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~ a romance with art and all things British

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Category Archives: Scotland

What to pack for a vacation in Great Britain?

01 Thursday Aug 2013

Posted by pat in Cornwall, England, London, Peak District, Scotland, Travel, Uncategorized, United Kingdom

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launderette, packing

What should you pack for a vacation in Great Britain? Layers. And more layers.

Down to the sweater layer in Asford in the Water in the Peak District. Photo by My Beloved Brit.

Down to the sweater layer in Ashford-in-the-Water in the Peak District on a summer morning going for a walk. Photo by My Beloved Brit.

It is positively the only way to go. The thing about England is, no matter what the weather is at the moment, it is sure to change shortly. And it is almost impossible to predict the temperatures for any given season. When we were in Scotland last summer, everyone assured us it would be damp and chilly.  It was sunny, bright and in the 80s–for days!

A very warm, sunny day in the gardens at Balmoral in Scotland in June. Photo by me.

A very warm, sunny day in the gardens at Balmoral in Scotland in early June. Photo by me.

Very unusual, yes. But we have learned in the UK to expect the unexpected and pack accordingly.

The crowds head to Buckingham Palace to see the Queen on the Diamond Jubilee weekend June 2012. Photo by me.

The crowds head to Buckingham Palace to see the Queen on the Diamond Jubilee weekend June 2012. Notice the light jackets, and brollies in hand. Photo by me.

Now, granted, we tend to go for long stretches of time…sometimes 5 or 6 weeks (we have a lot of family and friends to visit).  But the basics are the same.

1.  Don’t pack for a year.

There are laundrette’s all over the UK, and it is a great way to pass an hour or two with the locals and catch up on your reading. You can easily go online, google the town you will be in, and “laundrettes”, or ask at your B&B or hotel.  They will know. Service wash means the laundrette will do your wash for you and you can pick it up later or the next day.  Self Service means you do it yourself, which is what we do. Usually we are driving, and at the beginning of the trip we stop at a grocery store and get a small bottle of laundry detergent. Or the laundrettes usually have them available for purchase. Our detergent stays with us for the trip and makes it even easier to do laundry on the road.

Our favorite laundrette in Burnham on Crouch, England. Photo by me

Our favorite laundrette in Burnham on Crouch, England. Photo by me

2. Make it easy and comfortable

Pack things that are wrinkle free if you don’t want to iron, although many hotels now have facilities to iron.  I usually bring a pair of jeans for those country walks, and a couple of pairs of lighter washable slacks–one that is dressier for dinners out.  Instead of shirts, I bring knits–t-shirts for me, polos for him, and light, washable cotton sweaters (jumpers in Brit speak). My Beloved Brit always likes a few buttoned collared shirts of the wash and wear variety for when we go out. I bring one or two washable wrinkle free skirts just in case it gets really warm.  MBB does bring one pair of shorts just in case.  But we find even when all his friends have shorts on, we might have two or three layers of long pants, t-shirts and jumpers on. MBB calls it being unclimatized. We’ve never regretted not packing a bathing suit.

A fine, sunny day in England and the shorts have appeared. Photo by me

A fine, sunny day in England and the shorts have appeared. Photo by me

3.  Outerwear and an umbrella

Bring a scarf or two for around the neck, and preferably a rain-resistant jacket (or coat depending on the season) with a little warmth to it, just in case. I also usually pack a light, packable small umbrella.  It is England after all. Rain comes and goes. When I did the Diamond Jubilee week in London last year, it rained lightly off and on over the weekend.  I was fine with my layers, my little “brollie” and a smile.  It was a great time.

Jubilee weekend.  Brollies are up for a moment but the crowds don't care.  Notice the layers of clothing. Photo by me

Jubilee weekend. Brollies are up for a moment but the crowds don’t care. Notice the layers of clothing. Photo by me

4. Shoes.

Always a dilemma.  First and foremost is comfort.  England is known to be a wonderfully walkable place, so plan on taking walks in the country, through villages and footpaths, or long rambles around London.

My Beloved Brit and his cousins walking in to Foey, Cornwall for Fish 'n' Chips.  Notice the English women have sandals on! Photo by me.

My Beloved Brit and his cousins walking in to Fowey, Cornwall in search of Fish ‘n’ Chips. Notice his English cousins have sandals on! Photo by me.

There’s usually public transportation, but walking is how you really get to see a country, and get a sense of the natives.  I usually opt for two pairs of very comfortable walking shoes that I can wear with socks, one pair a bit dressier to wear with the nice slacks. I also like a good pair of sandles in the summer for those days when you just feel like wiggling your toes in the sun, and to wear with my skirt.

My Beloved Brit actually has shorts on again as we check in to our room in England. Notice the limited amount of luggage. Photo by me.

My Beloved Brit actually has shorts on again as we check in to our room in England. Notice the limited amount of luggage. There’s also always one large duffel for sailing gear. Photo by me.

5. For those special occasions.

Dressed for a wedding reception at a sailing club.

Dressed for a wedding reception at a sailing club.

 

Then usually I bring one nice dress, often a very packable light knit, and a sweater I can wear with it for cold evenings.

For most restaurants and gatherings we go to , this is as dressy as we need.  I bring my pearls and good earrings in case it gets really dressy.

MBB does bring a solid colored sports coat and one tie, just in case there is a sailing race dinner at a club that requires it.

 

 

 

And that is pretty much it.  You start out on a summer morning with a pair of cotton slacks, a t-shirt, a sweater and maybe a rain jacket with a scarf around your neck.  By noon hopefully you’re down to the t-shirt, but more likely you are at sweater level.  And of course just when you think you have it all figured out, it changes and the temps are in the 80s for five days in a row.

Holidaymakers in Charlestown, Cornwall.  There were kids swimming nearby. Photo by me.

Holiday makers in Charlestown, Cornwall. There were kids swimming nearby. Photo by me.

No matter.  A laundrette makes it all workable, and no one cares if you wear the same three outfits over and over.  Just pick what you love and what you are comfortable with.  It’s a snap.

An early morning walk on a summers day in England. Photo by me.

An early morning walk on a summer’s day in England. Photo by me.

And then My Beloved Brit needs to bring all his sailing gear–boots, foul weather gear, thermals–which is a whole other story, and why we try to pack so light otherwise…

MBB dressed in many waterproof layers for sailing. Photo by me.

MBB dressed in many waterproof layers for sailing. Photo by me.

 

Royal Yacht Britannia’s Interior Design Sketches

13 Thursday Jun 2013

Posted by pat in Art, History, Scotland, sketching, The Royal Family

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Britannia, Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth II, The Royal Yacht

For the first time in 60 years, the Royal Yacht Britannia’s interior state rooms’ sketches by architect Sir Hugh Casson have been handed over to a trust by his daughter, according to an article in the Daily Mail. To see all the glorious details in the article, click here! The yacht was used by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip from 1953 until 1997, 44 years in service.

From the Daily Mail article, the original rendering of the Duke of Edinburgh's stateroom on the Royal Yacht Britannia.

From the Daily Mail article, the original rendering of the Duke of Edinburgh’s stateroom on the Royal Yacht Britannia.

We toured the yacht when we were in Scotland a few years ago, and it is magical.  I could only dream of touring the empire on such a floating palace.

The Urban Fox

29 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by pat in London, Scotland, Uncategorized, United Kingdom

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red fox, Urban fox

When we were in London several years ago, My Beloved Brit and I were walking back from a pub on a dark narrow street, and were surprised to hear a noise in the nearby alley.  Looking down the narrow passageway, we saw a red, fuzzy tailed creature escaping from a row of trash cans.  The London urban fox.

The Red Fox. photo from creative commons.

The Red Fox. photo from creative commons.

Great Britain and foxes have always been closely associated.  The red fox is right in there with a cup of tea, the red telephone box and plaid wool.  But to see one on a London street was really quite surprising.

The mammal is native to England, and English literature has always made room for the creature– from Reynard the fox in The Canterbury Tales, to Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr. Fox.  The Scottish heroine Isabel Dalhousie of Alexander McCall Smith’s “The Sunday Philosophy Club” novels, welcomes the stealthy presence of a fox in her garden in the city of Edinburgh. Perhaps to her it is a symbol of the wild traditions of the country.

PSM_V38_D833_English_fox

Although the sport of fox-hunting was outlawed in England and Wales in 2005, some of the wily creatures still seem to prefer the cities to the open fields of the countryside. I must admit, London seems a pleasant place to live. I guess the little fox agrees.

The Royal Residences

23 Tuesday Apr 2013

Posted by pat in History, London, Scotland, The Royal Family, Uncategorized

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Balmoral Castle, Buckingham Palace, Clarence House, Frogmore, Kensington Palace, Palace of Holyroodhouse, Sandringham House, St. James's Palace, Windsor Castle

The term “Royal Residence” brings to mind an amazing world of fantasy. Sleeping Beauty’s Castle is what an American girl grows up with as her vision of what a royal residence really looks like.  But the facts are much different from this fairy tale and much more interesting in England.  For many decades, even centuries, kings and queens of the United Kingdom have built or bought incredibly diverse palaces to serve as a family home or workplace–or just a little spot to rule from.

Guarding St. James's Palace. Photo by me.

Guarding St. James’s Palace. Photo by me.

Royal Residences fall in to three general categories: Official Royal Residences which are held in trust for future generations, Private Estates which are owned by the Queen and can be private residences for the Queen and her family or may generate income, and Unoccupied Royal Residences which are all other buildings in Great Britain which once housed members of the Royal Family and therefore may be of historical interest.

Sandringham, the Queen's estate in Norfolk, England. Photo by me.

Sandringham, the Queen’s estate in Norfolk, England. Photo by me.

We have seen many of these incredible palaces and estates on our travels throughout Great Britain, but it might be fun to revisit them here.   Some are open to the public, some only allow their gardens to be viewed at certain times of the year, and many of the official residences are used for receptions, investitures, banquets and garden parties.

A lovely place to get some lunch just across the garden from Kensington Palace, Photo by me.

A lovely place to get some lunch just across the garden from Kensington Palace. Photo by me.

Then there are the private residences, used by the Royal Family for generations.  These, too, are sometimes available to see, at least from the outside gardens.

Some visitors waiting outside Kensington Palace in London. Photo by me.

Some feathered visitors waiting outside Kensington Palace in London. Photo by me.

Thanks to the official website of the British Monarchy, I was able to recall all that I had seen, and discover a few I’ve missed.  Next visit, maybe.

Buckingham Palace, The Royal Mews and The Queens Gallery

800px-Buckingham_Palace,_London_-_April_2009

Buckingham Palace, London. Photo by DAVID ILIFF. License: CC-BY-SA 3.0 from Wikipedia Commons

Certainly BP is one of the most familiar Royal Residences from viewing years of public events on television.  We actually went on a tour of the Palace on one of our first trips together to London.  My Beloved Brit had never been inside, and found it fascinating and familiar from all the news footage of the famous residence. The Palace, all 775 rooms of it, has served as the official London residence of Britain’s sovereigns since 1837 and today is the administrative headquarters of Queen Elizabeth II. For information on planning a visit see The Royal Collection website. Just as an aside, there are 52 Royal and guest bedrooms, and 188 staff bedrooms. Oh my!

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle at sunset viewed from the Long Walk in Windsor, England.Photo by DAVID ILIFF. License: CC-BY-SA 3.0 from Wikipedia Commons

Windsor Castle at sunset viewed from the Long Walk in Windsor, England. Photo by DAVID ILIFF. License: CC-BY-SA 3.0 from Wikipedia Commons

Windsor Castle was one of the first of the Royal Residences that My Beloved Brit and I ever visited together.  It is quite near Heathrow, and the city of Windsor is a good last stopping point before heading to the airport to come home. The Castle itself is very imposing (it is the largest occupied castle in the world!) and right in city center so great to walk to and view. Windsor has been a Royal home and fortress for over 900 years and still is an active residence today. The Queen usually uses Windsor as a private home, escaping from London on the weekends, but it is also used for more formal duties. Every Easter, the Queen takes up official residence for a month–Easter Court. Many parts of the Castle are open to the public. For more information, check here.

Palace of Holyroodhouse

From The Royal Collection site, visit Palace of Holyroodhouse. © HM Queen Elizabeth II 2013

From The Royal Collection site, visit Palace of Holyroodhouse. © HM Queen Elizabeth II 2013

I think this was one of my personal favorites.  I love Edinburgh anyway, and Holyroodhouse has such a strong sense of history. There is so much to see, and much of it seems unchanged from the 1500s. The Queen’s official residence in Scotland, the Palace is closely associated with Mary Queen of Scots, who lived here between 1561 and 1567. You can almost feel the court intrigue and drama.  I half expected to see blood on the floor. For visitor information, see here.

Frogmore House

Frogmore

Frogmore House. From The Royal Collection site, visit Frogmore House. © HM Queen Elizabeth II 2013

I have never seen Frogmore House, which is no longer a royal residence, but the house and gardens are sometimes used for official receptions or gatherings hosted by the Royal Family. Frogmore is located on the grounds of Windsor Castle. It is most closely associated with Queen Victoria, and was one of her favorite retreats. In the gardens is the Mausoleum where Queen Victoria and Prince Albert are buried. Check here for visitor information.

Balmoral Castle

Balmoral in June. Photo by me.

Balmoral in June. Photo by me.

We visited Balmoral in Early June last year, and were shocked to find warm balmy weather…in Scotland!…in June! But we were thrilled.  The gardens were active and blooming early that year.  You can walk around the gardens, the stable exhibitions and the ballroom at Balmoral, but not actually through the Castle.  That was fine.  The grounds are magnificent. Located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, it is the private residence of the Queen who spends her summer family holiday there every August. Visit the Balmoral website.

Sandringham House

Sandringham House in June.  The grounds are as lovely as the house. Photo by me.

Sandringham House in June. The grounds are as lovely as the house. Photo by me.

This lovely sprawling house on a charming estate is in Norfolk in Eastern England, and we got to visit it last summer.  It has been the private home of Sovereigns since 1862.  The Queen and members of the Royal Family spend Christmas at Sandringham, and you can walk the grounds as they do each year, strolling from the grand main house to the small church where they attend Christmas services. We were able to tour the grounds and gardens, a large museum and exhibition in the stable block which had an extensive car collection, as well as walk through the main level of the house.  We could even gaze at the table where the Queen works on her crossword puzzles.  It was all very intimate and warm.  For information on times when you can visit the residence, check here.

St. James’s Palace

St James's Palace during Jubilee Week. Photo by me.

St James’s Palace during Jubilee Week. Photo by me.

This historic palace is not open to the public, but when we stay in London at My Beloved Brit’s sailing club, we pass it every day on our way to the Mall and other parts of London. It is home to several members of the Royal Family and their household offices. One of London’s oldest palaces, it is just north of St. James’s Park. It was originally commissioned by Henry VIII and constructed between 1531 and 1536 in red-brick Tudor style around four courtyards.

Kensington Palace

The Gates at Kensington Palace. Photo by me.

The Gates at Kensington Palace. Photo by me.

The home of several members of the Royal Family, one of the most interesting and exciting facts of KP is that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (Will & Kate) who currently live there and are in the process of renovating the much larger apartment that used to be Princess Margaret’s.  Hopefully all will be done in time for the arrival of baby Prince or Princess, but word has it the renovation may not be ready until the autumn.  I love Kensington Palace and one section of it reopened to the public just a couple of years ago.  It has incredibly well done exhibitions of Royal Apartments, Queen Victoria’s romance with Prince Albert, and special displays.  It also has a marvelous tea shop attached to the gift shop, where you can find a quiet reprieve from a day of touring.  For information on visiting, check here.

Clarence House

Standing Guard outside of Clarence House. Photo by me.

Standing Guard outside of Clarence House. Photo by me.

I actually saw the Queen Mother exiting through the London gates of Clarence House on my very first visit ever to London…even before I knew My Beloved Brit even existed.  I think that hooked me on GB Royal Tradition. Everyone lining The Mall stopped and waved as she waved back through the car window.  It was her home from 1953 until 2002. Clarence House is still on my list to visit, and I am hoping perhaps this summer I may be able to check it off. It stands right beside St. James’s Palace on The Mall and was built between 1825 and 1827. It is now the Official residence of The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall and is open to the public during the summer months each year. Although it was closed last summer, because of the logistics of the Olympic Games in London, it will re-open summer 2013. For information, check here.

Unoccupied Royal Residences There are many buildings throughout Great Britain that have a Royal connection. Some, like Osborne House, the much-loved home of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert on the Isle of Wight, The Brighton Pavillion, a former residence of George IV when he was Prince Regent, Hampton Court Palace (home of Henry VII), and The Tower of London where the Crown Jewels can be seen. For more information on these, and other unoccupied Royal residences, click here.

Osborne House.  Photo from Wikipedia Commons WyrdLight.com

Osborne House from the lower garden, Isle of Wight. Photo from Wikipedia Commons WyrdLight.com

I won’t go in to any more detail here, but if you have time, explore The Royal Residences of Great Britain preferably in person, but, if nothing else, online.  It gives such a wonderful picture of the United Kingdom’s Monarchy and the rich history of the country.  Happy exploring.

Where Kate Met Wills

19 Wednesday Sep 2012

Posted by pat in Scotland, The Royal Family, Travel, Uncategorized, United Kingdom

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St. Andrews

We went to St. Andrews for a sunny afternoon visit on our way out of Scotland last summer and it truly is a lovely university town.  It was jam-packed with students on a warm day (by Scottish standards), and we wandered up and down the streets looking for a spot for lunch.

The students were all out enjoying the sunshine. Photo by me.

I couldn’t help but think of the well-publicised relationship between Catherine, a “commoner” and William, the future King of Great Britain, starting in this very typical collegiate environment.  It seemed the natural place for it all to have begun. Seeing shots of their Asian Diamond Jubilee Tour this past week (they’re on their way home now), it’s hard to believe it all started as a college romance.

St. Andrews in Scotland — home to past and future kings. Photo by me

As My Beloved Brit and I turned a corner looking for a spot to have a sandwich, I noticed the sign in a window across the street, “Where Kate Met Wills…for coffee”, and thought the ghosts of romance past will linger on in this town for decades. I’m sure they look with fond memories at the town that allowed them some level of privacy as they got to know each other.

The coffee shop in St. Andrews where Kate and Wills hung out…so they say. Photo by me.

Castle Fever

18 Saturday Aug 2012

Posted by pat in Scotland, The Royal Family, Uncategorized, United Kingdom

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Ballater, Balmoral, Castles, Prince Philip, Queen Victoria

I have been thinking of Balmoral lately, with the Royal Family in residence for their summer holiday, and Prince Philip having to retreat to the hospital in Aberdeen for a recurring health issue.

Beautiful Balmoral in the spring…a splendid castle. Photo by me

When we visited Scotland in May, we found our charming inn, the Dundee Hotel…

The Deeside Hotel in Ballater, our home while in Scotland. Photo by me

…tucked in along the road not far from Balmoral, just on the western edge of Ballater, and managed to drag our luggage up the narrow stairs to our room. Charm does not usually come with elevators in Great Britain.

Outside our room at the top of the stairs, the signs of the area…red deer and scotch. Photo by me

It was unusually warm for this part of the UK, probably close to 80 degrees, and after managing to get one window open in the room (air-conditioning doesn’t seem to be the norm in Scotland) we decided to walk in to town to enjoy the sun and get the lay of the land.

The parlor at the Deeside Hotel. photo by me

One thing I noticed walking down the main road was that there was definitely a castle theme in the architecture.

A neighborhood castle. Photo by me

Ballater is a holiday location on the “Deeside” which is what the locals call the area on the north side of the River Dee.  Most of the town closes up for winter and the season is March to November at the most, although there are a few ski resorts nearby.

We assumed that many of these homes were second homes, and obviously if you have the money to have a home in Ballater, it might as well be a castle.

Even new construction favors the castle tradition in Ballater. Photo by me.

It may be the Balmoral influence, which is only about 6 miles down the road. Or maybe they are just waiting for the Americans to invade and feel they need some extra fortification.

In the hills of Ballater on the main road. photo by me

None-the-less, it is a wonderful area, and returning to our rather warm, and bright room (the sun sets after 9:45pm in May) we decided it was definitely worth the long trip north. After all, it was one of Queen Victoria’s absolute favorite spots on earth. And no one would dream to argue with her.

The original train station used by Queen Victoria in Ballater. Photo by me

Scottish weather, wait a minute and it will change

30 Wednesday May 2012

Posted by pat in Scotland, Uncategorized

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River Tay

Our last stop in Scotland was a hotel in Dundee, a stop in a big city to give us a chance to catch up on internet backlog, and do laundry.  Travel chores that must be done.

The view from our window over the River Tay is a perfect of example of Scottish weather.  In the evening it was clear and warm and lovely.

The River Tay and the bridge that we took to St. Andrews. photo by me

By morning it had disappeared in fog.  Beautiful all the same.

The River Tay in morning. photo by me

Head For The Hills

29 Tuesday May 2012

Posted by pat in Scotland, Travel, Uncategorized, United Kingdom

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Ballater, Braemer, Red Deer

On the next unseasonably warm day in Scotland, we headed to Braemar and the Glen of Lui to take a cool walk in the forest that was highly recommended to us by a knowledgable local.  My Beloved Brit even broke out the shorts. It was well in to the 70s, unheard of, especially this time of year.

Through the forest on a warm spring day in Scotland. Photo by me

We went to see the salmon run, and although the salmon were not running that day, it was still a pretty interesting walk.

The salmon were not running. photo by me.

We saw a large herd of beautiful red deer in the distance coming down from the hills to the river’s edge again.  We could not get very close, but it was still impressive.  We had also seen several cross the road right in front of our car earlier in the morning.  Less exciting, more scary, but still very cool once the shock wore off.

In the distance, a herd of red deer coming in for a drink. Photo by me

On the drive back to Braemar for lunch,  I spotted this classic red British Telephone booth…but notice at the top the inscription…”email,text,phone”.

 

An old traditional telephone box has a new twist. Photo by me.

I turned to return to the car and noticed that this mother and baby were as interested in me as I was in the telephone booth.  They just stood watching as I snapped away.

Hello. Welcome to the neighborhood. Photo by me.

We bid them goodby and retreated to Bramaer for lunch. A perfect morning in Scotland.

The hotel in Bramer and our favorite lunch stop for sandwiches in the lobby before heading back to Ballater. Photo by me.

 

 

Balmoral, A Gardener’s Paradise

28 Monday May 2012

Posted by pat in Gardens, Scotland, The Royal Family, Travel, United Kingdom

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Balmoral, Deeside, English gardesn

One of the main reasons we chose the Deeside village of Ballater to use as our base in the Scottish Highlands was its close proximity to Balmoral Castle.  I had seen photos of the royal residence on many occasions, and decided it was time we paid it a visit. The Royal Family uses this idyllic spot as their summer retreat, so there are only certain times of year you can visit.  We lucked out.

The River Dee was always rushing along. After all, it is only early spring in Scotland. They had snow the week before. Photo by me.

Winding down the road alongside the River Dee, all of a sudden we saw the small carpark area and a modest sign tucked under the trees announcing it’s presence.

The welcome sign at the carpark a short way down the lane from the main gates. photo by me.

We parked, paid our pay and display and as instructed walked over a bridge above the river and approached the gate house.

The gatehouse at Balmoral. Photo by me.

Quite an entrance.  You can only tour the gardens, one ballroom, several exhibitions set up in the stable area and then of course the usual gift shop (very tastefully done) and coffee shop. But we were happy with that and bought our tickets at the gate house and decided to walk down the road to the castle rather than wait for the tram. Less Disney, more royal.

We didn't see a squirrel in site. photo by me

We walked from the gatehouse to the welcome area through the scent of pine that shamed any Christmas Tree lot.  The pines were planted in Queen Victoria’s time, and now were massive and varied.  I have never seen anything quite like this.

The walk down the drive was incredible. The decades old pine trees smelled like Christmas morning. photo by me

As the path curved through the pines, the main building came in to view.  What can this be like to come home to after a long London winter?

Our first view of Balmoral coming down the lane. Photo by me.

Because of this unseasonably warm week, the prep for the summer gardens was in full swing and it was so complex and beautifully laid out, surrounded by the magnificent hills of the Cairngorms and the Balmoral Forest.

Spring has arrived at the Balmoral gardens. Photo by me

As we wound in to the gardening area I found so many glorious images of spring that I didn’t know where to start.  I thought I would just let the pictures speak for themselves.

The seedlings have already been started just in case warm weather came. photo by me

New plantings. photo by me

Every corner was planted with little surprises. They plant enough for the kitchen, and flowers for the castle as well as the local church. Photo by me

I am not sure if the covers are protection from frost, or the local creatures. Photo by me.

Seed potatoes for sale. The whole garden seemed so intimate, like a visit to a family farm. There just happened to be a castle in the background. photo by me

There are several greenhouses filled with potted plants preparing for the summer holidays when the royal family arrives. photo by me

Balmoral is a magical place, and visiting it in spring was really special. photo by me.

Scotland is like going through a magic mirror into a fairytale land. It was worth every penny of the high priced petrol it took to drive here.

Hello Scottish Highlands

27 Sunday May 2012

Posted by pat in Scotland, Travel

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Cairngorm Mountains, Red Deer

We managed to make it in to Scotland with little trouble, and soon were on the narrow, curvy roads that take you through the Cairngorm Mountains on our way to Ballater in the Deeside. We passed the Glenshee ski area with its bald, rolling mountains, and Mike got a bit nervous as we went through a pass and saw some snow in the distance on a high peak.

Snow in Scotland. photo by me

But not to worry.  We are having some of the warmest weather ever in Scotland, and certainly for this time of year. Lucky us.

As we rounded a curve we came into a gorgeous valley with the Clunie Water running along side us.  Mike noticed what he thought might be sheep below near the water’s edge, but as we approached we realized they were the local Scottish Red Deer, and they were gorgeous.  Two majestic beauties, one with spiked antlers.

Red Deer came down from the hills. photo by me

We pulled over and watched them move along the edge of the water, just thrilled to see them in their natural element.

When we were chatting with the woman serving us coffee the next morning, she mentioned that this was odd to see them midday. Usually they come down to the water at dusk, but she suspected the warm weather might be bringing them down earlier in the day for a cool drink.

It was the perfect introduction to Scotland.

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