castles

It’s pretty hard to come up with my favourite castles in Scotland as there are so many from which to choose. Sometimes it’s the location of the castle that’s the attraction as opposed to the interior of the castle. However as I like getting off the beaten track my choice of castles reflects this. Tantallon Castle, East Lothian Tantallon Castle, East Lothian Tantallon Castle lies 3 miles east of North Berwick in East Lothian. around 20 miles east of Edinburgh. The Castle was built in the 14th century as a fortress. We visited Tantallon Castle for the first time a couple of weeks ago. ... Read Full Story

The morning of 12 July 1886 brought the sad news to the surprised citizens of small Bavarian village Berg. From the waters of lake Starnberg was taken the body of the man recognised as king Ludwig II of Bavaria. It was hard to believe into the accident, as just three days before the king was forced to abdicate after being verdicted 'insane' by the medics in the presence of the Royal Court. Was he really 'Mad', or everything was just a plot by unwilling kings opponents, we cannot say today. But we know for sure, that this king had the passion of buildings. Below ... Read Full Story

If you're ever in Ayrshire in Scotland, make sure you have a stop of at the village of Dunure . It's a great little place just a ten to fifteen minute drive south of Ayr. I must confess that there's not really much to it. Dunure is a traditional fishing village and it's current form dates back to the early 1800s. It has a small, stone walled harbour (with three swans in residence who aren't afraid to have a swim out to sea), a few little streets, some houses (as you would expect) and a nice little Inn called.... the Dunure Inn of course! ... Read Full Story

Donegal Castle c. 1890 - 1900 Located in the very center of Donegal town in County Donegal, Donegal Castle — or O’Donnell’s Castle — underwent extensive restorations in the late 1990s, bringing it back from the near ruin in which it had sat for the greater part of the past two centuries. It now makes a wonderful attraction for tourists who don’t mind traveling a little out of their way in order to see the truly unique— as so many if Ireland’s castles are. Donegal Castle was built at the start of the sixteenth century by the O’Donnell family chieftain . The O’Donnells had ... Read Full Story

When we think of Medieval Castles there is a dark a secretive feeling that we feel. A Medieval Castle was a castle, but it was also a place with a history, a place that had secrets and secret passages. It was a place where tremendous battles were fought to the death by knights. Let’s Take a [...] Read Full Story