The Cairngorms National Park

Have had the opportunity this summer to take friends to various places in the Cairngorms National Park that I am planning to show you next year. The Cairngorms National Park is the largest park in the UK and was established 11 years ago making it the youngest park in the UK. The Cairngorm Park Authority has a wealth of information on the nature and wildlife, history and heritage and how to explore it. Some very famous wildlife is found here including the Capercaillie the largest member of the grouse family as well as the only herd of Reindeer in Scotland. The Reindeer happily browse all summer on the lichen way up the mountains and in winter travel around the UK pulling Santa's Sleigh. It is planned that we will visit the paddock's and see some of the Reindeer Herd. Cairngorm Reindeer Herd It is also planned to visit the RSPB Osprey centre at Boat of Garten where we should be in time to see next years eggs hatch. EJ and Odin the Boat of Garten Ospreys have had a very successful year with 3 chicks fledging. More information about these beautiful birds at: RSPB Loch Garten There are excellent views of the Cairngorm Mountains on the journey from Loch Garten to Cairngorm Mountain. I love the short 10 minute journey in the Funicular up Cairngorm. It is always interesting whatever the weather and I have been many times in winter when I am fighting for position with the skiers and snowboarders. However my most recent visit was on one of the hottest days in the year with the temperature in the car park at 25 C and up the mountain a still very warm 22 C. The only time I have been standing outside taking photos wearing a short sleeved tee shirt!!!

2 of the Osprey chicks at the nest waiting for food.

Packhorse bridge, Carrbridge with youngster!

Funicular at the mid point

Loch Morlich is on the left

Callanish (Calanais - gaelic) Stones, Isle of Lewis

Calanaish from the avenue

For the first time, Clan MacDuff tours are visiting the Isles of Lewis and Harris in the Outer Hebrides. This is the largest island in Scotland and is confusingly called Lewis in the north and Harris in the south. This journey transports us back in time, to Neolithic Scotland somewhere around 5000 years ago! From the prehistory of the Calanais Stones we move forward in time to the Carloway Broch built around 2000 years ago. We will also cover aspects of life for crofting families at the time of the Clearances and through to life today.

Central Stone and chambered Cairn

I am fascinated by the prehistory of Scotland and on previous tours we have visited  Skara Brae (stone village) and the Ring of Brodgar and Standing Stones of Stenness on Orkney and Jarslhof (prehistoric and Norse settlement) on Shetland. There are archaeological digs each year on Orkney in an area called the Ness of Brodgar between the Standing Stones of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar which is uncovering many more facinating facts about our ancient ancestors. There is also a dig taking place on the Orcadian island of Westrary where in 2009 they discovered the first small stone statue of a human nicknamed the Westray Wife, currently on display in a small museum on the island. It is great that more information is still being discovered about our prehistory.  Finding of the Westray Wife  Heart of Neolithic Orkney

Central stone surrouned by circle

The main monument at Calanais is extraordinary – a cross-shaped setting of stones, centred on a circle of tall stones. At its heart stands a solitary monolith 4.8m high. Lines of smaller stones radiate from the circle to east, west and south. From the north runs an avenue 83m long, formed by two lines of stones that narrow as they approach the circle. Within the circle is a chambered tomb. The stones are all Lewisian Gneiss. How were the stones cut from the mountains? How were they moved to this site? Why here? These are all questions that are still awaiting definitive answers, but the stones are majestic and mysterious.

Numerous other ritual sites lie within a few kilometres. These are mainly more modest rings of standing stones, or single monoliths. The most impressive – Cnoc Ceann a’ Ghàrraidh and Cnoc Fhillibhir Bheag – lie just over a kilometre SE of the main Calanais ring, and originally consisted of rings of stones at least eight in number.

Nearby Circle

Another nearby circle

Archaeological excavation in the 1980s proved that the main circle was erected 4,500–5,000 years ago, and the chambered tomb a few generations later. Around 3000 BC the climate in the Outer Hebrides was warmer than it is today and the sea-level lower. Salmon ran in the rivers, deer, sheep and cattle grazed the surrounding hills, and barley grew on the broad ridge where Calanais stands. A cult or religion seems then to have swept through the British Isles, involving the building of large earthen enclosures (henge monuments), and impressive circles of timber or stone. Callanish Visitors Centre

Falkirk Wheel Revisited

A second chance to visit the Falkirk Wheel by popular demand.  I have now visited several times and am looking forward to joining you next year. The Falkirk Wheel is unique. Not only is it the first boat lift of its type anywhere, but its combination of engineering ingenuity and architectural imagination creates both an eye catching working sculpture and Scotland's most unusual tourist attraction. It is a very important canal structure whose computer controlled machinery gracefully raises or lowers 500 tonnes of boats and water the 25 metre difference between two canals appears complex; but is deceptively simple. As you experience the journey through a canal tunnel and across an aqueduct - before seeming to drop off the end as your boat is lowered by the Wheel - you will be enjoying the most memorable yet gentle of white knuckle rides.

The Millenium Link Project has refurbished two major canals; the 61 km long Forth and Clyde and the Union Canal, originally 51 km. They are now connected by the Falkirk Wheel where the Union Canal has been lengthened by 2 km. The Forth and Clyde is Scotland's oldest canal and runs from Bowling on the Clyde to Grangemouth on the Firth of Forth which was completed in 1790 and created the World's first sea to sea ship canal. The Union Canal, known as a contour canal, as there are no locks along its main length was completed in 1822. The 2 canals were linked by a flight of 11 locks. The Forth and Clyde canal was closed in 1963 and the Union in 1965. The restoration of the canals has involved the repair or reconstruction work on many of its 500 structures - including bridges, locks and acqueducts. It has been an amazing project. It has become a must see visitor attraction in Scotland ranking just behind Edinburgh Castle!