Photos and the City

Tag: Scotland

Queensferry

I don´t really mind singe lane tracks, narrow roads, curvy bends and such but driving this 2,7 km over the New Forth Bridge (the white one on the left) from South Queensferry to the other side of Fife North Queensferry made me hold my breath every time! But it´s a stunning backdrop for portraits and for beautiful pictures I drive almost everywhere! So I left my lovely village of Cellardyke and drove to South Queensferry (also just called “The Ferry) to meet Barbora for her portrait session.

Queensferry, the North and the South, got their name from the ferry service established by Queen Margaret in the 11th century, which continued to operate at the town until 1964. The city lies west of Edinburgh on shores of the Firth of Forth. The same Queen Margaret who founded the Dunfermline Abbey.

The Forth Bridge is a railway bridge, was opened in 1890, is considered to be a symbol of Scotland and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Laying (in the sunshine) under the Forth bridge is Inchgarvie, a small uninhabited island which used to be the main road for the crossing by boats of the Firth of Forth. A fort was built in the 15th century, became a castle later and then a prison.

(South) Queensferry is a lovely little village which has been an important trading and fishing port.

And offers many spots to admire the bridges.

The Queensferry Crossing, the one where I had to hold my breath while driving over it, was opened in 2017 and sits next to the Forth Bridge and the Forth Road Bridge (opened in 1964).

More from Barboras photo session at Queensferry.

09/04/2019
Cellardyke

My second to last stop on my British summer trip was in the little village Cellardyke in the East Neuk of Fife. A very cute little town along the coast. On my first walk around I even met a little fairy-town.

Once called Skinfast Haven the harbour of Cellardyke was built in the 16th century and rebuilt in 1829-31 and is one of the best preserved and most attractive old fishing ports in Scotland.

Traditional cottages, gardens on the backs and very narrow streets (with parked cars) – Cellardyke was the perfect place for my last days. Lots of places to explore nearby and a wonderful path along the coast to recharge.

My little “Smuggler´s Nest” on the right.

04/04/2019
Dunfermline Abbey

There was one last stop before I finished my drive to my next destination Cellardyke, namely at Dunfermline Abbey in Dunfermline, Fife.

Some of Scotland’s greatest medieval monarchs were laid to rest at Dunfermline Abbey. Founded as a priory, Dunfermline was made an abbey by David I and later became a royal mausoleum. (Historic Enviroment)

Founded in 1070 by Margaret on the site on which she had got married. She invited a small group of Benedicte monks from Canterbury and laid the foundation for the first Benedict house in Scotland.

The priory became an abbey in 1128, David I built a new and very impressive church. In 1303 the abbey was badly damaged and rebuilt by Robert I.

After the Reformation, the old choir was allowed to collapse and the nave was converted into a parish kirk. A new palace was created out of the (royal) guesthouse and the west range of Dunfermline Abbey, a palace that became the home and personal residence of James VI’s queen, Anna of Denmark. In 1600 Charles I was the last monarch born in Scotland, the royal family moved to London only three years later. The palace fell into disrepair.

View in direction of Edinburgh and Forth Bridge.

02/04/2019