Molly and I are just back from a #WoofHostelling trip to Oban, to show you some of the Dog friendly things to do courtesy of @hostellingscotland (#Ad)

It's a great option if you're travelling with a dog, with a private room, so no worries about disturbing anybody else! ImageImage
To get our Castle fix we visited Dunstaffnage (dogs are even allowed inside) and Dunollie Castles, both ancient strongholds once home to Clan MacDougall.

On the way to Dunollie we paid respect to the Dog Stone, where the legendary hero Fingal tied up his enormous hounds. ImageImage
Oban has great views to Kerrera, but why not head over to the island itself?

A 5 min ferry saw Molly and I hiking to Gylen Castle, perched dramatically on the cliffs!

This island saw the dramatic death of Alexander II after a prophetic dream warning him not to step foot there. Image
Slightly further out of Oban, head north to the ruins of Ardchattan Priory or south to the fantastic Historic Kilbride, which is so dog friendly that you might even meet the resident yellow Labrador wandering the old gravestones. ImageImage
Further on, Molly and I explored Carnasserie Castle, built by John Carswell, the Bishop of the Isles and author of the first book printed entirely in Scottish Gaelic!

Then we descended into the spectacular Kilmartin Glen, packed full of cairns and standing stones. ImageImage
You can bet that after all of that roaming, swimming and stuffing our faces in some of Oban's many dog-friendly pubs, we were exhausted.

The Oban Youth Hostel was the perfect place on the waterfront to pass out and the optional cooked breakfast in the morning was very welcome! Image
Just to prove that hostels are for everybody, we chatted to a retired couple from England, a group of backpacking students from America and a family from Fife!

Of course, they all spoke more to Molly than to me... Image

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More from @StoryScotland

May 12
This is a tale of two very different gravestones, both at Kilmuir in the north of Skye.

Most visitors to this graveyard are distracted by the monumental cross dedicated to Flora MacDonald, but these two deserve closer inspection. ImageImage
The first grave of the mail clad warrior is the final resting spot of Angus Martin.

He was a typically wild character who delighted in sailing his ship around the islands in all weathers and every season, gaining the nickname 'Angus of the Wind''.
He sounds like a bit of a swashbuckling hero, fighting over in Ireland, marrying a Danish princess and fathering 7 sons!

This style of gravestone was very common at one point around the Western Isles and Argyll, but there's a legend that claims this one doesn't belong on Skye.
Read 7 tweets
May 1
May 1st is also known as Beltane, once an important time in Scotland.

In October I posted a video of the journey down Glen Lyon to visit Tigh nam Bodach. Every Samhain, these stones are blocked up in the wee house and every Beltane, taken back out to watch over the glen. ImageImage
That means they should be back out enjoying the sunshine this morning in what's often called the oldest running pagan ritual in Britain.

Three of the stones represent the Bodach, Cailleach and Nighean and I'm going to retell the story of how they got here.
A long time ago, a fierce snowstorm blew threw Glenlyon, forcing the locals to barricade themselves inside and hope for the best.

Then, whilst peeking through a window, somebody spotted an enormous couple fighting their way over the mountain pass.
Read 7 tweets
Apr 29
In Scotland, even beautiful beaches and gentle bays have some pretty significant stories.

This is Scapa Flow in Orkney.

The large natural harbour was once the main base for the Royal Navy and the site of the last engagement of World War I.
While the Armistice was agreed on 11/11/18, it would be another 7 months before the official peace treaty was signed at Versailles.

Part of that was an argument between the Allies over what happened with the 70 warships of the German fleet, now guarded by the Royal Navy.
They hadn't officially surrendered yet, so were sailed by their own crews under close guard to Scapa Flow.

There, the demoralised sailors waited to learn their fate while Allied leaders squabbled over splitting the prizes.

All the while, the deadline for the Armistice drew near
Read 7 tweets
Apr 16
Since it's Sunday and I'm exhausted, I thought I'd reshare one of my favourite wee chapels.

This tiny ruin in Argyll has many different names - Old Craignish Parish, Kilmory, St Maelrubha's, Kilmarie, Kirkton and more! ImageImageImage
I'm sticking with Kirkton Chapel since that's how you'll be able to find it on Google maps. It's very well hidden, if you didn't know it was there, then you'd drive right past.

The building itself dates all the way back to the 12th or 13th century
Now, the roofless structure is only used to protect some incredible carved graveslabs.

The stones had already been moved around over the last 5-600 years, so it would be impossible to figure out where they originally lay.
Read 7 tweets
Apr 14
This is the Falkirk Tunnel, part of the Union Canal - an add on to the Forth-Clyde Canal.

Both allowed transport from one side of Scotland to the other without sailing all the way around.

However, this 630m tunnel through Prospect Hill wasn't part of the original plan. ImageImage
William Forbes owned nearby Callendar House and he didn't want a canal near his fancy mansion.

He felt like the view from his window was much more important than the benefits this direct route would have brought to the people of Scotland.
In the end, his wealth and influence were enough to convince the government to reroute the canal underground.

The considerable job of blasting and digging through the hard rock started.
Read 7 tweets
Mar 18
If there's one story from Banff on the north Aberdeenshire coast that needs told, it's Jamie Macpherson and his final tune.

He was one of the many "lovable rogues" from Scottish history, the son of a Macpherson laird and a traveller woman who met at a wedding.
The boy was recognised by his father, living with him until the old man's death, then being taken in by the travelling community.

Macpherson was said to be incredibly strong and his talents with a blade were only surpassed by his skill with a fiddle.
He had a legitimate business as a horse dealer, but was also the bane of the local, rich landowners, rustling livestock from those who could afford it.

He wasn't very subtle about his activities, everybody knew who he was and what he did, they just couldn't do anything about it.
Read 9 tweets

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