Snowdrop Festival Part 1 27th Feb 2016

When I looked at details about the Scottish Snowdrop Festival (in association with Visit Scotland & Scotlands Gardens) I looked particularly to see if there were any new gardens on the list. The festival has grown over the last few years and it is always nice to support new venues. This year it runs from 30 January - 13 March and is an opportunity for visitors to see snowdrops in a natural setting. Gardens and woodlands that may not be open at any other time of year are open for viewing during the festival. Many of the gardens can be entered for a small ticket price or a donation. Several gardens provide delicious teas during the time they are open and can also offer plants for sale. 

 

 

We decided to visit a garden that was new to the Festival this year at Barjarg Tower. I had never heard of Barjarg, and only because the information said it was between Auldgirth and Penpont did I have any idea where it was! Turning off the main road at Auldgirth took us along a road we had never been on before. This always gets us excited - as you never know what you might see along the way!

Not having been along these roads before we followed our way on the map to find we were coming up to Glenmidge!! Looking at the river running along the valley and the trees lining the slopes of the hills we could visualise the number of midges that would be here in the summer. What a good job we were here in February!

 

 

According to official sources - Barjarg Tower is four miles south-east of Penpont, Dumfriesshire. It began as a small four-storey L-plan tower house built before 1595, but numerous additions and alterations were made to the buildings over the years. A second tower was added to the original, wings were built on etc etc. As there have been numerous owners of the building it is not surprising that successive owners put their own stamp on the building.

 

 

In 1882-4, Frances Groome's Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland described Barjarg as "a hamlet and an estate in Keir parish, Dumfriesshire. The hamlet stands near the river Nith, 3½ miles S of Thornhill. The estate belonged in the 16th century to the Earl of Morton; passed in 1857 to T. Grierson, Esq went afterwards, by marriage, to C. Erskine, Esq., advocate, who rose to the bench and took the title of Lord Tinwald; was subsequently purchased by Dr Hunter, professor of divinity in Edinburgh University, and now belongs to Wm. Francis Hunter Arundell, owner of 1947 acres in the shire, valued at £1689 per annum. The mansion, Barjarg Tower, stands amid finely-planted grounds"

 

 

 

As part of the early 19th century works, a walled garden was constructed in the grounds, and a new approach drive was built. At the end of the drive is an archway with a contemporary Gothic lodge with crowstepped gables. The gates across the drive are simple iron yetts, said to have come from Dumfries prison when it was demolished in 1883.

 

 

In 1914, both tower houses were remodelled, large additions were made at the back (including a new south-east wing), and the interior was almost entirely changed.Then in 1985 Margaret Jane, the Dowager Countess of Annandale & Hartfell sold Barjarg Tower while retaining the estate. By 2013 the house was said to be an hotel 'catering mainly for business executives' although it is believed that the much reduced estate is still in family ownership.

The house looks to be in a good state of repair and stands majestically overlooking the surrounding countryside. The grounds have some lovely features, both man-made and natural.

 

 

 

As proof that the estate has been here for many, many years there are some spectacular examples of old trees dotted around the grounds, but there is also evidence of newer plantings.

 

 

 

We had a lovely wander around the grounds of Barjarg Tower. It's setting was definitely enhanced by the presence of snowdrops, but the views of the surrounding hills on a lovely sunny day, just completed the picture. The Lowther Hills surrounding Barjarg - and Glenmidge! are beautiful to look at and provide opportunities for walkers and runners to explore the area in greater detail then we had time or energy for!

 

Real or Illusion? 21st February 2016

The Puzzling Place is a unique attraction hidden away in the heart of Keswick. It is just off Main Street but be aware that there is a flight of stairs to climb to enter! There is no parking outside but public car parks are close by. There is no café or any public toilets at the Puzzling Place.

 

 

The Puzzling Place is a fun attraction based on optical illusions, with pictures, sculptures and interactive exhibits. The World of Illusions, within the Puzzling Place, has an entry fee, but it is definitely worth a visit.

 

 

There is a distortion mirror to make you look as if you are standing on your head, make you look short and fat at the same time, or have a pointed head!

 

 

 

There is an ‘Anti-gravity Room’ where snooker balls roll up the table and a chair, that you can sit in, that travels uphill without even a push! We have to say – and the Puzzling place has a notice advising people of this - that this room does cause some people to stumble around and feel somewhat nauseous, because of the angle of the floor and walls. You can stand at impossible angles in this room!

 

 

 

The next room is all upside down – or rather sideways on. The carpet that should be on the floor, is on the wall, as are the ceiling and the door.  The floor you stand on is actually a wall! The TV screen mounted on the real wall, next to the exhibit, makes you out to be touching the ceiling etc.

 

 

The newest illusion room, known as an 'Ames Room' has the same effect that was used in the film 'Lord of the Rings' to create tall and little people. As you walk across the room you'll visibly grow and shrink! Or you can make yourself look tiny or like a giant alongside a fellow visitor!

 

 

You can see water dripping upwards, look in an apparently bottomless trunk, despite it only standing 2 feet high on the floor and even shake hands with yourself.There is a gallery of amazing holograms - 3D pictures - that make you want to reach out and touch them. There are snakes, birds, mummies (the ones wrapped in bandages) and even Frankenstein’s monster.

The Puzzling Place is a place to be enjoyed by adults and children alike. Adults may have more understanding about how the illusions are created, but will still be amazed at the effects. The exhibits do have explanations next to them, that try to explain how the illusion works if you are not sure about them! The Puzzling Place do say that it’s generally the older generation of the family who are left surprised by how much they’ve enjoyed their visit!

 

 

The Puzzling Place does have a shop where you can buy a variety of puzzles and gadgets, and just beyond the shop is a Puzzle area (free to enter) where a variety of puzzles and brain teasers are laid out for you to try.

Amazement and frustration can be enjoyed in equal measure  in just one visit to the Puzzling Place.

 

Edinburgh February 2016

In great anticipation, with our Runrig tickets safely stowed away, we set off for Edinburgh on Saturday morning. Having decided to travel via the A7 we made good time initially, but then the weather began to change...

 

 

Suddenly the scenic journey began to look more of a problem...

 

 

 

It looked beautiful from inside the car......

 

 

 

 

 

... but it was really coming down very heavily!

We had originally planned to spend a short time in Musselburgh but as we got closer the snow got thicker on the road, so we decided to head straight into Leith. By the time we got there the snow was thankfully turning to rain.

Leith is a district to the north of Edinburgh at the mouth of the Water of Leith. Having served as the port of Edinburgh for hundreds of years, the area’s original harbour dates back to the 14th century. 

 

 

After decades of industrial decline Leith gradually began to enjoy an upturn in fortunes in the late 1980s. Several old industrial sites were developed with modest, affordable housing, while small industrial business units were constructed. Restaurants and galleries appeared and the once industrially-polluted and desolate banks of the Water of Leith were cleaned up and a public walkway opened.

One of the major attractions now is the Royal Yacht Britannia, moored alongside the Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre.

 

 

Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia is the former royal yacht of Queen Elizabeth II, in service from 1954 to 1997. She was the 83rd such vessel since the reign of King Charles II and is the second royal yacht to bear the name, the first being the racing cutter built for the Prince of Wales in 1893.

 

Britannia was built at the shipyard of John Brown & Co. Ltd in Clydebank and was launched by Queen Elizabeth II on 16 April 1953, and commissioned on 11 January 1954. The crew of Royal Yachtsmen were volunteers from the general service of the Royal Navy. Officers were appointed for up to two years, while the "yachtsmen" were drafted as volunteers and after 365 days' service could be admitted to "The Permanent Royal Yacht Service"  as Royal Yachtsmen, and served until they chose to leave the Royal Yacht Service or were dismissed. As a result, some served for 20 years or more. The ship also carried a platoon of Royal Marines when members of the Royal Family were on board.

 

 

Britannia sailed on her maiden voyage from Portsmouth to Malta. She carried Princess Anne and Prince Charles to Malta for them to meet the Queen and Prince Philip in Tobruk at the end of the royal couple's Commonwealth Tour. The Queen and Prince Philip embarked on Britannia for the first time in Tobruk on 1 May 1954.

HMY Britannia, when on royal duties, was escorted by a Royal Navy warship. The yacht was a regular sight at Cowes Week in early August and, usually, for the remainder of the month, was home to the Queen and her family for an annual cruise around the islands off the west coast of Scotland (known as the "Western Isles tour").

 

 

 

During her career as Royal Yacht, Britannia conveyed the Queen, other members of the Royal Family and various dignitaries on 696 foreign visits and 272 visits in British waters. In this time, Britannia steamed 1,087,623 nautical miles (2,014,278 km).

In 1997, the Conservative government committed itself to replacing the Royal Yacht if re-elected, but after Labour won the general election in May 1997, it announced the vessel was to be retired and no replacement would be built. The new government said the expenditure could not be justified. On 20 October 1997, HMY Britannia left Portsmouth on her farewell tour around the UK, calling at six major ports, including Glasgow. As she sailed past John Brown's Shipyard, she gave a blast on her sirens, in fond farewell to the yard which had proudly built her.

 

 

On the day the Queen finally said goodbye to Britannia all the clocks on board were stopped at 15:01, the time the Queen was piped ashore for the last time. Listed as part of the National Historic Fleet, Britannia is a visitor attraction moored in the Port of Leith, Edinburgh and is cared for by the Royal Yacht Britannia Trust, a registered charity. Entrance to the yacht is via the Ocean Terminal development, and over 300,000 people visit the Royal Yacht Britannia every year. The tour visits 5 decks, including the Queen's Bedroom and the State Dining and Drawing Rooms, as well as below deck, work and recreation areas of the crew. A retired Rolls-Royce Phantom V state car, owned by the Royal Family in the 1960's, is on display in the purpose-built garage aboard Britannia.

 

 

The tour took us all over the yacht, starting in the Bridge. Only the commanding officer was allowed a chair to sit down, and aboard Britannia this was usually an Admiral! He also had his own cabin.

 

The sun lounge  was a favourite room on board. It is an informal room where The Queen and her family would enjoy breakfast and afternoon tea. A record player, games store and chilled drinks cabinet were tucked away in cupboards in the bulkheads.

 

 

Sir Hugh Casson was the designer of the Royal Apartments on Britannia but the Queen and Prince Philip had the final say. They reflect the post war period and are not as lavish as you might expect.

 

 

The State Dining Room hosted many famous guests. Around the walls are displayed many exotic gifts given to The Queen, as she travelled around the world on official visits.

 

 

The Queen would work for several hours every day on State papers in her private Sitting Room. Prince Philip's was just next door. The State Drawing Room, as well as being used as the main reception room for visiting dignitaries, was also used by the Royal Family for relaxing, conversation and games. Princess Diana and Princess Margaret both enjoyed playing the baby grand piano, as did Sir Noël Coward.

 

 

There were varying standards of accommodation for the crew - depending on whether they were officers or just ratings. In the Navy different ranks have their own recreation areas, known as 'Messes'.

 

 

The laundry was well used with over 240 crew, and numerous changes of uniform required every day. The sick bay was not however somewhere the crew wanted to visit!

 

 

The Engine Room is full of gleaming brass, chrome and enamel. When America's General Norman Schwarzkopf was shown Britannia's spotless Engine Room in 1992, he was reported as saying: 'Okay. I've seen the museum piece. Now, where's the real engine room?'

 

 

 The Royal Barge is moored undercover, next to Britannia.

 

There is a maintenance team for Britannia, led by a Royal Navy trained naval architect/shipwright. They look after the day-to-day maintenance and most of them served in the Royal Navy or worked at the Royal Navy Rosyth Dockyard.There is an additional Housekeeping Team who keep the public areas spotlessly clean.

 

Despite enjoying our tour of Britannia, we were really looking forward to the Main Event of the day - Runrig at the Usher Hall. Never having been there before we were not sure what to expect. We knew Runrig would be worth it but what about the hall?

 

 

The Usher Hall has hosted concerts and events since its construction in 1914 and can hold over 2,000 people.

It looked impressive from the outside... and the inside...

 

 

A brilliant night followed - Runrig were all we expected, and more. Their support act - James MacKenzie was very good and his music certainly got everyone in the mood. (not that Runrig fans need anyone to get them in the mood!) The concert was a sell out and was full of atmosphere and excitement for the whole 2 hours that Runrig were on stage. A really good mix of new music from their latest CD and some old favourites left us with tired hands and ringing ears - but was it worth it?

YOU BET IT WAS!!

For photos of the band at Edinburgh (and other venues)  go to the GALLERY at www.runrig.co.uk 

 

Eskdalemuir Wednesday 10th Feb 2016

Having heard very good things about the Eskdalemuir Community Hub & Old School Café we set off to visit on a beautiful sunny day. (not been able to say that for ages!!) This is a multi-purpose centre owned and managed for the community.

It provides drinks, snacks, lunches & dinners, with delicious home cooking, using local produce. The prices are very reasonable and they are open all year round.

Although too early for lunch, we called in to see if they had details about the Prehistoric Trail that we had seen advertised on the way. After a very helpful chat with staff in the centre we set off to visit Castle O’er Fort.

The idea of the trail was to outline and waymark a route in Westerkirk and Eskdalemuir, accessible to motorists or cyclists who were prepared to do a modest amount of walking, linking several prehistoric sites of outstanding archaeological interest.

Nine sites were chosen from the roughly sixty sites which were identified in Westerkirk and Eskdalemuir during an archaeological survey of the 1970s. They provide a circular route starting near Bentpath on the B709 and going up the west side of the Esk to Eskdalemuir village and back down the east side. The sites are near the road but all need to be approached on foot.

With much support and advice, interpretation panels have been provided at each site.

Boxes attached to the panel posts contain laminated information sheets with site plans (reproduced by kind permission of RCAHMS) where appropriate. We were warned that at the moment some of the information panels and/or laminated sheets have been blown away/damaged in the bad weather.

 

 

The trail consists of 9 sites:-

1. Boonies:- A  Romano-British farmstead

2.Bailiehill Fort:- A magnificent hill citadel

3.The Knowe:- A fortlet, farm or fortified croft.

4.Castle O'er Fort:- The most superb of the Esk valley hill forts.

5. Over Rig:- A unique and perplexing site – fascinating but mysterious

6. Bessie's Hill:- A fort and enclosure

7.The Loupin' Stanes:- A small but impressive stone ring.

8.The Girdle Stanes:- A large stone ring.

9. King Schaw's Grave:- A burial kist, once buried under a vast cairn.

 

As I said, we decided to visit Castle O’er Fort, reported to be the most spectacular of the Esk valley forts.  It was very frosty in places where the sun still had to reach.

 

 We set off along the track and made our way up the well-defined path. It took a little effort to reach the fort but the path is not too steep.  There are earthworks and ramparts used to defend the fort at various times, but not being archaeologists we didn’t really understand all the bumps and lumps in the ground.

 

 

However the views are amazing – especially on a day when the sun shines! It is easy to see why the fort was built on the top of the hill and how they would have been able to defend their position.

 

 

Coming back down the hill was obviously much easier than going up and we returned to the Hub for what was a very tasty lunch. The soup was like a meal in itself! Passing by some of the boards for other features on the trail, we decide not to investigate any others today but to use them as an excuse to come back again!!

January wildlife sightings from a garden in Annan

The weather hasn't really been an awful lot better over the last month. Strong wind and rain have been the norm with only an occasional bright spell of sunshine. The birds have been doing the same as most humans - only going out if they have to! The only thing to applaud is the slight lengthening of the days.

30th/31st January was the weekend of the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch. This is the time to count the birds visiting your garden and record other wildlife that have visited your garden over the year. We have completed this survey every year for several years now and always hope to see something exciting to add to our list. Sunday 31st was the chosen day for us this year and we watched from 10-11am. Our list of birds included blackbird - 2, blue tit - 2, carrion crow - 1, chaffinch - 6, coal tit - 1, collared dove - 2, dunnock - 1, great tit - 2, house sparrow -10, jackdaw - 1, robin - 1, starling - 15, woodpigeon - 1 and yellowhammer - 5. We were really chuffed to see the yellowhammers as we have only ever seen 1 in the garden before! Unfortunately we didn't have any other wildlife to record - the 1 hedgehog we have previously seen in the garden hasn't put in an appearance in the last 12 months.

 

photo courtesy of www.arkive.org

Our monthly max of birds seen in the garden throughout January is as follows:-

Blackbird - 1 male 1 female

Blue tit - 5

Carrion crow - 2

Chaffinch - 3 male 3 female

Coal tit - 1

Collared dove - 2

Dunnock - 2
Geese - 150 flying over

Great tit - 2

House sparrow - 20 male 12 female

Jackdaw - 2

Robin - 1
Rook - 2

Starling - 15

Woodpigeon - 2

Wren - 1

Yellowhammer - 5

 

DGERC have issued their next "species to look out for" bulletin. This month they are looking for frogs and badgers.

Common frog Rana temporaria

Common frogs are the only species of frog native to Scotland and though they occur throughout D & G there are still many areas from which they have not yet been recorded.In mild weather the first spawn will be seen any time from January onwards. They are not fussy about where they spawn and will do so in any ditch or puddle and are commonly found in garden ponds.The spawn is laid in clumps which may contain up to 400 jelly-like eggs with dark embryos. As they mature the tadpoles develop a speckled colour unlike toads which remain black.

Frogs are smaller than toads with a more pointed snout when viewed from above. They also have a distinctive dark patch behind the eye.

 

 

Badger  Meles meles

Badgers are our largest carnivore and are unmistakeable with their distinctive markings. They are related to otters, stoats, weasels and pine martens. They live in social groups and give birth in February, although the cubs may not emerge from their sett until April. During Feb/Mar adult badgers become much more active, which often results in road casualties.

Badgers are a protected species and it is an offence to kill, injure or disturb them in their setts, or to damage or destroy their setts. Because of the persecution they still suffer DGERC are careful with records of setts and access to their records is restricted. Receiving records of road casualties is valuable and useful information.

 

 

Thanks to DGERC for photos and info. Remember you can send records of any wildlife you see to Mark at DGERC.  See dgerc.org.uk for more details about record keeping.

Flying Scotsman 6th Feb 2016

Designed by Sir Nigel Gresley, Flying Scotsman was built at Doncaster Works in February 1923.

It is 70ft (21m) long and weighs about 96 tonnes. The Flying Scotsman is the name of a train service which has been running between London and Scotland since 1862 not the name of the locomotive.

The British Empire Exhibition in 1924 made Flying Scotsman famous. The exhibition was opened by King George V in April 1924 and attracted millions of visitors to what was then the largest exhibition ever staged. The British Empire contained 58 countries at this time and only 2 of them did not take part. The exhibition had 3 main buildings called the Palaces of Industry, Engineering and Arts and they had several light railways connecting them. Several railway companies had stands at the exhibition, in some cases showing off their latest locomotives or coaches. One of these was the famous locomotive, LNER no. 4472 Flying Scotsman.

Note re number of Flying Scotsman - as well as the most well-known apple green 4472 and the BR green 60103, FS has also been numbered 1472, 103 and 502.

In 1934 Flying Scotsman was clocked going at 100mph while travelling between Edinburgh and London - officially the first locomotive to reach this speed.

 

 

During WW2 it was repainted black, in common with other railway stock and in 1963 was retired by British Rail. It was then bought by a private enthusiast who restored it and took it on a tour of USA. It's next owner took it to Australia and by 1995 it was part-owned by Pete Waterman. It has travelled about 2.5 million miles. 

The engine was bought for the nation in 2004 by the National Railway Museum in York, using public donations and grants. It finally returned to the UK's mainline tracks after a restoration that took 10 years and 4.2 million pounds. The restoration was completed by Riley & Son Ltd, based in Bury.

The museum announced that the locomotive would be painted in LNER wartime black livery to undergo testing and commissioning runs, with the letters N E on the sides of the tender, number 103 on one side of the cab and 502 on the other - the numbers it was given under the LNER's renumbering system. It will be repainted in its traditional green livery in February for it's inaugural journey from London to York later in the month.

 

 

 

 

Flying Scotsman was due to travel to Carlisle and then along the Settle-Carlisle railway in January however mechanical problems delayed this until 6th February. There were hundreds of people on the station in Carlisle waiting to see Flying Scotsman.

 

 

Coming into the station the first sight was of the diesel (named Diamond Jubilee)

 

 

.... then the carriages

 

 

 

.... and finally the star of the show at the end of the train. She would obviously then be at the front when they began the return journey!

 

 

 

Just to be next to Flying Scotsman is amazing. She is such a size! The wheels and everything about her is huge. There were police to control the crowds but they didn't need controlling. Everyone was very polite and aware that everyone else wanted photos too and were willing to take theirs and then move out of the way. There were loads of small children there too - l heard one dad telling his child "this is a real engine" Another (adult) was telling his mates "I touched it, I touched it" There is something about a steam engine that touches everyone in some way.

 

 

The best part for us was standing right next to her as the time of departure arrived. A railway worker moved the crowds back from the edge of the platform and then we waited..... the whistle blew ... steam filled the platform and obliterated everyones view ... the smoke from the funnel began to puff out in grey plumes ... and she began to pull away. The chug chug chug as she moved, along with the smoke and its smell were so evocative. Just what everyone was waiting for.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everyone stood on the platform had a camera in their hand (many held in the air to try and get a better view) and as she pulled away everyone turned to follow her and many watched until she was out of sight.

 

 

Others were busy waving to the passengers on board who waved back, with such big smiles on their faces they must have been enjoying every minute! There were a good number of carriages, from the first class ones with their tablecloths and cutlery to the more mundane with tables covered in peoples own catering preferences! In just a few minutes however she had gone and we were just looking at the empty tracks.