the world's water speed record, lost his life in this bay, Sept. 29th, 1952. This memorial is erected as a tribute to the memory of a gallant gentleman by the people of Glen Urquhart. Urram do'n treun Agus do'n iriosal. Honour to the valiant And to the humble.

Loch Maree


Chief among the mountains which rise from the eastern shore of Loch Maree is Slioch.

Loch Trool


Loch Trool is a body of water in Galloway, south-west Scotland lying in the valley of Glen Trool.

Wednesday 4 July 2007

Kinloch Rannoch Scotland


Kinloch Rannoch is a Scottish village located at the east end of Loch Rannoch, on the River Tummel, popular with walkers who enjoy the local scenery, including The Black Wood of Rannoch. Kinloch Rannoch bridge was built in 1764. Kinloch Rannoch Photographs.

Monday 2 July 2007

Scottish Glen


This Scottish Glen is famous for two main reasons: its beauty and its history. The name probably means narrow glen and for the sheer majesty of mountain scenery there is little to beat it anywhere in Scotland. This glen is also known for the infamous massacre of the Macdonalds by the Campbells. Name this Scottish Glen.

Sunday 1 July 2007

Lochs and Glens Quiz


Lochs and Glens Quiz. " And me and my true love will never meet again. " Where ? Find the answer here.