Photos and the City

Tag: my british summer

  • Threave Castle

    Threave Castle, scotland, drumfries, galloway, castle, national trust for scotland, travel, my british summer

    A visit at Threave Castle starts with a little 5 to 10 minutes walk through the lush hills and fields until you´ll catch the first glimpse of the castle sitting on a little island in River Dee.

    Threave Castle, scotland, drumfries, galloway, castle, national trust for scotland, travel, my british summerThreave Castle, scotland, drumfries, galloway, castle, national trust for scotland, travel, my british summer

    A small boat of the National Trust for Scotland awaits you and brings you safely to the fortress on the island. It is said that Threave Island was the home of the ancient rulers of Galloway about a 1000 years ago, but the left no trace.

    Today’s tall forbidding tower was built by Sir Archibald Douglas, the new Lord of Galloway but better known as Archibald the Grim, in 1369. He died on Threave as 3rd Earl of Douglas, one of the most influential and important figures in Southern Scottland, in 1400.

    Threave Castle, scotland, drumfries, galloway, castle, national trust for scotland, travel, my british summerThreave Castle, scotland, drumfries, galloway, castle, national trust for scotland, travel, my british summerThreave Castle, scotland, drumfries, galloway, castle, national trust for scotland, travel, my british summer

    About 50 years later Theave was under a two-month siege when James II tried to overthrow the Black Douglases and brought the Castle under the Crowns command. Later it belonged to the Maxwell Family.

    Threave Castle, scotland, drumfries, galloway, castle, national trust for scotland, travel, my british summer

    The tower was (is) 5 storeys high, had storage and service space under its lower floors and houses Archibalds private rooms above. There were a little harbour and several buildings around the castle.

    Threave Castle, scotland, drumfries, galloway, castle, national trust for scotland, travel, my british summerThreave Castle, scotland, drumfries, galloway, castle, national trust for scotland, travel, my british summerThreave Castle, scotland, drumfries, galloway, castle, national trust for scotland, travel, my british summerThreave Castle, scotland, drumfries, galloway, castle, national trust for scotland, travel, my british summerThreave Castle, scotland, drumfries, galloway, castle, national trust for scotland, travel, my british summerThreave Castle, scotland, drumfries, galloway, castle, national trust for scotland, travel, my british summerThreave Castle, scotland, drumfries, galloway, castle, national trust for scotland, travel, my british summerThreave Castle, scotland, drumfries, galloway, castle, national trust for scotland, travel, my british summer

    More information about Threave Castle is on the National Trust for Scotland site.

     

  • Sweetheart Abbey

    sweetheart abbey, scotland, uk, ruins, dumfries, galloway, national trust of scotland

    When her beloved husband Lord John Balliol died in 1268 Lady Dervorgilla of Galloway had his embalmed heart placed in an ivory casket which she always carried with her. And she did quite a few charitable acts in his name, like the founding of the Cistercian abbey of Dulce Cor, the Sweet Heart Abbey, in 1273.

    When Lady Dervorgilla died in 1289 she was buried in front of the abbey church’s high altar, together with her late husband’s heart.

    sweetheart abbey, scotland, uk, ruins, dumfries, galloway, national trust of scotland

    The abbey was demised in 1560 following the Protestant Reformation. Since then a graceful ruin survived wars and time.

    sweetheart abbey, scotland, uk, ruins, dumfries, galloway, national trust of scotlandsweetheart abbey, scotland, uk, ruins, dumfries, galloway, national trust of scotlandsweetheart abbey, scotland, uk, ruins, dumfries, galloway, national trust of scotlandsweetheart abbey, scotland, uk, ruins, dumfries, galloway, national trust of scotland

     

     

  • Caerlaverock Castle

    Caerlaverock Castle, scotland, national trust, castle, ruin, dumfries and galloway, rain, ursula schmitz, photos and the city

    I started my Scottish road trip from Gretna Green along the Solway shoreline to explore Dumfries & Galloway. It was my first time this south in Scotland and it reminded me so much of Ireland. So much green, lush hills and so many sheep. And no wonder Ireland is just a stone throw away.

    Caerlaverock Castle, scotland, national trust, castle, ruin, dumfries and galloway, rain, ursula schmitz, photos and the city

    My second stop was near Dumfries (the first was at the closed Devils Porridge Museum) at Caerlaverock Castle. It lays a little bit out of the way but is so worth the detour!

    Caerlaverock Castle, scotland, national trust, castle, ruin, dumfries and galloway, rain, ursula schmitz, photos and the city

    It´s built triangular and was the stronghold of the Maxwell Family from the 13th to the 17th century. It was under siege from the English during the Wars of Scottish Independence and rebuilt several times.

    Caerlaverock Castle, scotland, national trust, castle, ruin, dumfries and galloway, rain, ursula schmitz, photos and the city

    The site was already used by the Romans, the first mention of the land dates from around 1160. Around 1220 it was given to Sir John Maxwell and the works on the first castle began. It laid a little bit further back than today’s castle and the foundation is still visible – and it was square and may have never been completed?!

    Caerlaverock Castle, scotland, national trust, castle, ruin, dumfries and galloway, rain, ursula schmitz, photos and the cityCaerlaverock Castle, scotland, national trust, castle, ruin, dumfries and galloway, rain, ursula schmitz, photos and the city

    The “new” castle was completed in 1270 and a moat around the castle had been dug, also probably as a source of building stone, only the gatehouse stands on a rock, the rest of the castle is on a clay platform.

    Caerlaverock Castle, scotland, national trust, castle, ruin, dumfries and galloway, rain, ursula schmitz, photos and the city Caerlaverock Castle, scotland, national trust, castle, ruin, dumfries and galloway, rain, ursula schmitz, photos and the city

    Due to it´s proximity to the English border the castle looks back on a turbulent history. Many sieges, being under English command numerous times, won back etc… it has so many stories to tell!

    Caerlaverock Castle, scotland, national trust, castle, ruin, dumfries and galloway, rain, ursula schmitz, photos and the city Caerlaverock Castle, scotland, national trust, castle, ruin, dumfries and galloway, rain, ursula schmitz, photos and the city Caerlaverock Castle, scotland, national trust, castle, ruin, dumfries and galloway, rain, ursula schmitz, photos and the cityCaerlaverock Castle, scotland, national trust, castle, ruin, dumfries and galloway, rain, ursula schmitz, photos and the city