http://www.scotland.com/blog/ en 2012-05-15T04:59:07-05:00 hourly 6 2012-05-15T04:59:07-05:00 http://www.scotland.com/blog/explore-the-village-of-whithorn 2012-05-15T04:59:07-05:00 en Editor Travel The village of Withorn, located on the southern end of the Machars peninsula on the Irish Sea in Galloway, is accepted as one of the oldest continuously occupied settlements in Scotland. With the first Christian church being built in Whithorn by St Ninian in around 390 AD, the village is also considered to be the cradle of Christianity in Scotland. The original church has undergone a number of changes and additions over the years, with distinct eras of Christianity leaving their mark on the historic buildings. Visitors to the Parish Church and Priory of Whithorn will find a very picturesque setting with the ancient stone buildings and the crypt standing as a testimony to quality craftsmanship. The fascinating history of Withorn, and the role played by religion in shaping the area are displayed in the nearby visitor centre. http://www.scotland.com/blog/scottish-communication-pioneers 2012-05-01T08:21:56-05:00 en Editor Features In today's modern world of endless communication options, it's difficult to imagine a time when a basic landline telephone was considered to be futuristic. When Alexander Graham Bell was awarded the first US patent for the telephone in 1876, he considered the instrument to be an unwelcome intrusion when he was working, and reportedly refused to have one in his study. One wonders what he may have thought of the 21st century where being separated from their cellular phones for even just a short while is unthinkable for many people, and experiences and opinions are communicated in 140 characters or less. http://www.scotland.com/blog/appreciating-nature-at-ardkinglas 2012-04-17T02:33:34-05:00 en Editor Travel Set against the stunning backdrop of forest and mountain, Ardkinglas House is located on the shores of Loch Fyne in Argyll. The house itself is an historic architectural marvel, with the beautiful Ardkinglass Woodland Gardens offering nature at its best all year round. The house remains as it was a hundred years ago, with the gardens featuring trees much older than that, and including the tallest tree in Britain. The gardens are open from dawn to dusk every day, and a network of trails allows visitors to view the flora and fauna at their leisure. http://www.scotland.com/blog/explore-the-great-glen-way 2012-04-03T04:29:29-05:00 en Editor Travel Officially opened on 30 April 2002 by the Earl of Inverness, H.R.H. Prince Andrew, the Great Glen Way covers a distance of 79 miles between Inverness and Fort William, offering an excellent way to explore the Highlands of Scotland . As part of the Great Glen Ways Project, more than fifty interpretation and information panels have been placed throughout the Glen, with interesting facts about the history, landscape, wildlife, archaeology, forest management and folklore of this region of Scotland which incorporates the legendary Loch Ness, majestic Ben Nevis and the historic Urquhart Castle. Visitor centers are found along the way, and accommodation is available in the Great Glen area, as the trail can take between five and six days to complete. http://www.scotland.com/blog/loch-gruinart-nature-reserve 2012-03-20T04:34:20-05:00 en Editor Features The Loch Gruinart Nature Reserve is located on the north coast of the Isle of Islay, the most southerly of Scotland's Western Isles, known for its rugged beauty. The loch after which the reserve is named extends up to four miles inland toward, but two miles short of, Loch Indaal. Cared for by the RSPB since 1984, the shallow waters, stunning white beaches, mudflats, saltmarsh, grasslands, peat bog and moorland of Loch Gruinart Nature Reserve are home to a wide variety of flora and fauna and is the perfect destination to be at one with nature. http://www.scotland.com/blog/hand-crafted-treasures-from-craft-town-scotland 2012-03-06T02:18:10-06:00 en Editor Features Located in the coastal town of West Kilbride, overlooking the Isle of Arran, Craft Town Scotland offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy an unspoiled Scottish village, and purchase a wide variety of hand-crafted items directly from the skilled crafters who made them. Visitors can spend some time watching the creative process in the eight open studios – an interesting feature of this increasingly popular attraction – before making their purchase. http://www.scotland.com/blog/history-and-culture-at-lennoxlove-house 2012-02-21T02:08:24-06:00 en Editor Features Set in ancient woodlands just south of Haddington in East Lothian, Lennoxlove House has been the family home of the Dukes of Hamilton since 1946. Visitors to this beautifully preserved historic building can arrange for guided tours between Easter and the end of September each year, where an experienced tour guide will reveal the history of the building and its previous occupants, as well as detailing interesting information relating to the various artifacts on display. http://www.scotland.com/blog/history-culture-and-genealogy-at-grantown-museum 2012-02-07T02:17:21-06:00 en Editor Features Located alongside the River Spey on the northern edge of the majestic Cairngorm Mountains, Grantown-on-Spey was established in 1765 to populate this picturesque and fertile region of the Scottish Highlands. As a planned settlement, Grantown was different in a number of ways from the many settlements which sprang up in an informal fashion at that time. One of the differences being that land was allocated, avoiding squabbling over land rights among the citizens of the new town and promoting cooperation. To gain insight into the history and culture of this charming town and its surroundings, visitors should make a point of spending some time at the fascinating Grantown Museum, which is also the traditional home of the Clan Grant and hosts meetings of the Grantown Society. http://www.scotland.com/blog/skye-serpentarium-a-sanctuary-for-reptiles 2012-01-24T02:20:55-06:00 en Editor Features Initially established by Catherine and Alex Shearer as an exhibition and education centre in 1991, the Skye Serpentarium has become a sanctuary for unwanted pets and illegally imported reptiles. With an experienced staff member in attendance to answer any questions, visitors to the centre can view more than fifty animals, ranging from small White’s Tree Frogs through to large Green Iguanas. The centre also does regular handling sessions where visitors can learn interesting facts relating to these often misunderstood creatures. http://www.scotland.com/blog/enjoy-the-tranquility-of-st-andrews-botanic-garden 2012-01-10T03:14:59-06:00 en Editor Features The St Andrews Botanic Garden, located at the west end of South Street in St Andrews, Fife, has been created as a peaceful haven for visitors to enjoy, as well as providing a venue for education and research. The garden has been designed with boundary vegetation, a coniferous wind-break and shrub borders to create micro-climatic conditions similar to those found in the wild, allowing plants to thrive in their natural habitat.