http://www.scotland.com/blog/ en 2012-02-07T02:17:21-06:00 hourly 6 2012-02-07T02:17:21-06:00 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. http://www.scotland.com/blog/innerpeffray-library-s-historical-literary-treasures 2011-12-27T03:23:17-06:00 en Editor Travel With the distinction of being the first and oldest free lending library in Scotland, Innerpeffray Library is a popular attraction in the hamlet of Innerpeffray, located by the River Earn in the Perth and Kinross region. Established in 1680 by the third Lord Madertie, David Drummond, and containing a treasure trove of literary works, the library is considered to represent the origins of an era referred to as the Scottish Enlightenment. Initially housed in the loft of St Mary's Chapel, the now extensive collection started with 400 books from the Drummond family's private collection. These were made available to public with the goal of improving and educating the population, particularly young students, as was stated in the founder's will written in 1680. http://www.scotland.com/blog/scotland-goes-creative-in-2012 2011-12-13T09:35:30-06:00 en Editor Features Travelers will find a host of good reasons to make Scotland their destination of choice next year as the Year of Creative Scotland 2012 program of events, activities and festivals focuses on promoting Scottish culture. With a reported £6.5 million in lottery cash supporting the initiative, it will be a collaborative effort between the creative, events and tourism sectors and include a number of smaller selected communities. As London hosts the Olympic Games in 2012, it is anticipated that the Year of Creative Scotland will encourage international tourists attending the Olympics to include Scotland in their itineraries. http://www.scotland.com/blog/glasgow-s-fascinating-riverside-museum 2011-11-29T05:06:19-06:00 en Editor Features Since opening to the public in June 2011, Glasgow's Riverside Museum has already received thousands of visitors and is set to become one of the city's most popular attractions. With its striking exterior, said to resemble a choppy wave, the museum is located within the Glasgow Harbour on the River Clyde's north bank where it joins the Kelvin River. This easily accessible location allows for floating museums, such as the majestic Glenlee, also known as The Tall Ship, to be included as part of the Riverside Museum's features. http://www.scotland.com/blog/conservation-and-education-to-save-scotlands-red-kites 2011-11-15T07:30:37-06:00 en Editor Features With their striking chestnut red color, angled wings and distinctive forked tails, red kites were once a relatively common sight in the skies of Scotland. However, these beautiful birds of prey were all but wiped out as man took over their habitat, causing them to be seen as competition for available food resources and therefore a threat to be destroyed. It is recorded history that King James II of Scotland, who ruled in the mid-15th century, decreed that kites should be killed wherever possible, with the result being that red kites have not been seen in the wild for more than a century. Thanks to a conservation project called Argaty Red Kites, located on Lerrocks Farm near Stirling, this is set to change, and visitors are encouraged to find out firsthand what is being done to increase the red kite population in Scotland. http://www.scotland.com/blog/scottish-national-mining-museum-chronicles-mining-heritage 2011-11-01T08:51:38-05:00 en Editor Features Based at the Lady Victoria Colliery near Newtongrange, Midlothian, the Scottish National Mining Museum has a number of features to educate and entertain visitors of all ages. The museum offers insight into the natural processes of coal formation and the history of human efforts to extract this precious commodity from the earth. Visitors can join an ex-miner in a guided tour of the pithead to experience first-hand what it was like to work in a coal mine, and can discover what life was like for coal mining communities from the 13th century through to modern times. Other features of the museum include the interactive operations center, winding engine, mining machinery, and archives. http://www.scotland.com/blog/millport-scottish-island-getaway 2011-10-25T11:29:35-05:00 en Editor Travel As the only town on the island of Great Cumbrae, located in the Firth of Clyde off Scotland's North Ayrshire coast, tourism plays an important role in the economy of Millport. A ferry runs between the island and the town of Largs on the Scottish mainland, with the town of Millport located around four miles to the south of the ferry docking slipway on the island. Millport is a popular day-trip and holiday destination for visitors from Glasgow, which is only 33 miles from Largs, with a trip on the River Clyde paddle steamer, PS Waverley a popular option. With its free-to-use visitor moorings and other facilities, Millport Bay is also a great destination for sailing enthusiasts in the summer months. http://www.scotland.com/blog/lee-castle-in-the-valley-of-clyde 2011-10-18T11:24:44-05:00 en Editor Miscellaneous With an intriguing history spanning close to seven centuries and located in the charming Valley of Clyde countryside, Lee Castle is listed as a building of regional importance (category B) on the Statutory List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. Also referred to simply as The Lee, the property on which this magnificent mansion stands was the seat of the Lockharts of Lee from 1297 until the year 1919, although the current structure is the result of renovations and additions carried out during the 19th century.