This is my final post about Scotland. It is an amazing country! The Scots are friendly, the local cuisine is outstanding and the sights are awe-inspiring. This country now holds a piece of my heart!
Anyone who has traveled abroad knows the U.S. is just a little kid compared to other parts of the world. The United States of America was founded in 1776. Scotland on the other-hand was founded in 843 AD. The structure of the government in the U.S., from it’s inception, is a republic. We have three branches of government: Executive, Legislative and Judicial. Scotland was originally ruled by Kings and Queens. Today it’s part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and subject to the constitutional monarchy and commonwealth realm of the U.K.
There were over 2,000 castles in Scotland, although many are only known through historical records. The castles have close ties to the Clans of Scotland and the Monarchy. They are monuments to the rich history of the ancient past. A trip to Scotland is not complete unless one or more castles are included in your itinerary.
Castle Stalker is a wee castle in an inlet off of Loch Linnhe. The castle dates back to medieval times. The name "Stalker" originates from the Gaelic “Stalcaire” which means hunter or falconer.
Kilchurn Castle lies on a rocky peninsula at the northeast end of Loch Awe in Argyle and Butte, Scotland. It was built by the Campbell Clan of Glennorchy in the 15 century.
Eilean Donan Castle, in the western Highlands, is one of Scotland’s most famous Castles. It is a popular spot for photographers and frequently appears in movies and television. This image was taken in the morning at ground level during low tide. The next image was taken during a rainy sunset shoot from high up on a hill.
Ruthven Castle or Barracks is located near Kingussie in the Highlands. It consists of the ruins of a large government barracks built on the site of a much older castle. This was a fun shot to take and took several tries. I used a shutter speed of 30 seconds while Scottish guide, Paul Tomkins, drove our vehicle up and down the curvy road to create the light trails. I prefer this image with headlights better than images with the red taillights.