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Enjoy A Scotland Vacation In The Scottish Highlands And The Lowlands Of Bonnie Scotland

"You tak' the high Road an' I'll tak' the low road" and we will enjoy a Scottish vacation together, in the Scottish highlands and in the lowlands of Bonnie Scotland. Most people visit Edinburgh and then claim they have "done Scotland". Others head straight for the Isle of Skye or for Gleneagles Hotel or St. Andrews for a round of golf and then claim the same thing.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/destinations-articles/enjoy-a-scotland-vacation-in-the-scottish-highlands-and-the-lowlands-of-bonnie-scotland-793995.html

To experience a Scottish vacation in the Scottish highlands and lowlands, with the personal service you deserve, check out Ultitude where you will be offered a first class luxury Scottish vacation with personal guides and individual bookings. You can also visit Ultitude-Travel.com, our luxury travel blog on luxury vacations Scotland.

The Most Famous Golf Courses in Scotland

As the pound continues to tumble against the Euro, UK golfers looking to travel abroad may find themselves frustrated by the increased cost of travel, accommodation and green fees in Europe. Traditional golf holiday destinations such as France and the Algarve have become more expensive, but the increased cost of golf abroad is the perfect excuse to rediscover some of the finest golf courses in the UK.

Keen players looking for the perfect UK golf break need look no further than Scotland -its dramatic combination of coastal and mountain scenery provides a stunning backdrop for a golf holiday, and Scotland's numerous championship courses are favoured by the very best players in the world. It is the home of the links course - flat coastal courses with few trees or water hazards, where the wind can have a dramatic effect on your game. While the Scottish links design has been much emulated around the world, it has never been bettered.

There are literally hundreds of courses to choose from in Scotland, including many of the world's biggest and best alongside countless smaller hidden gems. But if you want to play on the most famous and world renowned courses on your golf holiday in Scotland, here are five that you simply must play...

The Ailsa Course

The Turnberry Golf Club is perhaps the most famous in Scotland. It contains three courses, but it is The Ailsa that is the best and most challenging. Looking out across the Mull of Kintyre, the Isle of Arran and the castle of Robert the Bruce, it is certainly the most scenic golf course in Scotland. But there's more here than fine views; the strong winds demand even stronger drives, the ninth hole (with a tee perched on the edge of the sea) is justly famous, and the course as a whole is an absolute delight to play on.

Kingsbarns Golf Links

Stunningly designed by Kyle Phillips, this course is a masterpiece of links craftsmanship that hugs the coastline - the North Sea is never out of sight. This intricate and demanding course is only a decade old, but is already ranked as one of the finest in Scotland. Watch out for the par five 12th hole, the signature hole on the Kingsbarns Golf Links. Kyle Phillips may be a Californian, but he has created one of the very best Scottish links courses in existence today.

Gleneagles Kings Course

There are a number of outstanding Gleneagles courses that are well worth playing on your golf holiday in Scotland, but the Gleneagles Kings Course is the pick of the bunch; it is truly a course worthy of kings. Designed by James Braid, it offers breathtaking views and superb design that has been delighting and challenging golfers since 1919.

Carnoustie Golf Links

Skilled golfers looking for a real challenge on a golf holiday in Scotland need look no further than Carnoustie Golf Links. Widely regarded as the most difficult course in the UK, it has hosted seven Open Championships in its time, with even the world's best players often finishing well above par. But if you are up to the challenge, the Carnoustie will offer you a round of golf unlike any other in Scotland.

St Andrews Old Course

Often regarded as the oldest golf course in the world, it is believed that St Andrews Old Course has been in use for over six hundred years. Not only is it the oldest, it is widely rated as the best in the world. The natural terrain has hardly been altered to create the course, and playing golf here allows you to enjoy historic holes, classic scenery, and one of the finest rounds of golf that you can play in Scotland.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/the-most-famous-golf-courses-in-scotland-814217.html

Highlands, Islands and Festival Frolics: Summer in Scotland

Whilst much of England and Wales has been battered by torrential rains causing wave upon wave of flooding, Scotland - not normally renowned for great weather - has completely escaped the severe downpours and has been enjoying a notably drier summer than its Southern counterparts.

Each year between July and September, Edinburgh plays host the largest arts festival in the world, drawing crowds from all over the world to indulge in an eclectic collection of culture, music, films, books and comedy on show across various venues within the city. Commonly referred to as the Edinburgh Festival, the event it is in fact a collection of discrete festivals, which includes the Festival Fringe, the Edinburgh Film Festival and the Edinburgh Book Festival among many others. Despite the vast majority of performers at the Edinburgh Festival being amateur performers and students, some of today's biggest names on the UK comedy and theatre performance circuits attribute the Edinburgh Festival as helping them make their breakthrough into the public eye.

Scotland isn't just about festivals, however, and many visitors choose to combine a visit to the Edinburgh Festival with a Highlands and islands escape; and Scotland's rugged beauty, low population density and diverse wildlife make it very popular with outdoor enthusiasts.

Scotland's outdoor sports aren’t just good - they are world class. In September 2007, the UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships will come to the small town of Fort William in the Scottish Highlands, offering a fantastic opportunity to witness the big names and Olympic champions of the mountain biking world, as well as to see the rising stars of the future tearing up the mud in a beautiful setting. There will be about 750 competitors from around 50 nations; and if you fancy your chances, you can even have a go at riding the downhill and cross country competition courses yourself.

For those that like their nature a little more relaxed, Scotland's vast system of walking trails provide the ideal way to escape into the wilds and witness the beauty of the land for themselves. All lengths and difficulties of walking and mountaineering are catered for, from short strolls with the kids, to multi-day hikes into the wilderness.

Anglers and golfers flock to Scotland's clean rivers and famous courses, while water babies can take advantage of Scotland's vast coastline, with hundreds of inlets and islands perfect for exploring in a kayak. Such areas also offer a good chance of seeing Scotland's marine wildlife, which includes whales, dolphins and porpoises.

Getting north of the border is now easier than ever, with internal and international flights arriving at Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee, as well as ferries to Scotland operating from Northern Ireland, Orkney and the Shetland Islands and Zeebrugge in Belgium.

So, from the biggest culture festival in the world to stunning lochs, ancient glens and rugged mountains, Scotland offers the best of urban buzz and serene retreats - which probably explains why it receives over 18 million tourists a year.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/highlands-islands-and-festival-frolics-summer-in-scotland-190145.html

Adam Singleton is an online, freelance journalist and keen amateur photographer from Scotland. His interests include travelling and hiking.

Scotland’s Famous Castles

Scotland (Gaelic: Alba) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Scotland is known for its’ typical Scottish music and sports and has over 790 beautiful islands with startling coastlines. The Scottish castles are the primary attractions of Scotland and are a symbol of historical moments of this country. There are approximately 3000 Scottish Castles here and are spread in all parts of the country.

The first Castle that I’m going to discuss about is the Castle Fraser. This Scottish castle is located near Inverurie and lies in the Aberdeenshire area of Scotland. This gorgeous Castle served as a backdrop for some of the scenes that were shot in Bafta. The Castle was initially known as the Muchall-in-Mar and has a number of stories attached to it. The Castle Fraser is open for public viewing in the summer months only.

The Edinburgh Castle is the second most popular destination in Scotland. It is interesting to note that this Castle stands upon an extinct volcano, which had risen some 340 million years ago. The Edinburgh Castle has been the center of military activities. It can be seen against an interesting skyline, where it sits grandly atop the Castle Rock.

Another popular in Scotland is the Edzell Castle. David Lindsay started the construction of this Castle in the year 1520 and later on the Earl of Dalhousie, ultimately owned this castle. It is known for a rather unusual Wall Garden. There is also an association with symbolism with regards to the structure of the garden.

Bothwell Castle has the reputation of being the largest Stone Castles in the country. It is located on a very steep river bank and around shaped tower characterizes this magnificent castle. The Bothwell Castle was constructed by William Moray.

So, visit Scotland and catch a glimpse of these interesting Castles!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/destinations-articles/scotlands-famous-castles-756577.html

James Choice is webmaster of Victorian Style Houses Learn more about Castle Style Homes

A Wee Tour of Scotland

A Wee Tour of Scotland
This year I decided to go on a short tour of Scotland, taking in both the Lowlands and the Highlands. Because I had a limited time to take in the attractions I decided to start on the West Coast of Scotland. I saw a few famous castles and an abbey before going to view Glen Nevis, a wonderful and scenic moor at the foot of Ben Nevis, the tallest mountain in Scotland, just outside Inverness. I finished my trip with a visit to the last place in Britain where a civil war had been fought.
My trip started when I went to Dumfries and Galloway on the south coast, a county that borders on England. I already knew a little bit of the history of the area, and I wanted to see one of the historical buildings I had seen on the internet. This was Sweetheart Abbey.
New Abbey, also known as Sweetheart Abbey, lies eight miles south of Dumfries. It was founded in 1275 by Dervorguilla of Galloway, daughter of Alan, Lord of Galloway. She did so in memory of her husband John de Balliol.

His embalmed heart was buried alongside her in a casket of ivory and silver when she died. The monks at the Abbey renamed the Abbey in tribute to her. The couple's son, John, became king of Scotland. His reign was tragically short. The graves became lost over the years of depredations.

New Abbey is made of local sandstone and was founded as a daughter house to Dundrennan Abbey. The Novum Monasterium, New Monastery, became known as the New Abbey.
I left Dumfries and Galloway and travelled to just outside Ayr, in the county of Ayrshire, where I found Culzean Castle and Country park, which was given to the National Trust by the Kennedy family and covers a total of five hundred and sixty-three acres.

Robert Adams, his father and brothers were famous designers of the 18th and 19th centuries. Many of their buildings still exist in various parts of Britain and are protected as listed buildings. Culzean Castle is one of these. Robert Adams designed the Castle and it is regarded as his final masterpiece. The castle is associated with the turbulent history of the Clan Kennedy.

The castle contains an exquisite collection of pictures and 18th Century furniture alongside an armoury which was set up in the 19th century. The beautiful Oval Staircase is Robert Adam’s final masterpiece of interior design and there is no more fitting tribute to this wonderful architect. I would urge anyone visiting Scotland to consider coming to this impressive building.
President Eisenhower was given the freedom of Culzean after the Second World War and was granted his own apartment in the building for the rest of his life.
Moving up from the outskirts of Ayr, I soon came to Kilmarnock where I found the fully restored Dean Castle. This fine building was (not suprisingly) known as Kilmarnock castle until it was presented to the town of Kilmarnock by Lord Boyd in the 1960’s and renamed after the surrounding Dean Forest.
The castle originally belonged to the Soulis clan, who were descended from the French rulers of Britain, arriving after 1066. The castle then passed into the hands of the Boyd clan in the 16th century. The titular Lord Kilmarnock had the distinction of being beheaded in 1746 in London after taking the wrong side in the Jacobite rebellion.
The castle itself was largely ruined. The only full original building is the Dower House, a large residence built by the owners in the early 20th century. The house was badly needed, because the castle was a ruin. It has now been restored by a combination of subscription and public funding. The great hall of the castle has walls over three metres thick, there is a keep tower, a dungeon into which I descended and sat without a light for a few seconds, and a well in the courtyard. Along the wall of the castle is a wooden, enclosed walkway that would have been used by the mistress of the house in wet weather when needing a quiet stroll. This is called Lady’s Walk.
Still in Ayrshire, but crossing the water by ferry to do so, I went to visit Arran, leaving Ardrossan shore to get there. Brodick Castle is a red sandstone castle nestling quietly in a wooded area at the foot of Goatfell Mountain. Its stunning position allows a breathtaking view across Brodick Bay. The name Brodick originates from the Norse word meaning broad bay. Arran means peaked island in Gaelic.

The castle was built on the site of a Viking fortress. Its contents include quality silver, exquisite porcelain, paintings and sporting trophies.
The castle contains both a beautiful garden and the rest of the surrounding countryside has been designated as a country park. The woodland garden was started in 1923 and is now home to an internationally acclaimed rhododendron collection. You can see a restored Victorian garden during your visit through the Park and enjoy waterfalls, gorges, a nature room, wildlife garden and signposted trails.

Look out for the Ice House. This was where they used to pack ice in the winter in a hole in the ground and then store it in readiness for the summer. The Bavarian Summer House of 1845 is a hexagonal wooden structure decorated with elaborate arrangements of fir cones.

Leaving Ayrshire I travelled in my hired car via Loch Ness, where the famous monster is supposed to live, through Glencoe and up to Glen Nevis, which comes from the Gaelic Gleann Nibheis.

The magnificent Glen Nevis is home to one of the three highest waterfalls in Scotland, including Steall Falls, where the Allt Coire a'Mhail joins the Water of Nevis. Below the waterfall is a steeply walled and impressive gorge.
The Highland Council have ensured that for travellers into Glen Nevis, there is a car
park at the entrance to the path that runs along the gorge. There is a rather steep climb up the path, and it leads into the peaceful glen. A wire bridge leads across to the base of the waterfall. There is a sign at the car park that warns that the steep path is potentially lethal, but the council has eased access and reduced soil erosion with some of their building measures on the route. Soil erosion is an unfortunate effect of the many interested walkers to this area. But the measures taken by the Council have reduced this problem.

One of the reasons for the fame of this area is that its outstanding natural beauty means that it was chosen as one of the prime locations in the ‘Harry Potter,’ movies. I was not surprised to find that Glen Nevis was also used in principal filming for Braveheart with Mel Gibson, and Rob Roy, which starred Liam Neeson. The Fort William authorities are clearly forward-looking and know that encouraging the making of feature films will bring in revenue and show the beauty of the area, encouraging future tourism.
Now that I was in the Highlands, I decided to visit Inverness, which is further up from Fort William. Just outside Inverness is an area of historical importance called Culloden or Drumossie Moor. It is here that the Battle of Culloden happened on the 16th of April 1746. This is the last battle to be fought on mainland Britain. It was between the French-supported Jacobites and the British Hanoverians, and was brought about by the Jacobites attempt to restore the House of Stuart to the throne of Britain.

The Jacobites supported Charles Edward Stuart’s claim to the throne - he was known also as Bonnie Prince Charlie. The Duke of Cumberland, known as Butcher Cumberland, supported his father's cause. He was the younger son of the Hanoverian sovereign, King George II. He acquired the nickname of 'Butcher' because of his brutality during and after the battle, when his command was to leave no man standing.
Culloden boasts a Visitors Centre where you may view weapons and artefacts associated with the battle, an audio-visual program in a variety of languages, a shop and restaurant. There are facilities for visitors with disabilities. The last audio-visual show is half an hour before closing.
I enjoyed my visit to the Highlands and Lowlands of Scotland. With a limited time for my trip – five days in my case – I was not able to visit all the attractions I wanted to see, but that just means I will have to return soon to see what else this wonderful country has to offer.
All the attractions I went to can be seen in a new web directory. This is:
www.scotland-placestovisit.com
Scotland – Places to Visit has directory entries and pictures of Scottish attractions and activities. In addition it contains a whole series of articles about Scottish words, recipes, and places to eat. It is a great resource for the traveller, with every entry giving exact locations, addresses and contact numbers. Links are given to multimap and websites of the attractions involved. Try it, you won’t be disappointed.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/exotic-locations-articles/a-wee-tour-of-scotland-240716.html

I am a writer and poet based in the South of Scotland but with a desire to learn more about my own country. Using resources from the web I was able to do this.

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