Travel and Vacation Abodes: Scotland

Lochbay Boathouse is an idyllic vacation abode situated on the Waternish peninsula, in the northwest of Skye in Scotland. The Skye or Isle of Skye is the largest and most northerly island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The Lochbay boathouse has a character of its own, providing privacy and quiet to its guests as it sits alone at the foot of a grassy cliff with a semicircular front lawn projecting into Loch Bay and a small harbor on its northwest side. This quaint and charming house was originally built in the early 19^th century as a boathouse with thick walls made from local stone but was converted in the early ‘70s into a house by the singer Donovan. Presently, this spacious and lovely house is equipped with modern appliances and amenities that will make the stay of guests comfortable and relaxing but is still filled with antique and traditional furniture from the early 1900s and with numerous paintings inspired by Scotland’s rugged west coast. The splendid location of the house treats its guests to very panoramic views of nature and the beauty of the place, south eastwards one can see the village of Stein, south westwards across Loch Bay, and north westwards the sea with islands of Isay and Mingay in the foreground and the distant mountains of North Uist beyond. And from the windows and garden one can see seals, otters, dolphins, herons and eagles that live nearby.

George Harrison of The Beatles visiting Donovan at the Boathouse in 1972

Photos: LochBayBoathouse

Edinburgh Castle is Scotland’s most famous castle, it towers over the city and is atop Castle Rock. The castle is 400 feet above sea level and draws approximately one million visitors every year. Edinburgh Castle is a very popular tourist destination because of its rich history, its magnificent views, and its interesting architectural structure that would delight any individual. Even children will have fun exploring its interiors and will be amazed at its military garrison and cannons. Visitors of the castle are treated to magnificent views from every point whether you are on the lowest levels or in the highest levels of the castle a breathtaking view is right in front of you. From the north you can see the mountains of The Kingdom of Fife and below you is the famous Princes Gardens. The Edinburgh Castle which was once the royal residence of Scottish Kings has a very interesting building history, the oldest building in the castle and in Edinburgh is St. Margaret’s Chapel which dates from the 12^th century which King David I built privately for the Royal Family and in honor of his mother St. Margaret of Scotland, the Great Hall was built by James IV around 1513 to be the chief place of State Assembly in the castle, the Half Moon Battery was constructed under James Douglas, 4^th Earl of Morton’s supervision on the site of old David’s Tower after the Lang Siege, and the Scottish National War Memorial after the First World War in honor of the Scots who had died in the First World War and from following conflicts. The castle also houses the Honours or the Crown Jewels of Scotland, the Stone of Destiny or the Stone of Scone on which Scottish Kings had been crowned, the 15^th century gun Mons Meg, the One O’clock Gun, and the National War Museum of Scotland. Statues of William Wallace and King Robert The Bruce are placed in the walls of the entrance to Edinburg Castle in honor of the two greatest heroes in Scottish history.