Wishing you an amazing 2023. I have prepared this short video clip with highlights of last year’s photos. It was fun!
I also want to thank you for all your support last year. I look forward to sharing more Scottish Pearls in this brand new year.
Cheers🥂
© The Scottish Pearl 2023
‘Tis the season! Wishing you a Merry Christmas from Edinburgh!
Yesterday I took a stroll through Christmas Edinburgh.
The Dome on George street looked grand. It always delivers this time of year.
However, other streets were also delightfully festive.
I was avoiding Princes Street gardens because of the crowds but then yesterday I got lucky. The Christmas market was not as packed, so I ventured in for a few mins. It was all sparkles.
It was worth it.
The Ross fountain looked amazing.
Then I strolled through St Andrews Square which ended my wee Christmas walk.
Hope you have a very Merry Christmas 🎄
© The Scottish Pearl 2022
I was reminiscing as I waded through old photos. I loved my St Abb pics and decided to write a post to share that experience with you.
This hike actually started in Coldingham Bay in the Scottish Borders. Our destination was St Abbs Head as shown in the above maps.
When we arrived at Coldingham we quickly passed the beach and headed across the dunes to St Abbs harbour.
We made a short stop at the village. The village was originally known as Coldingham Shore, the name St Abbs was adopted in the 1890s. The new name was derived from St Abbs Head, a rocky projection located to the north of the village which is where we were heading.
The village is a small picturesque fishing village which is still active today.
As we stopped we took in the views from the lookout point. The gulls were in full form. It was such a invigorating view.
After that stop we continued journey to St Anbs Head, periodically stopping to take in the coastal views
The landscape was breathtaking.
The sheet openness and coastal undulation of the land surrounding us was mesmerizing.
We finally go there. It was awesome.
When seeing a place like this you are reminded how small we all are in the grand scheme of things. What a magnificent view. In fact views.
We stopped for lunch and then slowly made our way back but this time we spent time at the beach.
It was a perfect way to end the day
© The Scottish Pearl 2022
Up early on a November Saturday morning with a friend to explore Dunbar. That’s right Dunbar. I had not appreciated the drive from Edinburgh before. It was so picturesque even for a November morning. Enroute, we saw Tantallon Castle in the distance and decided to stop 😆 We were living large 😆
We were really lucky; we were the first visitors of the day and had the grounds to ourselves. Perfect.
The castle was more impressive than I had imagined it. It was in a commanding position. The waves added to the drama of the location. It was stunning with its raw simplicity.
The Castle dates back to the 1300s. The outer wall was surrounded by an expansive area of grass; a service area where supplies were brought into the castle. Under the morning light and with the sound of the waves, it felt like s a place for quiet contemplation. Although there were several storyboards sharing the history of the castle, I did a quick search to learn more. I found an excellent write-up on the undiscovered Scotland site.
Due to all the rain, we have had, entrance into the castle structure was not allowed. As a result, we had to admire it from a distance. On this morning, the waves were high and the force as they hit the banks was quite extraordinary. It is a wonder how any of the castle structures were still standing.
It was so good to breathe the morning air.
The view of Bass rock was a wonderful sight. I wished I could have done a better job in capturing what I was seeing but hopefully I have captured its essence. It was a great start to the day.
After our stroll around the castle, my friend suggested breakfast at the Drift Coffeehouse. What a great suggestion that was! Great service, good food and panoramic views in a unique setting.
We finally made it to Dunbar and the first stop was the harbour.
The wind made its presence known. There was no doubt what time of year it was. November! At the same time, we were on the coast so it was to be expected. We were well-wrapped. We chose a small alley to get to the water.
When we arrived I was surprised by what I saw. It was so quiet and so few boats. It is usually a hive of activity but not on this day. I had not seen the harbour so inactive before. It had a very different feel.
Boats and people were few but the waves were plentiful! We had a quick look at the memorial and took in the view of what was left of Dunbar castle, then made our way to the beach.
I had a “thing” about seeing Dunbar beach mainly because I have not been there before and secondly a friend told me that sometimes they train horses at that location. I have had an itch to go there ever since. We drove to the John Muir Country Park as the locals advised that it was a nice walk and had good access to the beach.
We were taken by the open landscape and the share size of the beach. The tide was low which added to the sense of scale.
Of course, we had to see Belhaven Bridge, sometimes called “The Bridge To Nowhere”. As the tide was low, it did not have the same impact or effect but it was good to see nonetheless.
We both agreed we need to return in the Spring or Summer. After all, it would be nice to see horses 😆
What a great way to spend the morning!
© The Scottish Pearl 2022
Our next destination was Calanais Standing stones on the Isle of Lewis. I was very curious about these stones. They dated back thousands of years with very little knowledge about the reason for their exitance.
We continued our journey along the coast of Lewis. As if by request, our surroundings were moody, enchanting and mysterious. It was fitting for the location we were going to.
Then suddenly we saw them.
The Calanais Standing Stones are an extraordinary cross-shaped setting of stones erected 5,000 years ago. They predate England’s famous Stonehenge monument, and were an important place for ritual activity for at least 2,000 years. We don’t know why the standing stones at Calanais were erected, but our best guess is that it was a kind of astronomical observatory
Historic Environment Scotland
How majestic they looked. This Neolithic Monument really made me wonder about its potential meaning. I am sure the same holds true for all those who visit.
I found more about its history on the Calanais Standing Stones site. I was intrigued that similar stones can be found erected in Western Scotland and Orkney.
A local did share that the stones are often referred to as “giants” with their own personalities. Love that!
Well I have seen Outlander and so I also gently rubbed the stones but nothing happened 😆
© The Scottish Pearl 2022
It’s November 30th! St Andrew’s Day!
It’s Andrew’s day, the day to celebrate everything Scottish. I may be biased but I don’t think we get the same profile as St. Patrick’s Day and that’s not to take away from our Irish Celtic cousins.
So I thought I’d share my favourite Scottish things to add to our Bonnie profile to celebrate St Andrew’s day!
Come on. Hills, mountains, beaches, lochs and more.
Over 3000 to explore.
Lots of it.
Land of the tartans and tweed.
Yep, the unicorn really is the official national animal of Scotland. So cool.
To some, it is a weed but in Scotland, it is so much more. The thistle represents overcoming adversity and difficult situations. It’s a symbol of resilience. In Celtic regions, the thistle represents devotion, bravery, determination, and strength.
Having a wee dram is very Scottish. It is also a national export.
© The Scottish Pearl 2022
