The Great Scottish Adventure

[Chas]

I missed going up to Scotland for Burns night this year so when Alex posted about the Hawick Highland Games, I made an instant decision.

The plan was for me to travel up to Alex's on Friday, shopping in Edinburgh on Saturday and the Games on Sunday.

Alex and I had Skyped many times. He was on the games organising committee, but was getting depressed by the number of vendors who were cancelling. As many of you may know, I run an XMarks information tent. I volunteered to run it at Hawick and Alex agreed immediately.

So, on to the pictures.

My first stop was at the border -



The border stone -



And me in front of the stone -



For those interested, the kilt is hunting MacLeod in PV - excellent for driving. A quick call to Alex and I was in Hawick within half an hour.

A couple of views from the bedroom of Castle Alex -





More to come -

Regards

Chas

[Chas]

Saturday dawned clear and if not dry, at least not raining at that time. The plan was to drive to the railhead and take the half hourly train to Edinburgh. I had not experienced the Royal Mile and wanted to see it for myself. I also needed a new Argyle jacket with bucket cuffs. So off we went.

A couple of pics of the Three Peaks or the Three Brothers. A quirky geographical feature. There are three peaks, but as the road meanders round you see one or two or all three or two (but not the first two).





Some black faced sheep, which didn't like me taking pictures. The noise they made!



Make no mistake - this is the lowlands, but it is certainly not 'Flatlands'.

No picture of the train itself, but half an hour later, Alex and I were at Edinburgh Waverly -



The station is a total building site at the moment, if it weren't for Alex, I would still be trying to find the exit.

Coming next - The Royal Mile

Regards

Chas

[Chas]

I have always been a fan of architecture and in Scotland there is an almost unique style 'Scottish Baronial'. Like most older cities the ground level has been developed and re-developed again and again. The trick is not to look across, but to look up. In no particular order, pictures of the Royal Mile.









One of the closes or alleyways between two rows of shops. Note how it goes down and down and down and down. The drop between this level and the other street at the other end is some 50 feet!



You will have noticed that the rain has started and everything is taking on a shiny grey look.

Next - Some of the shops.

Regards

Chas

[Rob, ClanMacMillan, NM]

...
You will have noticed that the rain has started and everything is taking on a shiny grey look.
...

I saw a picture of the Royal Mile once where the streets and buildings were dry. It just looked wrong to me

Rob.

[Chas]

One of many, selling whisky - all with a variation on the name.



The Fudge House - probably the best fudge in the world. I bought two pieces of every thing, but it was not enough! My wife is still enjoying it. All the pieces were cut into smaller pieces and she is limiting herself as to how many she is allowed to eat in a day. If it were me it would be all gone on the first day - it is so good.



How do we know we are on the Royal Mile - just intuition.



This is half way along. It is called the Mercat Cross. On all formal State occasions, the Lord Lyon makes an announcement here. I believe the last time was the marriage of Prince William.



This picture from the Heraldry Society of Scotland, to show how it works.



Next - Top of the Royal Mile

Regards

Chas

[Chas]

At the top of the Royal Mile is the Castle.



Lots of building work, getting ready for the Tattoo.



There was a wedding that day. Alex and I think it must have been a military person as the garrison chapel is nothing much to look at.

But next door to the entrance is an old water tower that has been converted into shops. One of which is Geoffrey (Tailor). Without further ado, in we went. Got to say that it was a bit of a rabbit warren. Round and round, little rooms and alcoves, then suddenly, this.





Everything you can see was once filled with water - of course, there wasn't any cloth or looms then, just millions of gallons of water. This is where Alex bought that great navy blue kilt (see other thread - somewhere).

We then headed back down the hill.



Note, Alex trying to dive out of shot and as I photographed down the hill, we were being photographed ourselves.

Next - The Bottom End.

Regards

Chas

[Chas]

Bottom of the Royal Mile.

A shot of the castle - in the distance (the castle spreads out a bit). On the right is a monument to Adam Somebody, who I had never heard about. How important he is or was, I don't know. The interesting thing is the plinth and terrace he is standing upon - Scottish Baronial again. It crops up everywhere!



A little further on is the Scott Memorial - quite an imposing and impressive monument.







Next is the Scottish Parliament Building. Some love it - some loathe it. It was grossly over budget and over time, but it has a certain something. The more I see it the more it grows on me. The site is roughly 'L' shaped. Down one side - taken from the Royal Mile.



Taken from the entrance looking outwards, towards Holyrood Chapel. Note the three flags flying out side the Parliament, The Union Flag, The Saltire and the Flag of Europe.



Looking towards the Entrance. The flags are behind us in this shot and the main entrance is tucked away to the right in a corner.



This got left out. Half way down the Royal Mile.



What else to say. We found an excellent Turkish cafe/restaurant for lunch - wonderful food. I bought Margaret a green marble necklace, unique in Europe. The rain had not let up all day so we said good bye to the capital and headed back to the station. Again the train was waiting for us and we were back in Hawick before long. We dined in a really good Indian restaurant in Hawick - Alex knows some great places to eat and off the bed for an early start at the games in the morning.

This concludes Saturday. In real time it is 00:50 in the morning here, so I am holding Sunday until I get some sleep.

See you tomorrow.

Regards

Chas

[EagleJCS]

You will have noticed that the rain has started and everything is taking on a shiny grey look.
Chas

RAIN?!? It rains in Scotland?!? I would've thought they'd washed the streets and sidewalks for you and Alex!

They are nice pics, BTW...

[seanachie]

Chas:
Can you tell me what roadway that stone is on? I have ventured to Edinburgh a few times with friends from Hexham in Northumberland and have not seen as good a place for a pic as that stone. My friend is a retired planning officer so knows the back roads which may account for my missing such a a good picture spot. Thanks

[Chas]

Chas:
Can you tell me what roadway that stone is on? I have ventured to Edinburgh a few times with friends from Hexham in Northumberland and have not seen as good a place for a pic as that stone. My friend is a retired planning officer so knows the back roads which may account for my missing such a a good picture spot. Thanks

A picture is wortha thousand words, so they say;



The road is the A68. In the picture the middle dark blob on the right hand side and the lower dark blob on the left hand side are the Border Stones.

Regards

Chas