Inverness, Scotland

Inverness is also known as the 'capital of the Highlands'; it is situated on Scotland's northeast coast, where the river Ness meets the Moray Firth. Its old town features the 19th-cent. Inverness Cathedral, the 18th-cent. Old High Church, and an indoor Victorian Market (none visible here lol).

I've been going through the 100-walks list here on the blog again, and one of the places that caught my eye is the Cairngorms National Park, just south of Inverness. The ship I was working on docked in a nearby harbour of Invergordon once, and I was escorting on a whiskey tour (Glemnorangie) so had to skip the town, but hey there is always the next time :)

Blackie Says Hi

Once upon a time I've received this cute official postcard from Merag...I must admit I always thought that Highland cattle was strictly orange *blush*. 

Another lengthy break on my side...I also haven't sent any cards for a while. Now that the high season at work is over maybe I should get back to it slowly...after all I have so many blank cards and a stack of stamps to use. It's time!

Official - Glenfinnan Viaduct

The Glenfinnan Viaduct is a railway viaduct on the West Highland Line in Glenfinnan, Inverness-shire, Scotland. Located at the top of Loch Shiel in the West Highlands of Scotland, it overlooks the Glenfinnan Monument and the surrounding waters. 

The West Highland Line connects Fort William and Mallaig, and was a crucial artery for the local fishing industry and the highlands economy in general, which suffered enormously after the Highland Clearances in the 1800s.

The viaduct may seem familiar to you as it has been used as a location in several films and television series, most notably in four of the Harry Potter movies :)

Thank you Alan!

The summer season is in full swing, which means work overload for me...not that I don't have free time, but when I do, I feel tired for lack of sleep and high temperatures. Energy zero...no, minus twenty. I even haven't sent any postcards in this time; more tragically, I failed to report those that have arrived through swaps...A month to go and hopefully the overall air will change..!

Isle Of Lewis

The full name of the island is actually Lewis and Harris; the northern part of the island is called Lewis, the southern is Harris, but both are frequently referred to as if they were separate islands. It is part of the Outer Hebrides, and is the largest and the most populous of the Scottish Isles. Stornoway is the main town, and the civil parish, including the town and various nearby villages, has a population of about 12 000.

The ship was docked in Stornoway, but first I had a nice little tour to go through, encompassing a few important sites. The Callanish Stones were erected in the late Neolithic era, and were a focus for ritual activity during the Bronze Age. They are standing stones placed in a cruciform pattern with a central stone circle. The Gearrannan Black House Village  consists of nine restored traditional thatched cottages, which were lived in till 1974 and were the last group of blackhouses to be inhabited in the Western Isles. The buildings were generally built with double wall dry-stone walls packed with earth, and were roofed with wooden rafters covered with a thatch of turf with cereal straw or reed. There was a tweed-weaving demonstration - Harris Tweed is a tweed cloth handwoven by islanders at their homes in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, finished in the Outer Hebrides, and made from pure virgin wool dyed and spun in the Outer Hebrides. Well why not throw in a photo while at it :) (oh and later on I had the most delicious sandwich in Stornoway, in a small tucked-away deli. I regret not buying the caviar crisps! Never found any anywhere else.)

Isle Of Skye

Skye is the largest and northernmost of the major islands in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The island's peninsulas radiate from a mountainous centre dominated by the Cuillins, the rocky slopes of which provide some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in the country. The island's largest settlement is Portree (bottom right), known for its picturesque harbour.

Having gangway photo shoot that day I stayed in Portree; just a short walk away lots of green and picturesque nature. This was one of the ports where one reaches it with tender boats from anchored ship.

Scottish Wildcat

'Britain's population of this very rare native carnivore found mainly in the Scottish Highlands, is only around 100. Inter-breeding with the large population of feral domestic cats poses a serious threat to the future purity of the species and its survival'

Beautiful creature isn't it? As sad as it is that the purity of the species is in peril, I'd be happy to know all cats, feral and domestic, pure or mixed breed, are appreciated and well taken care of. There used to be the time when you knew February is the month for cats to mate, but now they mate all year round, and many feral cats have kittens basically non-stop, like some sort of breeding machines :( Sadly in my surroundings (and generally in more 'southern' cultures) it is still acceptable not to spay cats despite this problem...Will people as a race ever improve in this regard, I wonder.

Black Highlander

I have received about a dozen officials in the last few weeks, and this is one of my favourites - I didn't realise highland cattle were called 'black cattle' before as it was their predominant colour, now I mainly see the orangy ones and actually this is the first black one I have seen, or at least noticed. Such cool creatures! Thank you Morag :))

UNESCO - Old And New Towns Of Edinburgh, Scotland

 

Once I posted about beautiful Edinburgh but since then I've received more postcards so an update is required :) I better not tell you how long it took me to identify the buildings on this picture...I thought the Bank Of Scotland in the front is New Town, but oh so confusing when a bank has a dozen addresses..! The Old town is of course represented by the Edinburgh Castle, and the gothic spire on the left doesnt belong to a church as I readily presumed, but to The Hub which is home to Edinburgh International Festival. I was happy to find a matching stamp in the local PO, which is quite a feat on the British soil :)) The cancellation is kind of funny cos it appears to be only a circle..!

This view of Edinburgh Castle by the fool moon was sent to me by Polina/Poncha for the vacation RR :)
After closer inspection I found out that in fact this postcard includes the New Town - the Clock Tower belongs to the luxury Balmoral Hotel which is situated at its very southern edge. Still, would be nice to get a postcard vith a more substantial view of the New Town :)

 

Another great view, this time a surprise card from Sara - and awesome stamp! Danke vielmals ;)
Although I've been to Edinburgh some years ago i get a bit envious when I hear of people travelling there heh. I have been in love with the British Isles for as long as i can remember, and Edinburgh was everything i imagined and wished for esp as we arrived during the famous Fringe Festival - the streets were so busy, colourful and alive!

At the camping site we got free tickets for a comedy act by the Irish comedian Paddy Lennox, which was a new experience for me :) and the streets were full of exciting young performers, just so much fun! I hope to return to Scotland one day, as I still need to go further north to spot Nessie :)

Glenfinnan Viaduct, Scotland

This postcard has been in my favourites for ages, I even once swapped for it but it never arrived (and the person disappeared from the forum :/) - but here it is now, a fantastic view of the Glenfinnan Viaduct in Scotland..! It is a 21-arch railway viaduct on the West Highlind Line, built in 1897/98 entirely of concrete; its maximum hight of 30m offers spectacular views down Lochaber's Loch Shiel. Now, I bet I am not the only one who would just looove to take a ride on this train! Thanks so much Anu :))

Castlebay And Kisimul Castle, Isle Of Barra, Scotland

The island of Barra is a predominantly Gaelic-speaking island in the Outer Hebrides in Scotland - Castlebay is the main village on the island, situated on its south coast overlooking the bay where Kisimul Castle is located. It is a small medieval castle (mid 16th century) whose name translated from the Gaelic words cis and mul means 'the place where taxes are paid'. Although completely surrounded by the sea it has its own fresh water wells.

And who can ever get enough of the Scottish castles..?!

Scottish Wildlife

The wildcat or Tiger Of The Highlands is considered an icon of the Scottish wilderness, ferocious and untameable. The cute puffins at the Duncansby Head, the most north-easterly part of the Scottish Mainland. And the mighty osprey hunting. 

UNESCO - Heart Of Neolithic Orkney, Scotland, UK

 

Heart of Neolithic Orkney refers to a group of Neolithic monuments found on the Mainland, one of the islands of Orkney, Scotland. The name was adopted by UNESCO when it proclaimed these sites as a World Heritage Site in 1999.

The monuments of Orkney bear a unique testimony to an important indigenous cultural tradition which flourished over 500-1000 years but disappeared by about 2000 BC. They are an outstanding example of a type of architectural ensemble and archaeological landscape which illustrates a significant stage of human history, during which the first large ceremonial monuments were built. They are testimony to the cultural achievements of the Neolithic peoples of northern Europe, during the period 3000-2000 BC.

Never have I received such a complete set of postcards representing an Unesco site! And it looks like a really exciting place to visit...

Orkney Maps

My nomad friend has been on a 'proper' holiday recently and has swamped me with a pile of great cards :)))

The Orkney Islands is an archipelago in northern Scotland, 16 kilometres north off the coast. It comprises approximately 70 islands, 20 of which are inhabited. It seems that the islands are very well connected by an efficient ferry system, certainly encouraging as the impressions are sooo inviting <3 p="">

Record Tay Salmon, Scotland

 

Here is an interesting re-print of a photography taken in 1922, showing Miss Georgina Ballantine who caught a record-size tay salmon (almost 1,4 meters in length), and it seems that record stays unbeaten ever since. Go girl! ;)

Moos From The North

 

 

Images say more than words here..! :)))

Currie's Whisky, Scotland

We are in Perth but not as far as Australia - rather in central Scotland, where we visited on a day trip from Edinburgh. A vintage reprint of a whisky ad was a great find! Does google suck or is there really so little info on this online..?