Friday, July 27, 2007

I’m The King of the Castle!

A close friend of mine is obsessed with history and as such, he always wanted to go castle hopping in Scotland.  So that’s just what we did for our vacation this summer.

Scotland is home to hundreds of amazing and beautiful castles.  So many in fact, I recently read in the travel column of my local newspaper that tourism workers worry about the ABC syndrome.  Never heard of the ABC syndrome?  Well, that’s when visitors descend from the tour bus and begin to mutter ‘Another Bloody Castle’.  I can definitely attest that my travel partner and I never experienced the dreaded syndrome!

Scotland is very unique when it comes to furnished stately homes that are available for tour.  It all stems from the days when feudal owners found that they could not afford to the upkeep on their monstrous homes; so instead, they turned the property over to the National Trust of Scotland (the body that is in charge of the country’s culture).  In many of these cases, the furniture remained in the castle so now visitors are able to see just how posh these people lived.

Here are a few of our favorite castles that we visited.  If you are planning your own trip to Scotland, you may want to add these to your itinerary.

  • Dunnottar - Dunnottar Castle sits on a large rock 160 feet above the sea.  It is impressive and you can certainly understand how it would have been difficult to penetrate.  Amazingly, the site on which Dunnottar Castle sits has been inhabited since the Pictish times (5000 BC to 700 AD), although no one knows exactly when.  Give yourself at least two hours to walk to and from the Castle and to enjoy the many different buildings.

  • Traquair – Traquair is Scotland’s oldest inhabited home, a thatched hut built in 950.  History suggests that Alexander I stayed there in 1107, so by that time, it had been modified to be suitable for a king.  It has been in the family of the current residents since 1491!  The house has fascinating exhibits in each room, dating primarily from the 18th and 19th centuries.

  • Glamis Castle – Many people visit the Glamis Castle’s claim to fame is as the childhood home of her majesty Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother.  The history of this castle is quite bloody, yet if you are a fan of Victorian furniture and figurines, you’ll definitely want to visit.  The castle’s notable history, the stunning interior and the beautiful gardens surrounding this impressive structure will leave a lasting impression.

  • Abbotsford House – In Melrose Scotland, you will find Abbotsford House completed in 1824 and home of writer Sir Walter Scott.  The style of the home is Scottish Baronial and it was first opened to the public in 1833, only five months after Sir Walter’s Death.  You’ll enjoy countless historic relics, weapons and armor.  The library with its carved cassette ceiling is home to 9,000 rare volumes.

I hope you get a chance to visit some of these amazing castles dotting the countryside of Scotland.  Why not check out Virgin Vacation’s great deals on travel to Scotland and have your own castle hoping adventure!

Posted by Mackenzie on 07/27 at 12:17 PM
Travel Tips • Permalink
Page 1 of 1 pages