One quote from Shakespeare is “The eyes are the windows of the soul.” What are windows a portal to? Edward Gorey once said “My favorite journey is looking out the window.” Sometimes my favorite journey is looking at windows. Here are some windows from towns within a short drive from Edinburgh, Scotland.
I think this one may be my favorite. I am partial to tea though.
Mehmet Morat Ildan is quoted as saying “If you want people to understand you, invite them to your life and let them see the world from your window.” You get to see a little bit of this person’s world through the window in the wall surrounding their property in the picture below. You get a nice view of their back garden.
Window to a walled in gardenDifferent textures
Mehmet Murat Ildon once said “It is not possible for a house to own a spirit without windows with flowers.” The window below looks quite lovely with flowers perched on the sill.
These windows make me what to live in these houses and towns. How do they make you feel?
Have you ever had a pet that was very loyal to you? How do you honor a dog that went above and beyond in loyalty to his human? In Edinburgh, Scotland they found a few ways to honor one such dog. Greyfriars Bobby is not a tale, but a true story.
John Gray went to Edinburgh with his wife and son looking for work. He accepted a job as a police constable. He was provided with a place to stay in the neighborhood he worked in.
Working Dog
Police during that time worked with dogs. It is said John Gray adopted a Skye terrier around 1856. He named the dog Bobby. Bobby followed John around on his rounds. John and Bobby would make a routine of stopping at a coffee house near the Greyfriar’s Church.
John Gray became ill and in early 1858 he died of consumption or tuberculosis. Bobby followed the funeral procession through the Burial Gate to Greyfriar’s Kirk (churchyard) where John was buried.
One entrance to the churchyard and it could be the Burial Gate.
Loyal
John Gray’s family was said to have taken the dog home, but he kept returning to his master’s grave to hold vigil. James Brown, a gardener at the church, gave Bobby food and water and allowed him to stay. Usually dogs were chased away from the churchyard. Fellow police constables on patrol through the churchyard recognized John Gray’s dog and feed him a little as well. Also it is said a man named James Anderson, who lived above what is now the Greyfriars Bobby bar, would go and fetch Bobby on stormy nights and bring him inside his place.
A sergeant at Edinburgh Castle heard about Bobby and took an interest in him. Sgt. Scott trained Bobby that the one o’clock gun meant dinner. It became an attraction for people to stand at the churchyard gate to see Bobby leave at the one o’clock gun and walk to the Eating House. After he was done eating he would walk back to the grave. This continued when the place changed hands and was named Traill’s Temperance Coffee House.
Danger came when it was decided all dogs in Edinburgh needed to be licensed. If they were not they could be put to sleep or destroyed. The optics of putting such a loyal dog to sleep would have been terrible, so the Lord Provost of Edinburgh William Chambers stepped in and paid for Bobby’s license and bought him a collar.
Famous Dog
Newspapers started to write stories about Greyfriars Bobby. People came to paint pictures of him. The Traill family who ran the Coffee House Bobby visited at one o’clock everyday had a photo taken with him.
Bobby died January 14, 1872. The Traill family buried Bobby in a triangular flower bed beneath a tree in the Greyfriars Churchyard in secret. They put up a headstone that someone later removed.
Honoring Bobby
People think it is good luck to rub Bobby’s nose, but they ask you not to do that as it affects the statute.
In 1873 a bronze statue was made of Bobby with a granite fountain was donated by Baroness Angela Georgina Burdett-Coutts. There was a trough at the bottom of it for dogs to drink out of.
The Huntly House Museum in Edinburgh has two of Bobby’s items. They have the collar presented to Bobby by Lord Provost William Chambers. They also have the metal dish Bobby ate from at the Coffee Shop from 1862-1872. They also have the photo of Bobby with the Traill family and their coffee house.
In 1981 a new headstone funded by the Dog Aid Society of Scotland was erected for Bobby in the Greyfriars Churchyard. They believe it is in the same area he was buried.
Bobby’s master, John Gray’s headstone
Various books were made in his honor telling his story. A Disney movie was made about Bobby, although they say the facts are incorrect.
These are just a few of the books written about Bobby.This book is more factual. The author sites sources for his information. I used this as one of my sources for this post.The statue of Bobby is in front of this pub across this side street.
There is a pub now near the statue named Greyfriars Bobby.
Pub sign for Greyfriars Bobby
Greyfriars Bobby was an incredible dog with an incredible story. How loyal is your pet? How far would you go to honor your animal friend?
Culross, Scotland is one of those places that hits two birds with one stone. It is a filming location for Outlander and quite a pretty little town.
Filming Location
Culross appears as the fictional town of Crainsmuir in Outlander. It featured in both season 1 and season 4.
The Merkat Cross (Market Cross) was the center of Crainsmuir. It was the location in Outlander where Geillus was sentenced to burn for being a witch. It is also the location where Claire and Jamie rescue Tammas Baxter, the tanner boy. The Merkat Cross also features in Captain America: The First Avenger (2011). In Captain America Culross stood in for a Norwegian town. In season 4 of Outlander, Bree is rescued from the cold by Laoghaire near the Mercat Cross and she discovers she is Jamie’s daughter.
The town has lovely cobblestone streets.
Laoghaire’s house for outside shots is also near the Mercat Cross.
Other movies filmed in Culross include 39 Steps, The Little Vampire, and Kidnapped.
The Town
Culross is a very well preserved 17th century town. It has buildings that are being maintained by the National Trust. There are many beautiful spots within the town. I was on a tour, so I had limited time to spend. If you are staying in Edinburgh and have access to a car it is about 25 miles away. It is around 33 miles from Glasgow.
They do have a few nice little shops and restaurants. We ate at the Biscuit Cafe. I had a nice soup and a friend traveling with me had flatbread pizza. Both meals were very tasty.
I recommend stopping here for more than just an hour or two. The cobblestone streets are not busy with cars. It is a charming location to walk around and take in the 17th and 18th century architecture.
You can walk up this path to get stunning views of the village from above.Views from above the town
Do you know where Mary Queen of Scots was born? Did you know that spot was also used as a filming location for a television series? The location is Linlithgow Palace, and you can walk the grounds.
One wall on the way in shows the succession order
Linlithgow is in a town of the same name in West Lothian area of Scotland. It is about 15 miles outside Edinburgh.
History
Linlithgow from the back
Mary Queen of Scots was born in Linlithgow Palace in December 1542. A few years later she was sent to France to attend school. She was Catholic and Scotland was transitioning to becoming a protestant nation. She later occasionally stayed at Linlithgow during her reign.
View of the fountain and courtyard through a window
Another figure who visited the Palace was Bonnie Prince Charles. Supposedly when he visited in September 1745 the fountain was made to flow with wine in his honor.
Fountain at LinlithgowClose up of a section of the fountain
You can drive to this location or take a tour. Some tour companies include this in their itenerary. I will not name the tour I took on this post.
Leaving the grounds heading towards the village/ town.
Filming Location
This location has also been used in television programs. This stood in for Wentworth Prison in Outlander. This is where Jamie was tortured by Captain Black Jack Randall.
Another show that has filmed here was Outlaw King. This is about Robert the Bruce. Robert the Bruce’s men captured the castle in 1313. The fountain is visible in some scenes.
Like many castles it is not in tip top shape, but it is worth seeing. Are you a history buff? Are you a fan of Outlander? This location may interest you.
Have you ever wondered where great writers have set up their office? Have you ever wondered where they get the inspiration to write? If you are a Harry Potter fan, one location the author J.K. Rowling worked on writing the series was The Elephant House in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Rowling took a lot of her inspiration for the books from different locations in Edinburgh. So if you plan to visit some of these locations, add the Elephant House to your itinerary.
There are new articles about Rowling posted in the restaurant as well as photos of her working on the story lines for the series.
As the name suggests, this restaurant has an elephant theme. There are elephants around the restaurant. There are elephant figurines, posters, and even an elephant chair in the restaurant. They also encourage you to donate to a charity that benefits elephants.
I went with a friend who is a big Harry Potter fan. We ate lunch, although they are known for their coffee and pastries/ desserts we were told.
Chicken wrapMy friend ordered the pizza. She ended up sharing some with a little girl next to our table who was visiting from Shanghai. Her aunt was taking her to various Harry Potter locations.
If you would like to see a location J.K. Rowling penned the Harry Potter series visit The Elephant house in Edinburgh, Scotland. See where a great writer worked and have a cup of coffee or more.
There are many places that are said to be haunted in York, England. A few places that lay claim to this are pubs. One such pub is The Hole in the Wall.
Ghost Story
The story up on the wall of the pub is this pub was formerly named the Board Inn. A builder was said to have found a tunnel beneath the pub. Ghostly footsteps were heard echoing in the dark, so they quickly bricked it up. They say in 1816 excavation was done and a hole discovered that led to an eery dungeon where chains and manacles were hanging. We asked the bartenders about the story and they said both were working one night and they heard a voice talking, but no one was there.
The name of this beer goes well with the pub’s haunting story.
Location
The Hole in the Wall is on High Petergate in York not far from York Minster. It is in the older walled in section of town. You can get to York via train. If hiking is not a problem you can walk from the train station to the old walled in section.
Unique decor in one of their rooms.Cute gargoyle, which fits in well with the area. This pub is in close proximity to York Minster.Their sticky toffee pudding was pretty good. My friend can vouch for it.
There are several pubs and places in York with stories of ghost sightings or haunting tales. They even have tours covering some of these establishments. If you are into this sort of thing, check out The Hole in the Wall.
York can be an expensive city to visit. One alternative that is less expensive, but still within the old city walls is the Student Castle York University. I booked it through University Rooms website.
I have stayed at York University before booking through University Rooms. However, previously I stayed on their main campus, which was about a 20 minute bus ride from the walled in area of York. It was cheaper two years ago and worked out well as I stayed in York for a week. They had regular bus service from the main campus to the old section of York.
This time however, when I booked well in advance, the only dorm that came up in December- January was the more expensive apartment dorms that are Student Castle. It was more expensive much much closer to where I wanted to be.
Accommodations
Small kitchen with TV
The Student Castle is a group of of dorm apartments buildings. It is modern inside. It includes a small kitchen, shower/toilet room, double bed, TV, table, desk and plenty of outlets. They appear to have parking spots in the quad area. There is access to free wifi.
Room at Student Castle YorkPrivate toilet/shower with towel warmer
I was told this facility rents out rooms throughout the year. There are grad students and some undergrads staying in the dorm, but the first floor is reserved for people visiting.
I found this was a nice alternative to hotel rooms in the area that can be quite expensive. The location is optimal. If you would like to stop by a grocery, you may be able to cook your own meals. If visiting York I highly recommend Student Castle York.
Are you looking for a cheaper option when traveling? Do you want to have your money stretch farther? Would you rather spend money on day tours and entry into museums than on the hotel you only sleep in? Other than hostels, there is another option during the summer- University Rooms.
University Rooms is a website that allows you book rooms at various universities around the world. Not all universities and colleges have joined this network, but some have in key places. I found out about them through an archivist at Memorial University in Newfoundland, Canada. She recommended I stay at the university while doing research up there. Once I stayed I started getting emails from University Rooms on occasion.
Besides staying at Memorial University in Newfoundland, I have also stayed at York University and the University of Bath in England. This time I stayed at Oxford University in England. All locations have felt safe. I would have to say so far Oxford has surpassed the rest on accommodations.
Location
I stayed at the Keble College Oxford. Oxford University is an umbrella for over 30 college campuses spread throughout the town. It is not that far of a walk to the High Street and shops. It is also close to the museums on campus.
Accommodations
The dorm I stayed was large for one person. It had a single twin size bed, chair, desk and a private shower/toilet room. In a closet there was a refrigerator. They provided soap, lotion, shampoo, and even a toothbrush if needed. There were plenty of electrical outlets for your devices. Wifi is included. They also allow access to a laundry room.
Room at Keble CollegeView looking in the opposite direction. Toilet/shower is behind the wall the desk sits in front of.Private toilet/shower
Dining Hall
The dining hall was fabulous. I am told by a friend who traveled with me that it is just like the one in Harry Potter. Some scenes from Harry Potter were filmed around Oxford including on some the university grounds. On our first day we felt privileged as they let us sit at the head tables up front.
View from the head tables. This is the dining hall within Keble College Oxford University.
Transportation
I went to Oxford by train. Taxis know where to drop you off at different colleges within Oxford. You usually do not have long to wait at the Oxford Train Station to get a taxi. When checking out of the dorm, Keble College had a button to directly reach the taxi company. On the screen it gave the time expected for arrival to pick up up, the make and model of the taxi and the license plate.
There are buses within Oxford that take you to other nearby locations.
I love Oxford. This dorm was a good location in respect to most of what you would want to see at Oxford. The accommodations were impressive for a university dorm. If you are traveling to Oxford during the summer months and want to save money this is a good option.
Sometimes I like to tick off two boxes at once when I travel. When viewing wildlife it is also nice if the area you go to has a lovely view. If you are like me you may want to visit the area near Godrevy Lighthouse. Not only can you view seals, but you also have gorgeous views as well.
Godrevy Lighthouse is on Godrevy Island in the Atlantic Ocean off Cornwall, England. A stone reef stretches from Godrevy Island towards St. Ives. Many vessels shipwrecked it that area prior to the lighthouse being constructed in the 1850s.
Seal on Godrevy Island taken from the tour boat Little Mermaid.
Seals and Other Wildlife
There are a variety of animals to view in the area. Grey seals are around in the summer, however, the numbers increase in fall, and in winter you may see close to one hundred. The island and area boasts a variety of seabirds including pipits, oystercatchers, gulls, and cormorants. Occasionally a dolphin or basking shark may be viewed.
Seals swimming onto the rock. We were told the darker ones were young ones and the lighter ones were older ones.Enjoying the sunGodrevy Island and Lighthouse taken from the Little Mermaid tour boat.
Viewing
There is more than one way you can view the lighthouse. Godrevy Beach is run by the National Trust and they provide parking areas. Another way way you can view it is to board a tour boat from St. Ives. More than one company presently takes people around the island. I took the Little Mermaid from St. Ives and I also viewed the lighthouse from the National Trust property.
Close-up of the lighthouse from the tour boat.A third way to get to Godrevy? We saw some paddle boarders make their way over to Godrevy. This paddle boarder took his dog. You can see a seal popping his head out of the water on the right. With the rocks around the island I am not sure I would recommend this.
Literary Ties
View of Godrevy Island and Lighthouse from St. Ives
It is said Godrevy Lighthouse was the inspiration for “To the Lighthouse” by Virginia Woolf. Woolf spent many summers in St. Ives. You can see Godrevy Lighthouse from there.
Filming Location
Godrevy appears to have been used as a filming location or backdrop for TV and film. Blue Juice, a 1995 British surfer film staring Catherine Zeta Jones and Ewan McGregor was shot there. It also appears the lighthouse may have been used as a location for the TV show Doc Martin in series 9 Episode 1. Pictures of a boat in the Hayle area with the characters Doc and PC Penhale aboard appeared online in April 2019. My tour guide, a local, said the rumor was Martin Clunes was flown out by helicopter to the lighthouse island to shoot scenes.
The coast of Cornwall is stunning and you really can’t go wrong visiting its many seaside villages and hotspots. By boat or by land this area is worth a stop.
Have you ever wanted to escape to some rural or remote area? Have you wanted to take in the sights and sounds of nature? During part of my stay in England I did just that and it was glorious.
I stayed at North Buckham Farm on the outskirts of Beaminster in Dorset. It is a working sheep farm with over 400 breeding ewes. They currently have two border collies, Scott and Naila. Scott works to move sheep between grazing areas and they are training Naila, still a pup, to do the same. They also have a few horses.
The accommodations were in a shepherd’s hut. This could have slept 2, but I was staying by myself. You have lovely views of the farm from the huts. The huts have electrical outlets, so I was able to work on my computer and charge my devices. You only hear the sounds of wildlife, horses, and occasional sheep from the shepherd’s huts. If you are a city clicker, no worries, most of the animals go silent after dark. Nearby is a building with a water closet, bath, and kitchen.
Shepherd’s HutInside of shepherd’s hutInside of a shepherd’s hut looking at the other end.
Breakfast
You have the option of including breakfast during your stay. I decided to do just that and it set me up well for the day. Trish, the host, asks you what you prefer. I had eggs and smoked salmon the first day as well as yogurt with fresh berries. Trish even provided gluten-free bread upon request.
A badger as taken on my camera after dark from the hide.
Wildlife
Also on the property is a glass-fronted animal viewing hide. I arranged with Trish to venture out to the hide one night at eight. I waited quietly and my patience paid off. I saw two badgers one by one slowly peak out of their holes and return several times before they came out and foraged around on the grass in front of me. I also saw a fox run the perimeter waiting for the badgers to finish. I contemplated staying in the hide all night in order to catch the fox on my camera, but ended up heading back to my hut between 11:30 and midnight. If I return, I am determined to catch that fox. While waiting in the hide I believe I may also have heard an owl.
Nearby
There are two walking paths, that one can start not far from the end of North Buckham Farm’s driveway that lead you into Beaminster. This town has two pubs, a Co-Op grocery, and a few other restaurants. There are also other walking paths nearby that lead to other villages farther away.
Do you fancy a simple more rustic stay away from crowds? Do you want to get away from it all, but still have access to civilization? Then consider a stay at North Buckham Farm in Dorset. It may be the location you need to unplug and unwind.
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