During this unprecedented time, we are very anxious of what is happening across the globe. With Scottish events being heavily impacted by postponements and cancellations worldwide, members of our Scottish community organisations cannot get out to attend and celebrate Scotland as we have all enjoyed in the past.
Please feel free to download the latest issue of the Scottish Banner, which I hope may play a small role in helping to keep members feeling connected to Scotland in this time of social distancing.
If your group has any general news or is doing anything specifically during this extraordinary time, please share it with us so we can share with our readers and followers as now more than ever is the time the Scottish community needs to stand together and support one another. We host the worldâs leading international Scottish events listing and our site is being updated daily, if your group has an event change please let us know so the wider Scottish community can keep up to date.
I look forward to when our community can get back to normal and celebrate our great culture, in the meantime
the Scottish Banner stands ready in any way we can to assist and support Scottish community organisations both now and in the future.
Yes, you are mostly like to go to the Royal Mile (I am 98% sure) while in Edinburgh to shop at the tourist shops as well as see attractions such as The Real Mary King Close, The Scotch Whisky Experience or Edinburgh Castle at one end and Holyroodhouse Palace at the other end. There are also multiple museums of all types up and down the Royal Mile as well but what about the some of the other unusual or forgotten attractions.
One site to do other than The Real Mary King Close is the Vaults which are underneath Edinburgh as well. Just a bus ride or taxi away, you can go to see Rosslyn Chapel (45 min bus ride) from the DaVinci Code movie or visit the beautiful Deanâs Village which you can walk from Holyroodhouse Palace in 30 mins- if you want. Many people donât think about visiting Craigmiller Castle or Arthurâs Seat (you can hike up the front side or take a taxi 2/3 way up the back side and walk the rest yourself). I loved taking the tour on the Royal Yacht Britannia which is actually connected to a mall or walking the Botanical Gardens. Donât forget about Inchcolm Abbey on an island in the middle of Firth of Forth!
Another interesting place just a block off the Royal Mile is the Surgeonâs Hall but be prepared for some weird so in specimen jars so if you get squeamish, this is not for you! I mentioned in my last blog Greyfriarâs Bobby Bar but it is the Skye Terrier outside the pub you might want to rub for good luck after your lunch. Many of these attractions have website so just google and read away.
Next blog we start to move at Stirlingshire/Falkirk area then move towards Newtonmore and the Cairngorms National Park.
Gwen McNeill hesitates to call herself a âtravel expertâ but instead a âtravel aficionado or enthusiastâ! Over the past 12 years, she has learned many travel tricks and tips but find cool items for packing or apps to make the travel experience even better.
After becoming a member of CMAA in 2005, Gwen experienced her first adventure to Scotland when she traveled to the 2006 Clan Gathering on Isle of Barra. She not only fell in love with Barra but also with Scotland and the UK as a whole. She has since attended three more Gatherings on the Isle of Barra and also travels to Scotland every 12-18 months on a solo trip or with friends. As often as she goes, can you believe she hasnât seen all of Scotland?!
Gwen has also created a travel guide that is available on the Clan Macneil Global Alliance website, www.clanmacneilglobal.org This includes all the tools sheâs blogged about on the CMAA blog and much more information beyond that. She is happy to answer questions for anyone and can be reached via email: gwenmcn.cmaa@gmail.com, please put in the Subject line: CMAA â Going to UK.
Did I peak your interest in the âOff-the Beatenâ attractions/path from my last blog. Keep in mind if you have more time to travel around Scotland which is usually at least 12â14 days or more, there are great sites than the most common ones in and around the cities/towns. For my next few blogs, I am going to start with Glasgow and make my way upwards North, back around the West Coast and some of the Isles. If you want to find others place that I do not list, go to Historic Environment Scotland to find so many other places to visit by regions.
Tennants - C'mon In, You'll Be Wanting Your T
In Glasgow, you will probably enjoy most of the top sites such Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Peopleâs Palace & Glasgow Green (botanical garden), Glasgow Cathedral, George Square or the Barra Market. But donât forget about some of the Historic Environment Scotland sites such as Crookston or Bothwell Castle or Antonine Wall which has its Wall, Bearsden Bath House, Croy Hill, and more. Many sights are archeological finds which takes you back to the past. If you love beer, go visit Tennants Brewery, Scotlandâs best beer!
Glasgow Necropolis
I love quirky and scary things which includes Glasgow Necropolis which not only offers you amazing views over the city but the monuments themselves are fascinating. Sharmanca Kinetic Theatre which has multi-coloured, weird and thought-provoking sculptures will blow your mind or how about seeing âWooden Eyesâ at the Mitchell Library which has legendary puppet maker John Blundallâs collection of puppets, masks and associated memorabilia can be found housed in the cityâs Mitchell Library.
Hutcheson Hill Slab
If you want to walk in the steps of Glasgewians past, then visit Pollock House, an Edwardian house, which covers an area of 355 acres with beautiful gardens and Heelinâ Coos (Highland Cows). If you are bagpipe and drumming lover, The National Piping Centre and the Bagpipe Museum is wonderful to include piping memorabilia belonging to Robbie Burns and the 17th-century Iain Dall MacKay chanter, the world's oldest surviving bagpipe relic. Always remember that you can use the Hop-On-Hop-Off Buses to get to a lot of attractions and some can still be the less common visited attractions. Next blog will be Edinburgh but if you are planning a trip now/soon and need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact Gwen.
