A Trip Down the Garden Path

Well, here's a little run down of the rest of our trip around Scotland as promised. After a night's stay in the nicest bed and breakfast in Inverness (it had a little lounge room and big TV in our room and a library of books and DVDs, along with the use of a laptop to borrow if needed), we headed on to the famous battle site of Culloden.  It was here that many of the Scottish clans united under the leadership of Bonnie Prince Charlie, whose family had been ousted from the throne of Scotland in years previous to have it taken by English. The Culloden Centre is a museum of information, film re-enactments, audio displays and authentic pieces from the battle (bullets, weapons, clothing, even buttons that had been found in the soil of the battle field many years afterwards). A truly thorough account of the period in Scottish history from start to end.  It tells both sides of the story, that of the Jacobites (the clans and Prince Charles, grandson of previous ruler James IV), and the British, who had instigated a take over of the throne for fears of Jame's style of absolute ruling being too pro-Catholic.  When you think about it (and this comes from all my watching of The Tudors, Elizabeth and Elizabeth: Golden Age), religion has caused so much conflict over the duration of history, and England in particular had gone through so many religious reformations: "We're Catholics...Now we have our own church - The Church of England...Now we're all Catholics again....Church of England..." I think I would have been scared to believe in anything back then.  Anyway, Bonnie Prince Charlie enlisted the support of the Highland Clans and staged a take over of the country, and he was successful in some areas for a time.  But as resources waned, and help from France did not arrive, his men faced the British (led by his Cousin or a relative along those lines - can you believe it?) over the field at Culloden, and basically it was a bloodbath that lasted less than an hour.  The British triumphed and the clansmen were either killed or fled.  Following this, the wearing of tartan was forbidden and those who fought for or supported the rebels were hunted down.

It was really a moving experience to stand there and imagine the two forces facing each other across the battlefield, that probably doesn't look to different today than it did at the time 350 years ago: knee-length grass bent over in the breeze, gnarled and stunted trees sparse across the vastness, the natural hollows and rises in the land and the wind whistling across the barren field. It was a really powerful experience, you could almost picture the battle unfolding before you and hear the cries of the men carried on the wind on this now  lonely and empty field. It certainly commands a degree of reverence and respect. Have a look below:




Clansmen of the same name who died in the battle were buried together.

This location was certainly worth the visit, such an important place in Scottish history.

From here we headed through Aberdeen, stopping to taste some delicious shortbread and viewing the factory along the way. Glen even stopped in at The Glen Moray Whisky Distillery, and bought a little bottle (we'll probably end up using it in our cooking). He had a chuckle to himself when the man in line in front of him enthusiastically requested to purchase the souvenir wallet and cap. Clearly he was an avid fan of the whisky and we hadn't even heard of it.

From here, on to Edinburgh. We visited the Edinburgh Castle, which again, told us much about the historical significance of the many people who lived there.  We got to see the Scottish crown jewels (called The Honours of Scotland and locked away for years in a chest (I guess since royalty no longer resided in Scotland), forgotten about, and only to be found again in the last century then put on display for the public to see) and we also saw The Stone of Destiny, still used in the coronation of kings and queens to this day. We stood in the tiny room where Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to her son and we looked down on to the small animal graveyard, where military mascots and animals are still buried to this day. So much to do and see!



Front of Edinburgh, where they hold the Tattoo every year.







View of Edinburgh city.

 


View of Edinburgh city.

 

Stained glass commemorating William Wallace

 

This is a door from one of the jail cells that has names and pictures carved into it by the prisoners - I was fascinated  by it.



I met and fell in love the beautiful products of the brand Ness, sold in all sorts of places over the country. Beautiful bags, scarves, clothes and accessories in a modern, bright and cheery woollen tartan (as you can see in the picture  below). I couldn't resist getting a vibrant little purse and a bright woollen vest.  Maybe I will model it on here in an upcoming post - ha ha)

Pretty, pretty!