The next morning our Cosmos bus tour of the "Highlights of Ireland and Scotland," drove north from Culloden toward Pitlochry. We drove past colorful pastoral scenery which was aglow in autumnal splendor. I could not resist taking many photos through the bus window!
We passed Ruthven Barracks in the Badenoch area, They are the best preserved of the four barracks built in 1719 after the 1715 Jacobite rising. Set on an old castle mound, the complex comprises two large three-story blocks occupying two sides of the enclosure, each with two rooms per floor. The barracks and enclosing walls were built with loopholes for musket firing, and bastion towers were built at opposite corners. Destroyed by Jacobites following their retreat after the Battle of Culloden in 1746.
When our bus stopped at Pitlochry we had a few hours to explore the town. Pitlochry is largely a Victorian-era town, which developed into a tourist resort after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert visited the area in 1842 and bought a highland estate at Balmoral, and the arrival of the railway in 1863. It remains a popular tourist resort today and is particularly known for its Pitlochry Festival Theatre, salmon ladder (click here to read about that unusual attraction), and as a center for hiking as it is surrounded by mountains and world-class golf.
My husband and I were charmed by the town! As we walked by a canal a fellow tourist on our tour bus, who was visiting from New Zealand, offered to take our photos.
...and much window shopping!
I was excited to visit the John Muir Trust Visitor's Center in Pitlochry as he is someone I've admired for many years!
John Muir (April 21, 1838 – December 24, 1914) was born in Scotland and emigrated to the United States in 1849 with his parents and siblings. In his life, he became a naturalist, author, environmentalist, botanist, zoologist, glaciologist, and early advocate for the preservation of wilderness in the United States, and is known as the "Father of the National Parks" system and the founder of the Sierra Club.
I agree!
We passed farmlands and sadly saw the remains of flooding that had occurred with Storm Babet which roared through part of Europe in the middle of October, with destructive rain and flooding. All of Europe has been feeling the effects of climate change.
We rode along with Rail Europe at one point as we made our way east to St. Andrews--on my next post!
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22 comments:
Depending on the dates we decide on in September we might be able to take in the Highland games at Pitlochry so I appreciated seeing these photos you shared of the town. Happy end of April to you.
I can see why you were charmed by the town. I don't think I would want to leave. I would have loved to see the Muir center -- and oh, those scenes! It looks like autumn is a beautiful time for the highlands. I don't think our trip will take us that way. Did you ever visit a spot called Glinockie Tower or hear about the Reivers? I'd be curious if you did. That's the area we will be headed to in Scotland during our short time there.
That looks like such an adorable town! The scenery is just beautiful.
What a nice town and lovely set of photos you have showed me so many places in Scotland and learnt a lot about them a pleasure to read
Have a triptastic week 👍 oh and I do love my fish and cgips 👍
Beautifully captured in pictures and words!
I am really enjoying this series….. Michelle
Everything looks so nice. Would love to visit Scotland someday.
So lovely! Thanks so much for sharing at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2024/04/too-funny-not-to-share.html
Wow, what a beautiful place. Great pics.
Yes, I agree too. Our nature is most important. Nice to see you!
So much joy is really recognisable in all the pictures.
These are wonderful scenes with such very different statements. I really admire your shots and enjoyed the post. Funny windows shopping.
Thank you for sharing with MosaicMonday
Have a pleasant week. Many greetings from Heidrun
What lovely views of a charming town. Scotland is on my (long) list of places I'd like to visit.
Great photos! Thanks so much for joining us at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2024/04/too-funny-not-to-share.html
Beautiful colours, photos and memories.
Beautiful colours, photos and memories.
Those ruins are spectacular!! How wonderful #Skywatch
Wow, the countryside is just gorgeous!! So lush, and the fall colors are perfect. Pitlochry is so darn quaint!! I'd love to explore it a little bit.
And John Muir is from there. Amazing. From what little I've read about Scotland so many famous people came from little tiny towns in the country.
Lovely documentation. When I post about my travels, the toughest part is choosing photos to share, because I still take way too many photos.
Worth a Thousand Words
So much to see and do, with such a rich history. The Ruthven Barracks look amazing!
love the first compilation of images, love the colors
Thanks so much for participating and sharing at #25 #WW (Words welcome). See you again next week https://esmesalon.com/tag/wordlesswednesday/
beautiful colors here,love the barracks shot
Such beautiful photos. We were in Scotland a few years ago and absolutely loved it.
Beautiful colours in your photographs.
All the best Jan
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