http://www.scotland.com/blog/ en 2013-05-13T23:02:14-05:00 hourly 6 2013-05-13T23:02:14-05:00 http://www.scotland.com/blog/mcs-conserving-scotland-s-marine-life 2013-05-13T23:02:14-05:00 en Editor Features A recent call by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) for measures to protect habitats supporting Scotland's marine animals received a great deal of public support through the charity's new Sea Champions volunteering initiative. Up to 3,750 pledges of support from the public for thirty-three Marine Protected Areas were gathered and later handed over to the Scottish Government's Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, Richard Lochhead. The proposed Marine Protected Areas (MPA) have been identified as 'safe havens' for sea life, offering protection from what has been defined as 'damaging activities' by humans, with littering being an enormous problem. http://www.scotland.com/blog/explore-benbecula-in-scotland-s-outer-hebrides 2013-04-30T02:55:27-05:00 en Editor Travel Located between the islands of South Uist and North Uist in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, the island of Benbecula is an interesting option for travelers who enjoy exploring off-the-beaten-track destinations. It has been suggested that the name of the island means "little mountain of the ford", and although the highest elevation on the island is measured at only 124 meters, making the "mountain" part of the name a bit of a mystery, the reason for the "ford" reference is immediately apparent. While in days gone by crossing the fords between Benbecula and either of its neighbours was a somewhat risky endeavor, today there are sturdy causeways linking the islands. http://www.scotland.com/blog/edinburgh-s-scottish-national-portrait-gallery 2013-04-16T01:24:12-05:00 en Editor Features Housed in an historic red sandstone building designed by Scottish architect Sir Robert Rowand Anderson, the Scottish National Portrait Gallery was established in 1882, moving into the newly completed building on Queen Street, Edinburgh, in 1889, thereby becoming the first gallery in the world to be built exclusively for the purpose of displaying portraits. The building itself was generously donated by philanthropist and owner of The Scotsman newspaper, John Ritchie Findlay. Today the gallery offers visitors the opportunity to view Scotland's history through the works of Scottish and international artists who captured the influential figures of the day on canvas. http://www.scotland.com/blog/walking-the-speyside-way 2013-04-02T02:57:50-05:00 en Editor Travel As one of Scotland's four official Long Distance Routes, The Speyside Way was opened in 1981 offering walkers a scenic route from Spey Bay to Ballindalloch. The route proved popular, and in 1990 was extended from Ballindalloch to Tomintoul. In 1999 a route was added from Fochabers along the coast to Buckie, and in April 2000 the Speyside Way was extended from Ballindaloch to Aviemore, with plans in the pipeline to continue the route through to Newtonmore. Today, walkers can enjoy a route connecting the Moray coast with the foothills of the Grampian Mountains, primarily following the River Spey. http://www.scotland.com/blog/enjoy-the-tranquility-of-pittencrieff-park 2013-03-19T02:12:03-05:00 en Editor Features Pittencrieff Park was given as a gift by Andrew Carnegie to the people of his hometown, Dunfermline, in 1903. Referred to locally as "The Glen", the park offers beautifully manicured gardens and pathways between towering trees, as well as playgrounds for children and a large greenhouse. The main gates, located on the north-east of the park, were built in 1928 and named for Carnegie's wife, Louise, and a prominent statue of the generous patron is positioned on the northern boundary. http://www.scotland.com/blog/visit-oban-the-gateway-to-the-isles 2013-03-05T02:32:53-06:00 en Editor Travel Known as the Gateway to the Isles, the resort town of Oban, in the Argyll and Bute council area of Scotland, huddles around the horseshoe-shaped Oban Bay, with the Isle of Kerrera providing some protection from harsh weather off the Firth of Lorn. While the permanent resident population is a little over eight thousand people, the town is a popular leisure destination that regularly hosts thousands of visitors during tourist season. The town is considered to be the home of the Royal National Mod – a festival of Scottish Gaelic song, culture and arts – as the first event took place in Oban in 1892. Held in October each year, Oban hosted the event in 2003, being the celebration of the 100th Royal National Mod, as well as in 2009, and will be hosting it again in 2015. http://www.scotland.com/blog/breathtaking-scenery-on-the-west-highland-line 2013-02-19T01:51:13-06:00 en Editor Travel Widely considered to be the best rail journey in Britain, and voted Best Rail Journey in the world by the travel-savvy readers of Wanderlust magazine in 2009, the West Highland Line offers a leisurely way to explore the spectacular countryside between Mallaig on the west coast of Scotland and Glasgow in Scotland's west central lowlands. The West Highland Line is one of two operating railway lines offering travelers access to the rugged remote west coast of Scotland, the other being the line connecting the Kyle of Lochalsh with Inverness. http://www.scotland.com/blog/sightseeing-on-the-isle-of-rum 2013-02-05T01:55:43-06:00 en Editor Travel Home to one of the world's largest Manx Shearwater colonies, the Isle of Rùm in Scotland's Inner Hebrides is a haven any wildlife and birding enthusiast is sure to enjoy. Visitors are likely to see otters frolicking in the waters of the ferry terminal, while white-tailed and golden eagles are a regular sight in the skies over Loch Scresort. Eider ducks will be seen along the shoreline in spring and large numbers of seabirds breed on the island's cliffs, including kittiwakes, guillemots and shags, while the woodlands and moorlands of Rùm are home to cuckoos, stonechats, warblers, wrens, plovers, pipits and crows. http://www.scotland.com/blog/enjoy-simple-pleasures-in-the-year-of-natural-scotland- 2013-01-22T00:58:33-06:00 en Editor Features With 2013 designated as the 'Year of Natural Scotland' and CNN declaring Scotland to be its top travel destination choice for 2013, travelers who have considered visiting this ruggedly beautiful country may want to make 2013 the year to do so. The fact that the latest Bond movie, Skyfall, was filmed in Glencoe, certainly helped bring some of the spectacular scenery Scotland is known for to the attention of a broader public, and with a host of special events and activities planned, visitors will be spoiled for choice. http://www.scotland.com/blog/explore-dunstaffnage-castle-at-loch-etive 2013-01-08T01:00:16-06:00 en Editor Travel Situated on a rocky outcrop overlooking Loch Etive in Argyll and Bute, Dunstaffnage Castle is one of Scotland's oldest stone castles, dating back to the 13th century. The castle was built for Duncan MacDougall of the renowned Clan MacDougall, with Clan Campbell holding ownership since the 15th century. The hereditary Captain of Dunstaffnage no longer lives at the castle, which is mostly in ruins, but retains ownership of the gatehouse, with the remainder of the property being maintained by Historic Scotland and open to the public. Surrounded on three sides by the sea, the setting for Dunstaffnage Castle is very picturesque and makes for a pleasant outing when visiting this scenic part of Scotland.