Photos and the City

Tag: my new british summer

  • Dunnottar Castle

    After exploring Old Aberdeen and the beach (and my favourite Fittie) it was about time to go outside Aberdeen  – for her photoshoot Emma choose the wonderful Dunnottar Castle, about twenty minutes from Aberdeen, as the backdrop.

    The picturesque and romantic Dunnottar Castle, Stonehaven, near Aberdeen.

    The romantic ruin of Dunnottar Castle lies picturesquely on the edge of a cliff falling down in the North Sea, near Stonehaven.

    William Wallace, Mary Queen of Scots, the Marquis of Montrose and the future King Charles II have graced the Castle with their presence. Most famously though, it was at Dunnottar Castle that a small garrison held out against the might of Cromwell’s army for eight months and saved the Scottish Crown Jewels, the ‘Honours of Scotland’, from destruction. (Visitscotland.com)

    The picturesque and romantic Dunnottar Castle, Stonehaven, near Aberdeen.

    Being fortified since the Early Middle Ages today´s ruins and buildings are mainly from the 15th and 16th century.

    The picturesque and romantic Dunnottar Castle, Stonehaven, near Aberdeen.The picturesque and romantic Dunnottar Castle, Stonehaven, near Aberdeen.

    Portrait photography near Dunnottar Castle, near Aberdeen.

    The picturesque and romantic Dunnottar Castle, Stonehaven, near Aberdeen.The picturesque and romantic Dunnottar Castle, Stonehaven, near Aberdeen.

  • Aberdeen Beach & Fittie

    Strolling around Aberdeen from Seaton´s Garden to skyscrapers

    I continued my walk through Seaton Park. From the River Don to the Walled Garden and further up to Brig o’ Balgownie, the Bridge of Don.

    Strolling around Aberdeen from Seaton´s Garden to skyscrapers

    Brig o’ Balgownie

    The Bridge of Don is Scotland’s oldest medieval bridge, which dates back to 1286 and took about forty years to complete.

    Today the bridge is something of a landmark for students at the nearby University of Aberdeen, as it is the place from which many successful graduates jump upon completion of their courses. (Atlas Obscura)

    That sounds like a more dangerous tradition than the one in Vienna when you walk down the main staircase in front of the University after you have finished your studies.

    The old Brig o' Balgownie in Aberdeen, a stunning stone bridge.

    Along the river Don, I walked towards the mouth of the Don. Seeing the ocean on one side and Aberdeen on the other one.

    Strolling around Aberdeen from Seaton´s Garden to skyscrapers

    Beach of Aberdeen

    The beach of Aberdeen goes on for miles I think I walked around 1 hour along the seaside and it was such a beautiful summer´s day!

    Aberdeen beach goes on for miles, what a beautiful summer´s day to spend in the sea

    Aberdeen beach goes on for miles, what a beautiful summer´s day to spend in the sea

    The next day I came back to the beach and brought the beautiful dancer Eilidh with me…

    Destination photography Scotland by Ursula Schmitz photography, travel and portrait

    Footdee – “Fittie”

    Right next to Aberdeen harbour is Foodee, Fittie, a charming little fishing village in the middle of the city.

    Right between the beach and Aberdeen harbour lies Footdee, called “Fittie”, a charming little fishing village with the cutest little houses. A mixture of lovely cottages and quirky outbuildings.

    rows of almost uniform mid-19th century cottages, organised in neat little squares. The planned community was originally built to re-home the city’s fishermen who were living in poor quality housing around the harbour area. The design dates back to 1809 and was the concept of renowned local architect John Smith who is more famously known for his alterations to Balmoral Castle. (Adventures around Scotland)

    Right next to Aberdeen harbour is Foodee, Fittie, a charming little fishing village in the middle of the city.

    The outhouses and shed were built on a common green within each square but as the residents needed more space for fishing gear and washrooms they built all the different and colourfull sheds and outhouses.

    Today there is a lovely sense of community and it must be a beautiful oasis to live, right by the sea and still protected from the winds by the way the cottages were built.

    Right next to Aberdeen harbour is Foodee, Fittie, a charming little fishing village in the middle of the city.

    Right next to Aberdeen harbour is Foodee, Fittie, a charming little fishing village in the middle of the city.Eilidh dancing through Fittie, a charmin fishing village in Aberdeen.

     

  • Aberdeen

    Welcome to the new decade, the new roaring 20ies!Strolling around Aberdeen and to Old Aberdeen and the university, what a beautiful summer day in Scotland.

    But there are still a few things to look back in 2019. Like my few days in Aberdeen! It was about time to say goodbye to Galashiels and the Scottish Borders board the train Edinburgh and move up further north. A few cancelled trains later I arrived in Aberdeen and stayed in that building on the left side. Unfortunately, I had the “cheap view” on the back and not the stunning one to the market square.

    The Royal Atheneum Suites Hotel was situated in Castlegate, right in the city centre, just a short walk from the train station and from the harbour. I started my morning stroll right at the Old Aberdeen Market Cross.

    Aberdeen Mercat Cross

    Strolling around Aberdeen and to Old Aberdeen and the university, what a beautiful summer day in Scotland.

    The Mercat Cross was the traditional heart of the burgh.

    At the cross new monarchs were proclaimed: a locked staircase led from ground level to the top where announcements were made. The symbolism in making the announcement from this spot was important to the Jacobites and on the 20th of September 1715, the Old Pretender was declared king at the Mercat Cross.

    (Visit Aberdeen)

    Built in 1686 and designed by John Montgomery it shows ten of the Stewart monarchs and the Royal arms and the burgh’s arms with a marble unicorn on top.

    At the upper end of Castlegate stands The Salvation Army Citadel built on the former site of the medieval Aberdeen Castle.

    Strolling around Aberdeen and to Old Aberdeen and the university, what a beautiful summer day in Scotland.

    From Castlegate, I just walked straight ahead on King´s Street toward Old Aberdeen and King´s College.

    Strolling around Aberdeen and to Old Aberdeen and the university, what a beautiful summer day in Scotland.Strolling around Aberdeen and to Old Aberdeen and the university, what a beautiful summer day in Scotland.

    Old Aberdeen

    Old Aberdeen used to be a separate burgh until it became part of Aberdeen in 1891. Today it is a very charming area of Aberdeen and still has the flair of a small town and village.

    Strolling around Aberdeen and to Old Aberdeen and the university, what a beautiful summer day in Scotland.

    King´s College was founded in 1495 and today is part of the Aberdeen University. King´s College Chapel (on the left) is the oldest building of the complex and dates back to the 15th century.

    King´s College was the first university in Aberdeen and the third overall in Scotland.

    Strolling around Aberdeen and to Old Aberdeen and the university, what a beautiful summer day in Scotland.

    The whole college complex has a very lovely and relaxed feel, lots of residential houses, shops and bigger university buildings surrounded by gardens.

    Strolling around Aberdeen and to Old Aberdeen and the university, what a beautiful summer day in Scotland.Strolling around Aberdeen and to Old Aberdeen and the university, what a beautiful summer day in Scotland.Strolling around Aberdeen and to Old Aberdeen and the university, what a beautiful summer day in Scotland.

    Old Aberdeen was an important political, ecclesiastical and cultural centre since the Middle Ages. Some of the historical buildings in the area today are dating back to the Middle Ages.

    Strolling around Aberdeen and to Old Aberdeen and the university, what a beautiful summer day in Scotland.

    The Old Town House was the original home of the Burgh’s local government, completed in 1789. It used to be the centre for all trading with the market cross (from the early 16th century) in front of it.

    Strolling around Aberdeen and to Old Aberdeen and the university, what a beautiful summer day in Scotland.

    Walking along stunning houses, I made my way towards the Cathedral Church of St Machar, named after the saint Machar who, according to the legend, founded the kirk, the site of worship in Old Aberdeen in about 580. Followed by a Norman cathedral in 1131, which then was demolished in the late 14th century.

    Strolling around Aberdeen and to Old Aberdeen and the university, what a beautiful summer day in Scotland.

    The new building contained the nave, including the granite columns and the towers at the western end and the works on the cathedral, went on for the next two hundred years. But parts of it were destroyed during the Scottish Reformation and the central tower and spire collapsed in 1688.

    Today the church consists only of the nave and aisles of the earlier building and stunning stained glass windows.

    Strolling around Aberdeen and to Old Aberdeen and the university, what a beautiful summer day in Scotland.Strolling around Aberdeen and to Old Aberdeen and the university, what a beautiful summer day in Scotland.

    It was time for some rest and lucky me, right next to the church is Seaton Park…

    Strolling around Aberdeen and to Old Aberdeen and the university, what a beautiful summer day in Scotland.