Stirling Weekend Breaks And A Number Of Superb Places You Must See
The city of Stirling has featured strongly in the history of Scotland, especially during crucial moments. The city and surrounding area has a fantastic selection of superb tourist attractions and a mass of of photo opportunities. In the article below I provide information about 3 places to visit in Stirling; Argyll’s Lodging, Stirling Castle and Stirling Old Town Jail:
Stirling Castle
Set two hundred and fifty feet above the city of Stirling, and surrounded on 3 sides by steep cliffs is Stirling Castle. Stirling Castle is very important in Scotland’s history, there have been many coronations within the castle, including Mary Queen of Scots’ in 1543. Stirling Castle was also witness to a violent murder in 1452. The eighth Earl of Douglas was victim to James II in 1452. The castle is the home of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, even though they are, sadly no longer garrisoned at the castle. However, the regimental museum of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, is situated in the castle.
Stirling Old Town Jail
The Stirling Old Town Jail we see today is not the original jail, for 400 years, Stirling’s prisoners were secured in the Old Tollbooth Jail. This jail was awfully overcrowded, and smelled dreadful, with twenty four prisoners to each cell, and zero sanitary facilities. The Tollbooth jail was condemned, because of the fearful living conditions there, and in 1847 the new jail opened. Although the jail was classed as a custodial prison, from 1888 to 1935, it was also the only military prison in Scotland. Today the Stirling Old Town Jail is a visitor attraction, and was only restored in the 1990′s. As well as guided tours, there is a glass paneled elevator that rises to a viewing platform at the top of the jail. From this superb spot you can gaze out across the Forth Valley, and enjoy the spectacular view of the Highland mountains.
Argyll’s Lodging
Argyll’s Lodging can be found on Castle Wynd, located in the center of Stirling and is Scotland’s best existing renaissance house. The house was constructed around 1630, by Sir William Alexander, founder of Nova Scotia and Viscount Canada. Sir William Alexander who became Secretary of State for Scotland, and was then appointed the 1st Earl of Stirling. Argyll’s Lodging became the property of the Argyll family on his death and was added to by the ninth Earl in 1666. The rooms which include the dining room, bed chamber, drawing room and laigh hall, have all been expertly furnished and restored, as they would have been when the 9th Earl lived there, circa 1680.
If you are planning to have a holiday in Stirling you will discover a large amount of online Stirling hotels and guest houses and you will find a massive range at http://stirling.hotelreservationhelper.com/
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Perth Vacations And Three Magnificent Places You Must See
The ‘Fair City’ of Perth in Scotland a former royal burgh stands at the head of the Tay estuary. Inbetween the 12th and 15th centuries the city competed with Dunfermline for the title of being the capital of the country. In the article below I discuss three places to visit in Perth, Scotland; Elcho Castle, Scone Palace and Huntingtower Castle:
Scone Palace
These days, home of the Earls of Mansfield is Scone Palace, and a popular attraction to visitors from across the world. The palace is an important part of Scotland’s history, as the Scottish kings were once crowned there. In 1306, Robert the Bruce was crowned at Scone Palace, as was Charles II when he took possession of the Scottish Crown in 1651. There is a beautiful and mysterious feel to the palace, which is justifiably so.Once upon a time the site acted as an important meeting place of the Picts and there was also an early Christian church on the site.
Elcho Castle
Lying about three miles from Perth, with awe inspiring views across the River Tay, is Elcho Castle. Elcho Castle is one of the finest examples of 16th century architecture in Scotland today. The Wemyss family commissioned the erection of the castle in the 1570′s. The land had belonged to the family since 1468, when it was consigned to them by King James III. In 1633, the leader of the family was given the titles of Earl of Wemyss and Lord Elcho. Elcho Castle and it’s lands remained in possession of the Wemyss family until 1929. It was then, the 11th Earl of Wemyss, gave the castle to Scotland. The castle has recently been renovated and is now in the care of Historic Scotland.
Huntingtower Castle
Situated just west of Perth is Huntingtower Castle, a medieval pile. Even though the castle is medieval in origin, it has been significantly redeveloped throughout the majoprity of it’s history. The Ruthven family were occupiers of the castle and lands from the 12th to 17th century. During this time the castle consisted of two separate towers, built 3 meters apart. When the Murray family took possession, later on in the 1600′s, they decided to merge the two towers, making the house appear more like a ordinary country manor house. The bridging work between the two towers is still clearly noticeable today, both outside and in.
If you are planning to have a vacation in Perth you will find plenty of online Perth hotels and guest houses and you will discover a broad range at http://www.perthhotelscotland.com/
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Scottish Vacations And Three Worthy Places To Visit Close To Dundee
As far back as the time of the Picts there has been a settlement on the site of Dundee. Dundee, the 4th largest city in the whole country, has long been associated with trade and commerce. The 3 main industries, in the city, were “jam, jute and journalism”. Even though the city of Dundee could be described as a post-industrial city it has an economy which is mixed and it still has a large proportion of its population employed in the manufacturing industry (compared to the rest of Scotland), about thirteen and a half percent. Over recent years tourism has begun to become a rather important element of the local economy and there are an increasing number of guest houses and hotels providing Dundee bed and breakfast accommodation and in the following text I discuss the reader to three visitor attractions in Dundee; Verdant Works, Discover Point Visitor Centre and Sensation Science Centre:
The Discover Point Visitor Centre
Discovery Point is a highly interesting and award-winning Dundee tourist attraction which explains the tale of one of the most adventurous voyages of exploration in history, the tale of the world famous Antarctic explorer, Captain Robert Falcon Scott, and the famous ship used, the RRS Discovery. On the 21st of March, 1901, the Discovery was launched from the Panmure Shipyard, Dundee. Captain Scott and his crew set sail for Antarctica on August the 6th 1901, reaching there in January nineteen hundred and two. The RRS Discovery is a major part of the centre having been fully renovated from the top to the bottom. Steep stairs and narrow passageways can create problems for some, fortunately, you will discover there is an audio visual presentation on the dockside.
The Sensation Science Centre
If you are searching for an attraction that will provide entertainment for all the family, then Dundee’s Sensation Science Centre is the perfect solution. Sensation Dundee is the only UK science centre that focuses on the body’s five senses. You can discover the miracles of sciences through use of the body’s senses with the aid of over 80 interactive exhibits. Visitors will also discover live scientific experiments and on the spot demonstrations, which demonstrate how everyday household ingredients can be utilised to incredible effect. Budding surgeons are able to have an attempt at keyhole surgery. Sensation brings science to life in many of incredibly interesting ways.
The Verdant Works
Verdant Works was, in the past, a working jute mill. At it’s height, in the 1860′s and 1870′s, the jute industry in Dundee employed around fifty thousand people in over 60 factories spread across Dundee. Today, Verdant Works brings the industry to life, by utilising a range of displays including, interactive computers, film shows and original machinery. This remarkable museum once housed three incredibly large steam engines which powered 70 looms and nearly 3 thousand spindles. There was also a workforce of five hundred workers, preparing and spinning jute for it to be weaved across the road in a different factory. Restoration of the building commenced in nineteen ninety two and it first opened to the public the 16th of September nineteen ninety six.
If you are thinking about a city vacation in Dundee you will find a large amount of online hotels and guest houses offering Dundee bed and breakfast. You will discover a massive selection of Dundee hotels and guest houses at http://dundee.hotelreservationhelper.com/
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