LOCH LOMOND, RANNOCH MOOR & OBAN

Last weekend we jumped in the car for our first tour of Scotland! Leaving early in the morning we headed NW of Glasgow towards Loch Lomond, only a short drive away..

Our first loch sighting! This is the southern end of Loch Lomond, as seen from the shores of Balloch Castle..

The castle, built more as a residence than a defensive stronghold - circa 1808..

A little further up the western bank of Loch Lomond we stopped at the tiny village of Luss. Some of the cottages as seen from the pier..

Typical street view in Luss. They're hills in the background - not mountains, a testament to how low the snow falls around here!..

Looking NE across the loch..

Beautiful country..

Ben Lomond, the most southerly munro (mountain over 3000ft / 914 metres) in Scotland - topping out at 3200ft (974 metres)..

After driving a little further north we began to climb into the foothills of the Scottish Highlands. This mountain was amazing! As you came around a corner it loomed straight out in front of you, curving it's way up at an amazing angle and resembling a volcano. Known as Beinn Dorain it's another munro, measuring 3530ft or 1076 metres..

Once through the foothills we arrived on Rannoch Moor, usually a boggy plateau during the drier months, but on this day it was a sea of snow! (and Red Deer stags)..

Looking south from a roadside viewpoint over the 'Bridge of Orchy' area. On the left is the munro Bienn An Dothaidh and behind it is Beinn Dorain. The water in the foreground is Loch Tulla. The Bridge of Orchy was built in 1751 as part of a government program to pacify the wild highland clans..

Smaller mountians as seen from the same lookout..

How's this for a busking performance! Bagpiper on Rannoch Moor - it doesn't get much more Scottish than this!..

Obligatory 'happy couple' shot!..

Further along the moor - (frozen) Loch Ba..

Heading into the eastern entrance of Glencoe..

Meall a' Bhiuridh (1108 metres) as seen from the highway. Just visible in this photo are the chairlift towers (at right) heading up to the first ridge (lights) and then up to the summit. This is the Glencoe Ski Centre!..

Buachaille Mor (better known as The Buachaille) next to the Glencoe Ski Centre. This is another amazing mountain - it has the perfect, stereotypical mountain shape and rises so sharply from the floor of the glen..

After passing through Glencoe and having lunch we continued driving SW along the coast of Loch Linnhe. This pic is looking over Shauna Island to the hills of the Kingairloch region. This loch is almost at sea level, again showing how low the snow falls..

Further down the coast we stopped at Dunbeg to check out a castle on a short outcrop of land. This is the view from the carpark - looking over the harbour to the hills beyond..

This is Dunstaffnagle Castle. Built on top of a rocky outcrop (in 1260!) it is now part of the National Trust of Scotland's treasure trove. It was captured by Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Independance in 1309..

Further south we arrived at Oban. A coastal town and departure point for many of the islands and outer isles in the area. The town itself sits on the banks of the Firth of Lorn..

Oban waterfront..

Our first distillery! Which unfortunately, was closed..

A little part of the southern end of Loch Etive - beautiful sunset colours!!..

After completing our loop of Loch Lomond, Rannoch Moor, Glencoe and Oban we decided to stop in at Luss again. The fire and local ales were calling us, and it was on the way home after all. Carly in the Colquhoun Arms Hotel..

WINTERFEST!

As promised in our first post here are some pics of Winterfest - the festival currently running in the main square until January...

The entrance next to the cenotaph - with the Sir Walter Scott monument in the background..

Electric Reindeer..

Katy, Margaret & Carly - about to rip up the ice!..

Cruising around the Scott monument..

Looking towards the tree with the cenotaph and the council chambers behind..

Carly - pretty happy with her new-found skating ability..

Trying to keep up with Katy..

November 30th is St Andrew's Day - Scotlands national day (although Burn's Night is apparently more widely observed). Nevertheless, the 30th is always a party day and it was no exception at Winterfest. This is the stage at the Winterfest Shindig!..

A little vid to give you an insight into the atmosphere of a Scottish Shindig!..

Of course a Shindig is not complete without some pipes - and a kilt wearing band!..

John Graham pondering in the the light of the Saltire/St Andrew's Cross/Scottish Flag!..

Coming up next post - our first road trip! Stay tuned coz it'll be up shortly...

GLASWEGIAN SIGHTS

Well, it's taken a little bit longer than expected but we've finally set up our new blog - so welcome to Evan and Carly in Scotland!
If we haven't caught up with anyone for a little while (sorry!) we should let you know that we have since moved on from France! Therefore, our French blog (www.evancarlyfrancais.blogspot.com) has finished, but is still online and viewable if you want to have a look..
So into the present and a new adventure with a new blog. Welcome to Glasgow!

During our first week in town the weather was beautiful - well, sunny and clear anyway! So we decided to explore the city and its surroundings. This is the People's Palace in Glasgow Green, a large public park in the SE of the city..

The Doulton Fountain next to the People's Palace. The largest terracotta fountain in the world! Queen Victoria is on top with 4 water carriers below her symbolising Australasia, India, Canada and South Africa..

From Glasgow Green we walked along the Clyde River to the SW corner of town. Here we found the Scottish BBC headquarters, Glasgow Science Centre and the Scottish Exhibition and Convention Centre (SECC). This is the view of the area from the 127 metre high Glasgow Tower - looking along the Clyde, over the SECC (just behind the Crown Plaza building) to the city centre beyond..

Another view of the Crowne Plaza building and the SECC. From this angle it's easy to see why it's affectionately known as 'The Armadillo'..

The Glasgow Tower - 127 metres tall, designed like a giant aerofoil, able to turn 360 degrees to face the oncoming wind (the entire tower) and the whole thing sits on a thrust bearing only 65cm in diameter! You can still feel it swaying with the wind though..

From the banks of the Clyde we walked north into Glasgow's West End. Just out of the city this area is home to Kelvingrove Park, the Botanic Gardens and this building - the University of Glasgow. Founded in 1451 (albeit in a different building) the university is the 4th oldest in the English speaking world and Scotland's answer to England's Oxford University..

Opposite the university is the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. Opened in 1901 it is now the #1 (free) tourist attraction in Scotland and the most visited museum in the UK (outside of London)..

Whenever you walk through Kelvingrove Park or the Botanic Gardens you inevitably come across one of these guys - the Grey Handface Man, otherwise known as the Grey Squirrel. Native to the USA and Canada its introduction to Britain and Ireland has largely displaced the native Red Squirrel. They are cute though, and not afraid to come right up to you in the hope of being fed..

The area we've moved into is called the Merchant City, right in the heart of Glasgow. This pic was taken in the forecourt of the Gallery of Modern Art, where they turn the 'roof lights' on every night..

In George Square, down the road from our building, stand the Council Chambers and the WWI Cenotaph (foreground)..

Although the weather was nice that first week this IS Glasgow and it's not always sunshine! This is the view from our bedroom window one Sunday morning. It's not snow (yet) just hail..

We didn't let the weather deter us that day though. Not far from home is the Glasgow Cathedral, a fine example of Scottish Gothic architecture..

The lower crypt of the cathedral (beneath the main hall) - a forest of massive stone pillars..

The tomb of St Mungo - the patron saint of Glasgow. The cathedral is said to stand on the spot where he built his church..

The cathedral was built during the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries. This is part of the nave, with some of the roof beams original pieces from that time..

Adjacent to the cathedral is the Necropolis. In between hail showers we managed a quick tour of this haunting place. Situated on an almost perfectly domed hill it overlooks most of Glasgow and it's eastern suburbs..

Dr Whoooooo, hey! Dr Who! As it was raining we decided to head home via TARDIS..

Another wet day was Remembrance Day. At 11am Evan headed down to the cenotaph in George Square (while Carly worked!) where a 2 minutes silence was conducted. The veteran in this pic was asked to attend this less formal service instead of the main service in another part of the city. He was a little upset at the absence of any dignitaries but 2 members of the council did arrive and presented him with a wreath - which he subsequently laid on the memorial..

Glasgow cenotaph - 1100hrs, 11/11/08

The view of the park from our windows on a better day..

Well, it's a sort of park. It's actually called the Ramshorn Cemetery! The best thing about living next to a cemetery in a big city? It's quiet, dead quiet..

We've since ventured back into the West End to visit the botanic gardens. This is the Kibble Palace. A huge greenhouse erected in 1873 to serve the University of Glasgow. It covers over 2000 square metres and is home to many Australian Tree Ferns - some that have lived here for 120 years..

Since moving into our apartment we've been lucky enough to watch 2 fireworks shows without leaving home! The first was the Fawkes Day celebration on Glasgow Green, which we watched from our kitchen window. The second was this, the opening night of the Glasgow Winterfest in George Square. This is the view from the stone balcony out the front of our apartment..

Some of the crowd in George Square. To give you an idea of our position in relation to the square - these people are standing just to the left of the Council Chambers and the cenotaph. We'll have some more pics from Winterfest in our next update!