Aberdeen - Loch Ness

Aberdeen to Loch Ness and Nairn pictures on our Summer Holiday 2013
A93 panorama A panorama image taken at the proximity of Spittal of Glenshee : Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, kesäloma, landscape, maisema, matka, travel Newbigging hut A cabin at Newbigging : Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, kesäloma, landscape, maisema, matka, travel Aberdeen coats of arms The double tressure surrounding the three castles is derived from the royal arms of Scotland, and was traditionally said to have been granted to the city by Robert I, but may only date from the reign of James I The supporters are two leopards. According to legend the beasts were granted by James I to Aberdeen as the burgh underwrote his expenses while in exile in England. Bon Accord, is the motto of the city and is French literally for "Good Agreement". Legend tells that its use dates from the 14th century password used by Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence, when he and his men laid siege to Aberdeen Castle before destroying it in 1308 and massacring the English Garrison, retaking Aberdeen for the townspeople. The secret phrase to initiate the campaign was "Bon Accord" : Aberdeen, Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, city, historia, history, kaupunki, kesäloma, matka, travel Mannie Well Today the statue known as the Mannie sits in the Castlegate but for over a century it was in the Green. The Mannie is the only example of leaden sculpture in the city. In 1706 work began on laying lead water pipes from outside the city to a new fountain in the Castlegate. The statue itself was added to the top of the fountain some time after 1710. A wooden statue had originally been planned but the carver never executed the work and so a lead sculpture was erected. The Mannie was originally located in the Castlegate, where the Mercat Cross sits today, but it was moved to the Green in 1852. It was not until the early 1970s that the Mannie was moved back to the Castlegate, not to its original location but to a new site across the road from the Tolbooth. : Aberdeen, Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, city, historia, history, kaupunki, kesäloma, matka, travel
Tolbooth The Tolbooth in Aberdeen, Scotland is a 17th-century former jail which is now operated as a museum. It was built between 1616 and 1629 and is attached to Aberdeen Sheriff Court on the city centre's Union Street. The museum contains exhibits of prison cells and various police and law and order related items. It housed over 50 Jacobite prisoners after the Battle of Culloden. The building is claimed to be one of the most haunted buildings in Aberdeen and has been subject to many investigations by paranormal investigation teams. : Aberdeen, Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, city, historia, history, kaupunki, kesäloma, matka, travel Archibald Simpson Free House Archibald Simpson (1790 – 1847) was one of the major architects of Aberdeen, which is known as "The Granite City". Simpson is probably best known for the North of Scotland Bank headquarters building, at the corner of Castle Street and King Street, built in 1839-42. It is now a pub which has been named in his honour. : Aberdeen, Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, city, historia, history, kaupunki, kesäloma, matka, travel Salvation Army Citadel The design of Aberdeen Citadel is loosely based on that of Balmoral Castle and is a famous landmark in the city. It sits on the site of Aberdeen Castle, which had been pulled apart by citizens during a conflict in 1308. History reports that the citizens put the stones of the castle to 'holy use' and built a chapel there instead. A place of Christian worship has stood on the spot ever since, culminating with the citadel being built by The Salvation Army in 1896. In front of the citadel is Mercat Cross. : Aberdeen, Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, city, historia, history, kaupunki, kesäloma, matka, travel Mercat Cross Mercat Cross was built in 1686 by John Montgomery, a native architect. This open-arched structure, 21 ft (6 m) in diameter and 18 ft (5 m) high, comprises a large hexagonal base from the centre of which rises a shaft with a Corinthian capital, on which is the royal unicorn. The base is highly decorated, including medallions illustrating Scottish monarchs from James I to James VII. : Aberdeen, Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, city, historia, history, kaupunki, kesäloma, matka, travel
Silly Bears Silly Bears is a teddy bear shop selling both vintage- and artist bears : Aberdeen, Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, city, historia, history, kaupunki, kesäloma, matka, travel St. Peter's Catholic Church Aberdeen's hidden gem, this is the oldest catholic church in Aberdeen. Designed by James Massie, 1803-4; gallery added 1815 and façade finished 1817 by Harry Leith. Within the courtyard is the residence occupied since 1774, including, in the 18th century, the Vicars Apostolic of the Lowland district: Bishop James Grant and Bishop John Geddes. : Aberdeen, Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, city, historia, history, kaupunki, kesäloma, matka, travel DDResque buildings Blocks of flats kinda looking like something taken from the former GDR. : Aberdeen, Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, city, historia, history, kaupunki, kesäloma, matka, travel Country life A bit out of place form of transportation in a city : Aberdeen, Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, city, historia, history, kaupunki, kesäloma, matka, travel
Queen Street Church North Church of St Andrew was built in 1905 as the North United Free Church. The architect was W. E. Gauld and was designed in a bold classical style. It features a lofty pediment with ionic columns, balustrading and two doorways from the street. There is a large suite of rooms, halls, a chapel and caretaker's flat located in a three-storey building adjoining the church and room beneath the church. The church was united with Greyfriars' John Knox Church in 2004. : Aberdeen, Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, city, historia, history, kaupunki, kesäloma, matka, travel North Church of St. Andrew North Church of St Andrew was built in 1905 as the North United Free Church. The architect was W. E. Gauld and was designed in a bold classical style. It features a lofty pediment with ionic columns, balustrading and two doorways from the street. There is a large suite of rooms, halls, a chapel and caretaker's flat located in a three-storey building adjoining the church and room beneath the church. The church was united with Greyfriars' John Knox Church in 2004 and this building now serves as Aberdeen arts centre. : Aberdeen, Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, city, historia, history, kaupunki, kesäloma, matka, travel King street King street with typical Aberdeen buildings, all built out of grey granite. : Aberdeen, Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, city, historia, history, kaupunki, kesäloma, matka, travel Marischal College and Greyfriars John Knox Church The construction of the modern college building began in 1835, following the demolition of previous buildings on the site, and was completed in its present form in the early 1900s. It is the second largest granite building in the world. Formerly the seat of the Marischal College and University of Aberdeen founded in 1593, the building was retained by the unified University of Aberdeen which was created in 1860 by the merger of Marischal College and King's College. The buildings of Marischal College continued to be used for academic purposes until the mid-20th century and less and less until the early 2000s. Since 2011 it has acted as the headquarters of Aberdeen City Council. Amongst the buildings demolished to make way for the new frontage of Marischal College at the turn of the 20th century, was the Greyfriars collegiate church, built in 1532 and incorporated as part of the College in 1593. Following a dispute regarding the conservation of this church, a new church building was constructed within the Marischal College complex. It is incorporated into the College frontage, which includes the southern tower, notable for being surmounted with a spire. Following a merger, this church was later to become known, ironically, as Greyfriars John Knox Church. The building is currently unused. : Aberdeen, Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, city, historia, history, kaupunki, kesäloma, matka, travel
Coats of arms on Marischal college facade Above the West Entrance there are 7 Shields bearing coats-of-arms illustrating the history of the University. Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal (1st on the left) Old Aberdeen (2nd from the left) Bishop Elphinstone (3rd from the left) Aberdeen university (centre) Earl Marischal (3rd from the right) The arms by Aberdeen (2nd from the right) Mitchell (1st On the right) : Aberdeen, Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, city, historia, history, kaupunki, kesäloma, matka, travel The statue of Robert the Bruce Robert I (11 July 1274 – 7 June 1329), popularly known as Robert the Bruce (Medieval Gaelic: Roibert a Briuis; modern Scottish Gaelic: Raibeart Bruis; Norman French: Robert de Brus or Robert de Bruys, Early Scots: Robert Brus), was King of Scots from 1306 until his death in 1329. Robert was one of the most famous warriors of his generation, eventually leading Scotland during the Wars of Scottish Independence against England. He fought successfully during his reign to regain Scotland's place as an independent nation, and is today remembered in Scotland as a national hero. : Aberdeen, Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, city, historia, history, kaupunki, kesäloma, matka, travel Provost Skene’s House Dating from 1545, Provost Skene's House was bought in 1669 by Provost Skene. It was opened to the public in 1953 as a 'Period House and Museum of Local History' by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. The rooms have been furnished in the styles of the 17th, 18th and early 19th centuries. There are collections of coins and local history, while the Painted Gallery contains a series of religious paintings. The Costume Gallery presents regularly changing displays of period dress. The house is much altered, but is a rare survival of Aberdeen's medieval burgh architecture. It is thought that George Skene commissioned the carved plaster ceilings in the 17th century. : Aberdeen, Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, city, historia, history, kaupunki, kesäloma, matka, travel McLaren MP4-12C The carbon-fiber car has a rear-mid engine 3.8-liter V8 turbocharged to 600 horsepower that powers the rear wheels through a paddle-shifted, seven-speed dual-clutch McLaren gearbox. : Aberdeen, Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, city, historia, history, kaupunki, kesäloma, matka, travel
Aberdeen Art Gallery Aberdeen Art Gallery is the main visual arts exhibition space in the city of Aberdeen, Scotland. It opened in 1885, in a building designed by Alexander Marshall Mackenzie. At the western end of the building, with a room inside and a monument outside, is a major war memorial. : Aberdeen, Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, city, historia, history, kaupunki, kesäloma, matka, travel The Triple Kirk The Triple Kirk, a free church established in 1844 at the junction of Belmont Street and Schoolhill, was deliberately sited with the intention of rivalling the established "Auld Kirk" of St Nicholas parish. A building to house the unification of the East, South, and West Free Churches of the town, it was designed by Archibald Simpson. There is now a pub, the Triple Kirks, on the site. : Aberdeen, Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, city, historia, history, kaupunki, kesäloma, matka, travel His Majesty's Theatre His Majesty's Theatre in Aberdeen is the largest theatre in north-east Scotland, seating more than 1,400. The theatre is sited on Rosemount Viaduct, opposite the city's Union Terrace Gardens. It was designed by Frank Matcham and opened in 1906. : Aberdeen, Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, city, historia, history, kaupunki, kesäloma, matka, travel William Wallace The William Wallace Statue is in Aberdeen, depicting Sir William Wallace. The statue was created in 1888 by William Grant Stevenson, and it is positioned opposite His Majesty's Theatre, and across from Union Terrace Gardens. The statue bears this inscription: I tell you a truth, liberty is the best of all things, my son, never live under any slavish bond. : Aberdeen, Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, city, historia, history, kaupunki, kesäloma, matka, travel
Union Terrace Garden The sunken gardens opened to the public in 1879, and cover approximately two and a half acres . The space is bounded to the north by Rosemount Viaduct, to the south by Union Street, Aberdeen's main thoroughfare, to the east by the railway and the Den Burn, now flowing underground, and to the west by Union Terrace. Contrary to popular belief the area is not a natural amphitheatre but a small river valley with a late-Victorian viaduct constructed at the North end in 1889. The amphitheatre was formed from the covered remains of Denburn Terrace after demolition. : Aberdeen, Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, city, historia, history, kaupunki, kesäloma, matka, travel Narrow building Narrow building between Skene Terrace and Rosemount Viaduct : Aberdeen, Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, city, historia, history, kaupunki, kesäloma, matka, travel Cathedral of St Mary of the Assumption The Cathedral was designed by Alexander Ellis and opened in 1860. The spire and bells were added by R.G. Wilson in 1876-77. : Aberdeen, Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, city, historia, history, kaupunki, kesäloma, matka, travel 2013-08-04 G12 (223) The statue was designed by Alfred Drury RA and carved by James Philip. On a plinth of polished red Peterhead granite the sovereign holds a sceptre with the cross and an orb. Edward wears the robes of the Order of the Garter, the most senior and oldest order of British chivalry. Below the statue is a bronze ornamental frieze. To the left is the figure of peace, Britannia, breaking a sword. In the centre stands Scotland’s patron saint, Andrew and his shield. Positioned on the right are three figures called “Imperial Unity”. Britannia is seated centrally with her left arm encircling a figure emblematic of the Indian and African peoples. A third figure representing Canada and Australia extends a hand of friendship to be kissed by “The Mother of Nations”. The motto, that of the Order of the Garter “Honi soit qui mal y pense” translates as “shame on him who thinks this evil”. The chubby figure in front of the statue is one the worst bagpipe players we heard on our entire time in Scotland. : Aberdeen, Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, city, historia, history, kaupunki, kesäloma, matka, travel
Union Street Union Street Eastwards taken from the corner of Union Terrace : Aberdeen, Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, city, historia, history, kaupunki, kesäloma, matka, travel Provost Ross's House Situated on Shiprow between Union Street and the Harbour, a survival of mediaeval Aberdeen, Provost Ross's House is the second oldest dwelling house in the city. It was built in 1593 by master-mason Andrew Jamieson. It became the residence of Provost John Ross of Arnage in 1702. In the 20th C., in a derelict state and threatened with demolition, the house was acquired by the National Trust for Scotland. It was restored with support from the Trust's members, the City of Aberdeen and the Associated British Picture Corporation. It was re-opened by the Secretary of State for Scotland in 1954. Inside, the house retains some original features, including a kitchen, fire places and beam-and-board ceilings. : Aberdeen, Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, city, historia, history, kaupunki, kesäloma, matka, travel Buchan Ness lighthouse Buchan Ness lighthouse. In 1819 petitions were made to erect a lighthouse on Buchan Ness. Robert Stevenson, Engineer of the Lighthouse Board surveyed the area and it was built by 1827. In 1907 a broad red band was painted on the tower to distinguish it for seafarers by day. : Buchan Ness lighthouse, Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, kesäloma, majakka, matka, travel Scottish Lighthouse Museum The award winning museum of scottish lighthouses building contains several galleries containing an incredible nationally recognised collection of glass lenses, lighting technology and social history artefacts covering the lives of the men and families who guarded Scotland’s coastline for over two hundred years. There are audio-visual displays and interactive exhibits. For schools our Education Resources are fully CFE linked and introduce the world of lighthouses through literacy, numeracy, art and science. : 2013, Fraserburgh, Holiday, Kinnaird Head, Nokia Pureview 808, Scotland, Scottish Lighthouse Museum, Skotlanti, building, historia, history, kesäloma, matka, rakennus, travel
Lighthouse badge Lighthouse badge at Scottish Lighthouse Museum : Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, kesäloma, matka, travel Kinnaird Head castle and lighthouse Built for the Fraser family, this fine 16th century castle was altered in 1787 to take the first lighthouse built by the Commissioners of the Northern Lighthouses. It is still in working order but has now been replaced by a small unmanned light nearby. The lighthouse remains much as it was left by the last lighthouse crew and is managed by the Kinnaird Head Trust. : Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, kesäloma, matka, travel Kinnaird Head castle and lighthouse Built for the Fraser family, this fine 16th century castle was altered in 1787 to take the first lighthouse built by the Commissioners of the Northern Lighthouses. It is still in working order but has now been replaced by a small unmanned light nearby. The lighthouse remains much as it was left by the last lighthouse crew and is managed by the Kinnaird Head Trust. : Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, kesäloma, matka, travel New Kinnaird Head Lighthouse New Kinnaird Head automated Lighthouse was established beside the original light in 1991. : Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, kesäloma, matka, travel
Kinnaird Head lighthouse foghorn Foghorn of Kinnaird Head lighthouse. The Fog Signal was discontinued in 1987. : Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, kesäloma, matka, travel Kinnaird Head castle buildings Some remains of Kinnaird Head castle : Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, kesäloma, matka, travel Buoy park Various kinds of buoys on display at the Scottish Lighthouse museum : Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, kesäloma, matka, travel Cullykhan Bay scene Nice steep cape at Cullykhan Bay area : Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, kesäloma, matka, travel
Coastal view A view from Cullykhan Bay parking lot towards Northwest : Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, kesäloma, matka, travel A local resident Somewhat curious local resident gave us a brief visit at Cullykhan Bay : Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, kesäloma, matka, travel Loch Ness A view to Loch Ness taken from A82 rest area. : Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, kesäloma, matka, travel Sailing A sail boat on Loch Ness : Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, kesäloma, matka, travel
Loch Tarff Loch of the Bull, the water source for Fort Augustus and also a place to spot deers. : Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, kesäloma, matka, travel Lower Highlands Lower Highlands scenery, taken along B862, General Walde's Military Road, Loch Ness is visible on the top right corner : Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, kesäloma, matka, travel Hiking Trail A chance for more fitted than me to see Highlands slower and more intimately : Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, kesäloma, matka, travel Norwegian tradition We just couldn't help ourselves, when we saw this much rocks we simply had to follow a Norwegian tradition and build a pile of stones, also known to Finns as well. : Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, kesäloma, matka, travel
Urquhart Castle The present ruins date from the 13th to the 16th centuries, though built on the site of an early medieval fortification. Founded in the 13th century, Urquhart played a role in the Wars of Scottish Independence in the 14th century. It was subsequently held as a royal castle, and was raided on several occasions by the MacDonald Earls of Ross. The castle was granted to the Clan Grant in 1509, though conflict with the MacDonalds continued. Despite a series of further raids the castle was strengthened, only to be largely abandoned by the middle of the 17th century. Urquhart was partially destroyed in 1692 to prevent its use by Jacobite forces, and subsequently decayed. In the 20th century it was placed in state care and opened to the public: it is now one of the most-visited castles in Scotland. The castle, situated on a headland overlooking Loch Ness, is one of the largest in Scotland in area. It was approached from the west and defended by a ditch and drawbridge. The buildings of the castle were laid out around two main enclosures on the shore. The northern enclosure or Nether Bailey includes most of the more intact structures, including the gatehouse, and the five-storey Grant Tower at the north end of the castle. The southern enclosure or Upper Bailey, sited on higher ground, comprises the scant remains of earlier buildings. : Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, kesäloma, matka, travel Covenanters Inn Run by Louise and Douglas Harrison, the Inn is located in the small country village of Auldearn, just 2 miles from Nairn between Inverness (capital of the Highlands) and the historic town of Elgin in Moray. The name originates from the great Battle of Auldearn in 1645 between the Covenanters and the Marquis of Montrose. In these times, the original part of the Inn was the Mill and Brewhouse for the people of the area. We spent one night here. It was okay, even though the room was quite small. We fitted in though :). Also the food was okay. : Holiday, Scotland, Skotlanti, kesäloma, matka, travel