FYVIE CASTLE AND ONE LAST LOOK AT CULLEN

FYVIE CASTLE

In the rolling countryside of Aberdeenshire, Fyvie Castle is one of the largest and most magnnificent castles in Scotland. There is a massive tower house with very long wings, and is adorned with turrets, dormer windows, carved finials and gables.

It was built in 1214. The Gordons owned in 1733, and the Leith family in 1889. In 1982 it was acquired by the National Trust for Scotland. Lady Leith was an American from St. Louis Missouri. She met her husband when he travelled to San Francisco. They married, and he made his fortune in the steel industry, near Chicago. 

PRINCE CHARLES CELEBRATED HIS 60TH BIRTHDAY AT THIS CASTLE. 

The first Earl of Dunfermline, allegedly locked his first wife in the tower room and starved her to death. She could not  produce a male heir. She now haunts the castle, and even when we visited, there had been sightings very recently. The Earl remarried.   Her ghost carved her name on the windowsill of the newlyweds' bedroom, the night they were married, D LILLIES DRUMMOND is carved on the windowsill. 

We picked fresh rasberries in the garden.

In the small town of Turriff near the Castle we ate at the Muldrum House restaurant.

The Queen will be here to celebrate the 150th year of the Turriff games next week. 

We loved this area of Scotland......

PORTSOY

THE BANFF HARBOR

THE CAIRNGORNS 

And Cullen........

A sand sculpture on the beach....

and footprints of Van Gogh........

NEXT STOP - EDINBURGH.......

VISITING THE CAIRNGORMS,GLENLIVET, AND PITMEDDEN GARDENS

THE CAIRNGORMS

On the top of the mountain, you are unable to leave the viewing station, unless a walking tour has been booked. 

At the top, meeting a friend.

The highest mountain massif in the British Isles comprises a maginificent range of peaks, wild lochs and ancient forests, as well as bird sanctuaries and nature reserves. This region is of exceptional scenery and habitats that have not been divided by roads. The heartland remains open only to those who travel by foot or on skis. 

Taking the funicular up to the top. A 1,500 foot mountain railway ascent for views from the 3,598 feet Top Station. 

LOCH MORLICH - Surrounded by the wonderful Caledonian pines of Rothiemurchus Forest, Loch Morlich is a circle of tranquil water at the base of the Cairngorms. 

New friends have arrived, and we take the Cairngorm Mountain Railway to the top. We had lunch at the Ptarmigan restaurant on the top. 

The ride down was magnificant!!

GLENLIVET ESTATES

At one time Glenlivet was one of the most isolated inland glens in Scotland making it a haven for illicit whisky distilling and smuggling. 

One of the first distilleries to come out of hiding and be legalized in 1824 , the Glenlivet has been at the forefront of the industry ever since. 

Tasting is the best part!!

RIVER SPEY

Scotland's finest salmon river and birthplace of whisky, the Spey is a river of dark pools and fast rapids. it winds through a rich variet of landscapes: moorland, forest, pasture and grainfield. Hence the name of the whisky from this area - Speyside malts....

Now it's time for the tasting.

PITMEDDEN ESTATE

The founders' initials in 1675.

This is one of the great formal gardens of Scotland. Founded in 1675 by Sir Alexander Seton and his wife, Dame Margaret Lauder, the garden was revived in th 1950's by the National Trust for Scotland.

French lessons - these lines of yews were planted in the 1950's. George Barron, the head gardener, travelled to Versailles to learn techniques of formal gardening including how to trim the trees into the pyramid shapes that are present today.

Hanging out with friends in the garden.

Seton's designed landscape was laid out in the mid-1600's, a series of large rectangular enclosed parks, fields and woodlands with the house and garden at its center. By the 19th century fashions were shifting. Formal avenues gave way to more naturalistic curving pathways or "pleasure walks' and the landscape around the house was transformed into tree-studded parkland. 

ADOPTING A MOTTO FOR THE TRIP?

THE PICTURESQUE VILLAGES ON THE NORTH EASTERN ATLANTIC COAST AROUND CULLEN

 WONDERFUL VILLAGES ALONG THE MORAY COASTAL TRAIL

With 50 miles of marvelous landscapes from rugged cliffs, caves and sheltered coves to fisher town harbours and sweeping stretches of sand, Moray has a coastline alive with wildlife that would be the envy of many other regions in the world.  

PORTSOY - a beautiful harbour with a lovely beach. The harbour was built in 1750, and has an annual regatta the last weekend of June.

Beautiful Harbour.

Water is very cold to swim.

LOSSIEMOUTH is another stop on the coastal trail.

We stopped and had lunch in the harbour, and watched the beach activities.

Lossiemouth has beautiful dunes.

Enjoying a cone before getting in the water. 

Duff House is a magnificent Georgian mansion designed by William Adam. Standing in extensive parkland. Today it houses a beautiful collection of paintings and furniture on loan from National Galleries of Scotland.

The permanent collection of paintings and furniture include masterpieces by El Greco,Raeburn,Gainsborough and Chippendale.

BANFF

We explored the small town of Banff. where Duff House is located. 

Town center. 

Stone houses on the High street. 

Peeking in a doorway.

ELGIN

The center of local government in the Moray district and an ancient royal burg, the cathedral city of Elgin is on the Lossie River. The city's medieval plan has been retained, with "wynds" and "pends" connecting the main artery with other streets. 

The cathedral was founded in 1224 but destroyed in 1390 by the "wolf of Badenoch", the natural son of Robert II. 

After its destruction, the citizens of Elgin rebuild their beloved cathedral and turned it into one of the most attractive and graceful buildings in Scotland. 

A view from the top of the tower. 

When the central tower collapsed in 1711 the cathedral was allowed to fall into decay. 

Another view of the CAIRNGORMS.......

Sadly it is time to say goodbye to Katherine and Karen......but wait, other guests are arriving!!!