CULZEAN CASTLE & EDINBURGH

Just to maintain the consistency this is, once again, a fairly late post! Of course, we do have a good excuse as well as the usual (too busy with work, not enough hours in the day, cosmic radiation, etc, etc..) as we have been putting together a couple more trips for the near future. But more about them later.
This brief instalment covers our excursion to the Ayrshire Coast southwest of Glasgow, about 6 weeks back, to visit the amazing Culzean (pronounced 'Culllane') Castle & Country Park. Although the weather wasn't epic it was actually quite warm (of course we have acclimatised a little these past 12 months!) and we spent the day cruising around the castle (no interior photos allowed unfortunately) and the amazing parks and gardens that surround it.
Also in this instalment is a day trip to Edinburgh with Mel & Drew, as they neared the end of their European sojourn, to check out both some familiar and some new sights. The weather this day was a lot better. Hope you enjoy!..

The entrance to the Culzean Castle visitor centre..

Our first view of the castle, perched high on the cliffs..

Although the castle does sit on top of the cliffs just north and south are some beautiful little coves. This is the view from the 'Gas House' - the small building where coal gas was produced to light the castle interior..

Near the main entrance to the castle is a viewing platform giving amazing views to Northern Ireland, Ailsa Craig and the Isle of Arran on a clear day. This day however, was not so clear. Hence this sepia view, looking southwest from our picnic spot..

Looking across the entrance forecourt to the clocktower..

The castle itself. An amazing building that is more stately home than fortress. Although the first accounts of a 'tower house' being constructed on the site date from the 1400's it was comprehensively redesigned by Robert Adam in the 18th Century. During his tenure here he was encouraged to utilise his 'romantic genius' in his design..

The fountain court..

The clifftop battery. Although the mansion was never the site of a siege or invasion the past 600 years have been somewhat turbulent in this part of the world, and life in the area hasn't always been quite as 'settled' as it is now..

After leaving the castle we headed south, along the clifftop path that meanders through the woods..

This is the Swan Pond - by far the largest 'pond' we've ever seen!..

Further inland is the walled garden, an impressive collection of formal gardens, orchards, vegetable gardens and greenhouses. This is the reproduction Victorian-era vineyard, growing sweet, dessert style grapes on hanging vines..

and pumpkins! Lotsa pumpkins..

After walking full circle through the gardens we came to the main gate of the castle which provides an amazing view of the castle itself..

It's the flagship NTS (National Trust of Scotland) property and it's easy to see why from this angle..

It seems to 'float' when viewed from the main entrance and driveway, built on a converted viaduct..

Back at the visitor centre, just before leaving, Carly was stood on by a small pirate..

A few weeks later this spectacular view was visible from the balcony, so Evan took a photo of it. It really has no relevance to this post other than it ocurring between our visit to Culzean and Mel & Drew's visit, but it's a nice photo with the car tailights merging into the setting sun, so it deserves a run here!..

With Mel & Drew in town we decided to spend a day in Edinburgh checking out the sights and doing a little weapons shopping. Here's Carly, checking out a pre-aerosol mace in the Edinburgh Castle 'souvenir' shop..

From the top of the Royal Mile we wandered down to the Palace of Holyrood House at the bottom. This is Carly and Mel, probably wondering where Drew is?..

There he is!..

From Holyrood we jumped in a cab and headed to the top of Calton Hill to take in the views over the city. This is the view south looking towards Arthur's Seat, the highest point in the city at 251 metres (left) and the Salisbury Crags, an ancient volcanic cliff formation..

On top of Calton Hill is the National Monument. Modelled on the Parthenon of Athens but never completed it is a monument to those who died fighting for the UK in the Napoleanic Wars..

Construction began in 1826 and stopped 3 years later when the funds ran out (!)..

The western view from Calton Hill with Edinburgh Castle dominating the skyline to the left and the Balmoral Hotel clocktower towering over Princes Street..

Through the thorns, over the cemetery, past the monument, towards the Old Town and the Royal Mile..

And we finished out tour with an icecream in the Princes Street Gardens and a stroll past the Sir Walter Scott Monument, built in 1844 as a tribute to the writer..

Well, once again we trust you have enjoyed our sporadic blogcast and hope you will stay tuned for our next episode, coming to you from the much warmer climes of North Africa - woohoo!! Then it's the 'Gamble Family UK and Western Europe January Journey' - should be a corker!
See you in a few weeks..

THE FALKIRK WHEEL

Only 20 minutes from Glasgow is the feat of engineering known as the Falkirk Wheel. Constructed in 2002 as part of the larger Millenium Link Project, designed to restore canal navigability across central Scotland, the Falikirk Wheel connects the 2 main canals in central Scotland, the Forth & Clyde and the Union. Separated by a total height difference of 35 metres and originally connected by a flight of 11 locks (spread over a distance of 1.5kms) these 2 canals hadn't been connected since 1933 when the locks were dismantled.
So, on a sunny Sunday morning we jumped on the train to Falkirk to have a look for ourselves..

After disembarking the train we followed the Union Canal west from the station for a couple of miles until we came to this, the Roughcastle Tunnel. At 180 metres long it passes underneath the historic Antonie Wall and its Rough Castle Fort (hence the name). The wall was built by the Romans c.142 AD and stretched right across the central belt of Scotland, from The Firth of Clyde (west of Glasgow) to the Firth of Forth (NW of Edinburgh) and represents the most northely point reached by the Romans in Scotland..

Once through the tunnel we came to the top of the Falkirk Wheel and the aqueduct, and a view that belied the overall scale of the wheel itself..

As we walked down the hill the overall 'picture' of the wheel came into view..

The Falkirk Wheel, the world's first and only rotating boat lift, capable of moving boats 24 metres from the bottom basin to the aqueduct..

The method of transferring the boats is simple. They enter the basin at either the top or bottom, the gates close and the wheel completes a half-turn, transferring one boat up and one boat down..

The boats are in and the gates are closed..

And the rotation begins..

The wheel is able to move a total weight of 600 tons..

But only requires 1.5kwh to complete each half rotation, that's the equivalent power requirement of boiling 8 kettles!..

A couple of humans to add scale..

The desin is based on a Celtic inspired, double-headed axe..

Almost there. It takes just over 4 minutes to complete each half rotation

Once around the gates on each basin open..

And the boats can move out..

A slideshow! 4 minutes down to 30 seconds..

The view from the lock below the wheel. Although the wheel raises and lowers each boat 24 metres the 2 canals are actually separated by a height of 35 metres, so another 3 locks are required to complete the transition, this one plus another 2 on the other side of Roughcastle Tunnel. The wheel could not be constructed any taller because of the need to preserve the Antonine Wall and Rough Castle Fort..

That's all from Falkirk! Stay tuned for the next update - Culzean Castle in Ayrshire..

LONDON

Another short blog following a quick trip down to London last weekend to catch up with Tanya, her husband James and to see Corinne before she packed her things and headed back to Oz. As it was also Evan's first (and only Carly's second) time in London we also had a quick look around the city by walking along the north bank of the Thames on a sunny Saturday afternoon..

The view from Tanya and James balcony in Aldgate, east London. As we arrived the sun was setting over the financial district and the building commonly referred to as 'The Gherkin.' The next morning we woke to a beautiful day in London, albeit with sore heads, thanks to a pub crawl through Aldgate, the highlights of which involved a quick drink in an ex-public-urinal-turned-nightclub and a late night pint (or two?) in the Ten Bells, a pub Jack the Ripper used as a hunting ground for 2 of his victims..

Tower Bridge on the Thames, as seen from the Tower of London..

A cruise ship was the last thing we expected to see in the Thames?..

St Paul's Cathedral on the walk up from the river..

The western facade of St Paul's..

Further east we came to the Millenium Bridge and the London Eye..

The 'eye' - 165 metres high making it the tallest in Europe..

Big Ben at Westminster with the 'eye' in the background..

Westminster Abbey, there has been an abbey on this site since the 7th Century..

"Look kids, Big Ben - Parliament! I can't seem to get over!"
Sorry, but we (read; Evan) couldn't help the National Lampoons European Vacation quote. Haven't seen it? Be ashamed!..
And that is all from our very brief trip to the capital of the UK, possibly should have taken some more pics but a pub crawl in Aldgate the night before will do that!! We'll be heading back there in January to do the proper tourist thing so expect more pics (and more National Lampoons quotes) then!
Thanks to Tanya and James for the hospitality, accommodation, good times and sore heads..

WORLDS LARGEST TATTOO?

A few weeks back (yes, this is another delayed update!) we headed to the 2nd last performance of the 2009 Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Officially begun in 1950 the Tattoo has sold out in advance every year for the past decade, and is performed in conjunction with the Edinburgh Fringe and International Festivals.
So, on a cold and windy (summers!?) evening we headed up the Royal Mile to Edinburgh Castle, to take our seats in the grandstand on the Castle esplanade..

Edinburgh Castle..

The show begins with the massed pipe bands pouring out of the castle..

The Tongan Royal Corps of Musicians enters the arena..

The She Huo Cultural Act from Xi'an, China..



The Swiss Army Central Band, a definite crowd favourite..

The Swiss Army Central Band (glow in the dark) Drummers..

Neon Drumming..

The Devil - good on the pipes..

The Top Secret Drum Corps - these guys were amazing..

The massed pipe bands finale..

Edinburgh Castle covered in the Saltire..

Of course there was way more than these photos and vids portray but as with most things it's too much to convey in a short blog!
We must also say thanks to Joe, Head Concierge at the Balmoral, for sourcing the tickets for us!
Next blog - a quick trip to London..