julianworker

[julianworker]

Day 18- Brodick Castle on Arran

Brodick Castle is close to the sea on the opposite shore from the ferry terminal. This is a National Trust for Scotland property, so if you have a membership then entrance is free for you. The grounds are extensive and there are at least two entrances on the left-hand side of the road as you head northwards . The gardens are lovely and extensive and not overly manicured, so natural woods dotted…

[julianworker]

Day 17- Lochranza on Arran

Lochranza is a village located on the northern coast of Arran. A ferry goes from here to Claonaig on the Scottish mainland across the Firth of Clyde. The castle is photogenic especially in better weather when the broom-covered hillsides look lovely as a backdrop along with the sailing boats and reflections in the water. The mountains on all sides hold the village in a bowl and there are steep…

[julianworker]

Day 16 - Arran

The stones on Machrie Moor on Arran are well worth seeing, however don’t do what I did and believe the Stagecoach website which tells you that the best public bus to catch to visit the site is the 322. It isn’t it’s the 324 which could drop you off right outside the car park entrance. I’m not really complaining as the walk along the roads was wonderful in the sunny weather. There are few, if…

[julianworker]

Day 15 - Glasgow to Arran

Today I travelled from Glasgow to Arran via Troon. The pier at Ardrossan is not structurally safe for ferries to use so the only way to get to Brodick on Arran from the mainland is Troon on the Ayrshire coast, more famous for its golf course. The problem with the pier at Ardrossan is current as of early May 2025 but Caledonian MacBrayne are hoping to make the necessary repairs by the end of…

[julianworker]

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Dragon Lawyer 2 - Part 14

“Just to make sure I’m hearing this correctly,” said Wendy, noting the faces of the jury, “you tugged a lion’s tail, a lion that weighs two ot three times as much as you and who has no knowledge of who’s behind him?” “Yes, I did, I suppose,” said Androcles. “You surprised a wild animal, an animal that lives on its wits the whole time, and then you are surprised that it reacts by defending…

[julianworker]

Day 14 - Back to Glasgow

I started out from Tobermory on Mull at 9am on the 95 bus to Craignure where I caught the 10am ferry to Oban and arrived in plenty of time to catch the 12:07 train to Glasgow Queen Street. The journey highlights included Loch Lomond in its glory. The sunshine was glorious in Glasgow and I was reminded of how many beautiful buildings there are in this former second city of the British Empire. The…

[julianworker]

Day 11 - Staffa and Lunga

My original post for this day has been removed, so here is a picture of a pair of razorbills on Lunga in the Treshnish Islands.

[julianworker]

Day 13 - Tobermory

The Museum of Mull is on Main Street. This free museum is well worth a look – please make a donation – and includes some useful information on all the ancient sites on the island including crannogs, standing stones, and burial cairns. There are rather a lot of them and I’m surprised more isn’t made of them by the island’s tourist board. There’s also some interesting information on the galleon…

[julianworker]

Offer - Travels through History : Portugal

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[julianworker]

Day 11 - Staffa and Lunga

Lunga is one of the Treshnish Islands and is unhabited by humans, but not by birds. Guillemots, razorbills, cormorants, terns, skuas, and gulls are just some of the species of bird living here. The most famous inhabitants though are the puffins and these birds are the main reason most people come on organised tours to Lunga. Puffins nest in burrows on the cliff and aren’t scared by the people…

[julianworker]

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[julianworker]

Dragon Lawyer 2 - Part 13

Scott Wolf asked Androcles standard questions about the events of the day when the alleged crime had taken place. Androcles answered them in the way described in the court papers without any deviation whatsoever. Wendy looked at the jury and they seemed to be taking in what was being said by Androcles, nodding occasionally and looking thoughtful. Wendy decided some meaningful looks at the jury…

[julianworker]

Day 10 - Tobermory on the Isle of Mull

Today I travelled from Oban to Tobermory on the Isle of Mull on the ferry. The ferry goes to Craignure on Mull and then I caught the 496 bus from Craignure to Tobermory. It’s just over fourteen pounds return. The bus was full with day-trippers from Oban. Mull is a very popular destination and I’m sure they’re not all Wombles fans. The pastel shades of most of the buildings along Main Street are…

[julianworker]

Day 9 - Kilmartin Glen.

On Day 9, I caught the 423 bus from Oban down to the village of Kilmartin (about 70 minutes) and from the museum I picked up a free map of the walking trail that connects the ancient cairns in this part of the world. There are five burial cairns, 1 set of standing stones, and the Temple Wood stone circle within 1.5 miles of each other. The going is completely level and the only thing to worry…

[julianworker]

Day 8 - To Oban

A travelling day from Glenfinnan to Oban via Crianlarich with the train packed with holiday makers moving from Fort William to Glasgow and points south of there. I had time to have a look at the monument to where the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion started at the head of Loch Shiel. Bonnie Prince Charlie, otherwise known as Charles Edward Louis John Sylvester Maria Casimir Stuart, was the elder son of…

[julianworker]

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