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72 images Created 25 Nov 2017

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  • Erected 4600 years ago, the Callanish Standing Stones are one of the most spectacular megalithic monuments in Scotland. The main site known as "Callanish I" forms a cross with a central stone circle erected circa 2900-2600 BC. More lines of stones were added by 2000 BC (the close of the Neolithic era), and it become a focus for rituals during the Bronze Age. From 1500-1000 BC, farmers emptied the burials and ploughed the area. After from 800 BC, peat accumulated 1.5 meters deep and buried the stones until removed in 1857. Visit this spectacular ancient site near the village of Callanish (Gaelic: Calanais), on the Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides (Western Isles), Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe.
    17SC2-351_Scotland.jpg
  • Bronze "hoblin" statue (see http://bronzehoblins.co.uk, Staffordshire) at Comlongon Castle, a restored Medieval Scottish tower house dating from the late 1400s. Guests can stay in the attached Edwardian hotel, a baronial style mansion built 1900-02, set in 120 acres of manicured gardens, sweeping lawns, carp pond, lakes and woodlands, near Clarencefield and Dumfries, in southwest Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe. Originally built by the Murrays of Cockpool, Comlongon Castle remained in the Murray family until 1984.
    17SC1-1055_Scotland.jpg
  • Sunburst at sunrise. Comlongon Castle is a restored Medieval Scottish tower house dating from the late 1400s. Guests can stay in the attached Edwardian hotel, a baronial style mansion built 1900-02, set in 120 acres of manicured gardens, sweeping lawns, carp pond, lakes and woodlands, near Clarencefield and Dumfries, in southwest Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe. Originally built by the Murrays of Cockpool, Comlongon Castle remained in the Murray family until 1984. The castle is 50 feet square and stands 70 feet high, with walls over 4 meters thick, with impressive displays of weapons, armor and banners. This image was stitched from several overlapping photos.
    17SC1-1101-03-Pano_Scotland.jpg
  • Thick window sill inside 1400s Comlongon Castle, a restored Medieval Scottish tower house dating from the late 1400s. Guests can stay in the attached Edwardian hotel, a baronial style mansion built 1900-02, set in 120 acres of manicured gardens, sweeping lawns, carp pond, lakes and woodlands, near Clarencefield and Dumfries, in southwest Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe. Originally built by the Murrays of Cockpool, Comlongon Castle remained in the Murray family until 1984. The castle is 50 feet square and stands 70 feet high, with walls over 4 meters thick, with impressive displays of weapons, armor and banners.
    17SC1-1193_Scotland.jpg
  • The formidable red sandstone walls of Caerlaverock Castle have a triangular shape, unique in Britain. First built in 1295 to to control trade, its wide moat, twin-towered gatehouse and lofty battlements give Caerlaverock a fairtale appearance, the epitome of a medieval stronghold. In the castle courtyard, walk through Nithsdale Lodging, a remarkable residence built in 1635, "the most ambitious early classical domestic architecture in Scotland." Caerlaverock is near Dumfries, on the edge of Caerlaverock National Nature Reserve, in southwest Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe. This stronghold defended the Maxwell family from the 1200s-1640, then was abandoned. It was besieged by the English during the Wars of Scottish Independence, and underwent several partial demolitions and reconstructions from the 1300s-1400s.
    17SC1-1227_Scotland.jpg
  • The formidable red sandstone walls of Caerlaverock Castle have a triangular shape, unique in Britain. First built in 1295 to to control trade, its wide moat, twin-towered gatehouse and lofty battlements give Caerlaverock a fairtale appearance, the epitome of a medieval stronghold. In the castle courtyard, walk through Nithsdale Lodging, a remarkable residence built in 1635, "the most ambitious early classical domestic architecture in Scotland." Caerlaverock is near Dumfries, on the edge of Caerlaverock National Nature Reserve, in southwest Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe. This stronghold defended the Maxwell family from the 1200s-1640, then was abandoned. It was besieged by the English during the Wars of Scottish Independence, and underwent several partial demolitions and reconstructions from the 1300s-1400s. This image was stitched from several overlapping photos.
    17SC1-1271-77-Pano_Scotland.jpg
  • The formidable red sandstone walls of Caerlaverock Castle have a triangular shape, unique in Britain. First built in 1295 to to control trade, its wide moat, twin-towered gatehouse and lofty battlements give Caerlaverock a fairtale appearance, the epitome of a medieval stronghold. In the castle courtyard, walk through Nithsdale Lodging, a remarkable residence built in 1635, "the most ambitious early classical domestic architecture in Scotland." Caerlaverock is near Dumfries, on the edge of Caerlaverock National Nature Reserve, in southwest Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe. This stronghold defended the Maxwell family from the 1200s-1640, then was abandoned. It was besieged by the English during the Wars of Scottish Independence, and underwent several partial demolitions and reconstructions from the 1300s-1400s.
    17SC1-1332_Scotland.jpg
  • The Kelpies, built of structural steel in 2013, are the world's largest pair of equine sculptures. Towering 30 meters above the Forth & Clyde Canal, these two horse head artworks are a monumental tribute to the horse power heritage (pulling wagons, ploughs, barges and coalships) vital to early industrial Scotland. Scottish sculptor Andy Scott designed these twin 300-tonne feats of engineering. Visit the Kelpies in the Helix parkland project, Falkirk, Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe.
    17SC1-1378_Scotland.jpg
  • Built in 2002, the Falkirk Wheel is the world's first and only rotating boat lift. It reconnects the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal for the first time since the 1930s. The wheel raises boats by 24 metres (79 ft) in just 15 minutes, then a pair of locks raises them 11 metres (36 ft) higher to reach the Union Canal. Falkirk, central Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe.
    17SC1-1495_Scotland.jpg
  • Once the capital of Scotland, Stirling is visually dominated by Stirling Castle. Historically, Stirling controlled a strategic position (until the 1890s) as the lowest bridging point of the River Forth before it broadens towards the Firth of Forth, making it the gateway to the Scottish Highlands. One of the principal royal strongholds of the Kingdom of Scotland, Stirling was created a royal burgh by King David I in 1130. Stirling Castle sits atop Castle Hill, an intrusive crag, which forms part of the Stirling Sill geological formation. Most of the stronghold's main buildings date from the 1400s and 1500s, when it peaked in importance. The outer defences fronting the town date from the early 1700s. Before the union with England, Stirling Castle was also one of the most used of the many Scottish royal residences, serving as both a palace and a fortress. Scotland is now part of the United Kingdom, in Europe. Several Scottish Kings and Queens have been crowned at Stirling, including Mary, Queen of Scots in 1542, and others were born or died there. Stirling Castle has suffered at least eight sieges, including several during the Wars of Scottish Independence, with the last being in 1746, when Bonnie Prince Charlie unsuccessfully tried to take the castle.
    17SC1-2007_Scotland.jpg
  • Inside Stirling Castle, unicorns in the Scottish King's Bedchamber symbolize royal purity & strength. What's with the unicorn? Unicorns were first depicted in 2600 BC in ancient seals of the Indus Valley Civilization and were mentioned by the ancient Greeks. In Celtic mythology the unicorn symbolized purity, innocence, masculinity and power. The proud, haughty unicorn was chosen as Scotland's national animal because it would rather die than be captured, just as Scots would fight to remain sovereign and unconquered. The unicorn was first used on the Scottish royal coat of arms by William I in the 1100s, and two unicorns supported the shield until 1603. When James VI became James I of England and Ireland in 1603, he replaced one unicorn with the national animal of England, the lion, to demonstrate unity. Believed to be the strongest of all animals, wild and untamed, the mythical unicorn could only be humbled by a virgin maiden. However, Scotland's unicorn in the coat of arms is always bounded by a golden chain, often shown around its neck and body, symbolizing the power of the Scottish kings, strong enough to tame a unicorn. Most of Stirling Castle's main buildings date from the 1400s and 1500s, when it peaked in importance. Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe.
    17SC1-2102_Scotland.jpg
  • "Hunt of the Unicorn" replica tapestries in the Scottish Queen's Inner Hall in the Royal Palace at Stirling Castle, in Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe. The Royal Palace was childhood home of Mary Queen of Scots. The palace's lavish design drew on European Renaissance fashions to show off James V's power and good taste. Historic Scotland has recreated the palace interiors as they may have looked when the Scottish king's grand scheme was complete. The "Hunt of the Unicorn" tapestries in the Queen's Lodgings are replicas hand-loomed from 2001-2014, inspired from the seven original tapestries made in Brussels between 1495-1505 (now in the Cloisters museum of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art). Why a unicorn? In Celtic mythology the unicorn symbolized purity, innocence, masculinity and power. The proud, haughty unicorn was chosen as Scotland's national animal because it would rather die than be captured, just as Scots would fight to remain sovereign and unconquered. Once the capital of Scotland, Stirling is visually dominated by Stirling Castle. Most of Stirling Castle's main buildings date from the 1400s and 1500s, when it peaked in importance. This image was stitched from several overlapping photos.
    17SC1-2123-26-Pano_Scotland.jpg
  • Statue of King James V of Scotland on the outside of the Royal Palace, in Stirling Castle, United Kingdom, Europe. Historically, Stirling controlled a strategic position (until the 1890s) as the lowest bridging point of the River Forth before it broadens towards the Firth of Forth, making it the gateway to the Scottish Highlands. One of the principal royal strongholds of the Kingdom of Scotland, Stirling was created a royal burgh by King David I in 1130. Most of the stronghold's main buildings date from the 1400s and 1500s, when it peaked in importance. Before the union with England, Stirling Castle was also one of the most used of the many Scottish royal residences, serving as both a palace and a fortress. Several Scottish Kings and Queens have been crowned at Stirling, including Mary, Queen of Scots in 1542, and others were born or died there. Stirling Castle has suffered at least eight sieges, including several during the Wars of Scottish Independence.
    17SC1-2152_Scotland.jpg
  • McCaig's Tower rises prominently on Battery Hill overlooking the town of Oban in Argyll, Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe. It is built of Bonawe granite with a circumference of 200 meters with two-tiers of 94 lancet arches. The structure was commissioned by the wealthy, philanthropic banker (North of Scotland Bank), John Stuart McCaig, his own architect. The tower was built between 1897 and his death in 1902, intended as a lasting monument to McCaig's family and as employment for local stonemasons during winter. As an admirer of Roman and Greek architecture, McCaig had planned for an elaborate structure based on the Colosseum in Rome, but only the outer walls were completed. Oban is an important tourism hub and Caledonian MacBrayne (Calmac) ferry port, protected by the island of Kerrera and Isle of Mull, in the Firth of Lorn.
    17UK3-3029_Scotland.jpg
  • Delicious scallops, seafood lunch. Have a delicious fresh meal at Oban Seafood Hut (the Green Shack). Oban is an important tourism hub and Caledonian MacBrayne (Calmac) ferry port, protected by the island of Kerrera and Isle of Mull, in the Firth of Lorn, Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe.
    17UK3-3046_Scotland.jpg
  • Fishing net and rope pattern. Oban is an important tourism hub and Caledonian MacBrayne (Calmac) ferry port, protected by the island of Kerrera and Isle of Mull, in the Firth of Lorn, Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe.
    17UK3-3080_Scotland.jpg
  • 1440s Castle Stalker is a 4-story tower house or keep picturesquely set on a tidal islet on Loch Laich, an inlet of Loch Linnhe, near Port Appin, Argyll, in Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe. Castle Stalker is visible from the A828 road midway between Oban and Glen Coe. It was occupied from the 1440s-1840, lost its roof, then was fully restored 1965-1974. It appeared in the 1975 film "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" in the final scene as "The Castle of Aaaaarrrrrrggghhh." The name Stalker comes from the Gaelic Stalcaire, meaning hunter or falconer.
    17SC1-2287_Scotland.jpg
  • Mountain stream and fog. Glen Coe is perhaps the most scenic and historic valley in Scotland. It is traversed by the River Coe and the A82 road, in the north of Argyll, close to the border with Lochaber. Glen Coe is the remains of an extinct supervolcano (erupted 420 million years ago during the Silurian period), one of the best examples of subsidence calderas. Heavy glaciation ending 10,000 years ago carved the U-shaped valley. The 1692 Massacre of Glencoe happened near Glencoe village at the foot of the valley. Glen Coe is part of the designated National Scenic Area of Ben Nevis and Glen Coe. This image was stitched from several overlapping photos.
    17SC1-2295-2300-Pano_Scotland.jpg
  • Lochan na Fola pond reflects Stob Coire Raineach, a munro at the northeastern end of Buachaille Etive Beag ridge, in Glen Coe, Scotland, in the United Kingdom, Europe. Glen Coe is perhaps the most scenic and historic valley in Scotland. Glen Coe is traversed by the River Coe and the A82 road, in the north of Argyll county, close to the border with Lochaber. Glen Coe is the remains of an extinct supervolcano (erupted 420 million years ago during the Silurian period), one of the best examples of subsidence calderas. Heavy glaciation ending 10,000 years ago carved this U-shaped valley. The 1692 Massacre of Glencoe happened near Glencoe village at the foot of the valley. Glen Coe is part of the designated National Scenic Area of Ben Nevis and Glen Coe. This image was stitched from several overlapping photos.
    17SC1-2416-25-Pano_Scotland.jpg
  • Steall Waterfall in the valley of Glen Nevis near Fort William, Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe. Steall Falls is Scotland's second highest waterfall, with a single drop of 120 meters or 393 ft. One of the best short hikes in Scotland ascends 220 m to the falls (3.5 km / 2.25 miles round trip) via Nevis Gorge, an area owned by the John Muir Trust, which is attempting to restore wilderness here after centuries of burning and grazing.
    17SC1-2497_Scotland.jpg
  • On the trail via Steall Gorge (or Nevis Gorge) to Steall Waterfall, in the valley of Glen Nevis near Fort William, Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe. One of the best short hikes in Scotland ascends 220 m to Steall Falls (3.5 km / 2.25 miles round trip) via Nevis Gorge, an area owned by the John Muir Trust, which is attempting to restore wilderness here after centuries of burning and grazing. Hidden in the clouds is Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the British Isles. Standing at 1345 meters (4411 ft), it is at the western end of the Grampian Mountains in the Lochaber area of the Scottish Highlands. The 700-metre (2300 ft) cliffs of the north face are among the highest in Scotland. The summit, which is the collapsed dome of an ancient volcano, features the ruins of an observatory which was continuously staffed between 1883 and 1904. The meteorological data collected during this period are still important for understanding Scottish mountain weather. C. T. R. Wilson was inspired to invent the cloud chamber after a period spent working at the observatory.
    17SC1-2501_Scotland.jpg
  • Smoothly eroded rock walls of Steall Gorge (or Nevis Gorge), downstream from Steall Waterfall, in the valley of Glen Nevis near Fort William, Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe. Steall Falls is Scotland's second highest waterfall, with a single drop of 120 meters or 393 ft. One of the best short hikes in Scotland ascends 220 m to the falls (3.5 km / 2.25 miles round trip) via Nevis Gorge, an area owned by the John Muir Trust, which is attempting to restore wilderness here after centuries of burning and grazing.
    17SC1-2510_Scotland.jpg
  • Sunset at Eilean Donan Castle, in Kintail National Scenic Area, Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe. This picturesque island stronghold sits where three sea lochs meet at the village of Dornie in the western Highlands (Loch Duich, Loch Long, and Loch Alsh). Since restoration of the 1200s castle in the early 1900s, a footbridge connects the island to the mainland. The island is named after Donnán of Eigg, a Celtic saint martyred in 617. The castle was founded in the 1200s and became a stronghold of the Clan Mackenzie and their allies the Clan Macrae. In the early 1700s, the Mackenzies' involvement in the Jacobite rebellions led in 1719 to the castle's destruction by government ships. Lieutenant-Colonel John Macrae-Gilstrap's 1920-32 reconstruction of the ruins made the present buildings.
    17SC1-2555_Scotland.jpg
  • Stone footbridge to Eilean Donan Castle, in Kintail National Scenic Area, Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe. This picturesque island stronghold sits where three sea lochs meet at the village of Dornie in the western Highlands (Loch Duich, Loch Long, and Loch Alsh). Since restoration of the 1200s castle in the early 1900s, a footbridge connects the island to the mainland. The island is named after Donnán of Eigg, a Celtic saint martyred in 617. The castle was founded in the 1200s and became a stronghold of the Clan Mackenzie and their allies the Clan Macrae. In the early 1700s, the Mackenzies' involvement in the Jacobite rebellions led in 1719 to the castle's destruction by government ships. Lieutenant-Colonel John Macrae-Gilstrap's 1920-32 reconstruction of the ruins made the present buildings.
    17SC1-2639-p1-p1_Scotland.jpg
  • Stone footbridge to Eilean Donan Castle at sunset, in Kintail National Scenic Area, Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe. This picturesque island stronghold sits where three sea lochs meet at the village of Dornie in the western Highlands (Loch Duich, Loch Long, and Loch Alsh). Since restoration of the 1200s castle in the early 1900s, a footbridge connects the island to the mainland. The island is named after Donnán of Eigg, a Celtic saint martyred in 617. The castle was founded in the 1200s and became a stronghold of the Clan Mackenzie and their allies the Clan Macrae. In the early 1700s, the Mackenzies' involvement in the Jacobite rebellions led in 1719 to the castle's destruction by government ships. Lieutenant-Colonel John Macrae-Gilstrap's 1920-32 reconstruction of the ruins made the present buildings. This image was stitched from several overlapping photos.
    17SC1-2658-71-Pano-Edit_Scotland.jpg
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