Last Days of the Tour and the Extension

The tour finally has a name.  Pat the Bunny Tour.  For reasons too obscure to understand and too rude to print.

Anyway, here's a few blog entries in photos for you to "wish you were here" with.

[Above] No, not Frank Randall's car, but one from the same period, owned by our host.  All Scots drive these, you know, while wearing kilts and tam-o-shanters.

 

 

[Above] A bonus stop, off-book.  Paul, the custodian interprets this Pictish stone for the group and lets them lay a gentle hand on a piece of royal propaganda more than 1000 years old.

[Below images]  Scenes from the castle of Leoch, some details from the place that inspired Starz.

[Below]  Onto the Starz locations extension and we find 
a) a really tough Scottish postman wearing shorts while delivering in the snow, or
b) yet another film being shot in a popular Scottish town for period drama.  This one being a winter scene, hence the fake snow.

What's the film?  "Tommy's Honour" about the father and son from St Andrews, founders of Golf.
[Below] Familiar? Yes, we're back again and this time dodging a different film crew.  

[Below] Campbells cafe, as used in Outlander.  Now you see it; now you don't.  A set carpenter making the Campbell's sign disappear at will behind a grey board.
 

September Tour - It's all about the heather

Yes folks, it's all about the heather in the September tour.  Oh, and there's a few stones 4000 years old, just for flavour. 

The Buggs, Peggy and Christopher enjoy a "heather romp" moment

  Today saw a visit to Castle Leoch's bigger cousin. Tonight some of the ladies are going to a trad. music session where Scot is playing.

Ann hums quietly to herself, in expectation

Mid-July Tour - Forest Adventures

Day 1.
Our "bonus tour" is under way, Mid July, with 7 lovely guests.  Adventures today:  Cranesmuir, The Stones, Whisky and Ale tasting, Tales of The Black Watch and pictured below an exploration into a wooded gorge, complete with spectacular waterfalls where a Browney does live.

Our friends join Mr Robert Burns in contemplation and composition of poetry

What's  Browney, properly Bruanaidh?  Well, do your Scottish research and find out!

Pony Crushers - July Tour

This Jamie and Claire tour has been dubbed the Pony Crushers tour.  One of our male number, Sam, is rather tall and the ponies we're using aren't.  Need I add more.
Here's the tour in photos.

The Pony Crushers - well, some of them are.

An obvious explanation...

Sheila wades a freezing Scottish river

Scot builds a river sculpture, Heidi imbibes a "Drink Me" bottle

Rita makes a friend, Shug the 9 year old sheep dog

Jennifer learns the ancient art of Highland wool spinning from Linda

The 2016 tour dates have begun to be posted on the website.  Requests are coming in for The Dragonfly in Amber tour for this next year and 2017, so if that's your Parisien bag, then get in touch and make your voice heard in any way you can.

LEWIS

Here's a few wee pics of us on Lewis.

A "tobhta" or ruined house near Calanais stones

Inside the iron age house

More of the Iron Age house.  Much reporting of "I could live here".

SKYE

Journey to the Western Isles visits a VERY BLOODY WINDY Skye.  Here we are climbing the Quiraing in a side wind (with intermittent rain).

The strangeness of the Quiraing

where even the sheep are 'odd'.

The Borders

Penultimate Day
Susan: Saw Lindesfarne Castle today; it has to be the snuggest, most liveable wee castle we've seen here.

 

Had lovely sunshine, blue sky with puffy white clouds, and a mild wind. Impossible to imagine that we end our tour tomorrow and head back to the USA early Tuesday morning. However, Scot and Sam have shown us such a marvellous overview of Scotland that we know a number of spots we intend to return to in the future for more extended visits, as well as an appetite for areas we've yet to explore, like the Orkneys and the Shetlands. This trip has exceeded our expectations and hopes in so many ways. Thanks, Scot and Sam!

Our pleasure, Susan.  We'll sign off with this image taken from our B&B for the last two nights.  Ahh the Borders!