Hill walkers established Munro bagging as a popular outdoor pursuit. Now, the conquest of Scotland's 284 mountains over 3,000ft, named after the mountaineer Sir Hugh Munro who listed them, faces a challenge from people bagging castles instead.
Historic Scotland, which is responsible for 63 castles in Scotland, has noticed a sharp increase in the number of people who say they are on a quest to visit as many as possible. Many visitors want to bag as many as they can in a day or weekend.
Historic Scotland said one family managed to visit 20 castles in one day, a party of German took in 35 sites in 10 days, while a Spanish couple managed 37 in 14 days. The agency is offering a reward for the family who can bag the most castles in a weekend. The winners will be reimbursed their entry fees.
Of course many of Scotland's castles are not part of Historic Scotland. Here in the east, I can think of 25 castles within an hour's drive and one of my favourites is pictured above - Dunnottar Castle just outside Stonehaven. It reeks of Scottish history and the setting adds to the extraordinary atmosphere.
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26 comments:
SR,
One of my faves too, up with Slains and Braemar!
I do Munros, but I'm not a bagger, that's a receipe for a divorce! And as I'm on "the sequel" I don't intend for a 3rd Mrs Crazy!
I like the fact that Cromwell tried it on at Dunnottar and the Scots Crown Jewels were sneaked oot under his conk - not so smart then was he?!
Have a braw one, punting domani.
Crazy D
Reminds me of a colleague of mine, who went through as many museums and art galleries as she could in a one day stopover in Madrid.
What is the effen point, other than to tick a list?
I'd much rather relax and do ONE thoroughly.
Get yourself down to Fast Castle in Berwickshire subrosa. Not a whole hell of a lot left to see, but a great location, implausibly perched on a promontory, barely joined to the mainland by a thin blade of rock 100 feet above the rocky shore. Gives me the willies just thinking about it.
If you're down that way St Abb's Head is worth a stop too - never mind all the birdlife, the sheep are the stars jumping about the huge cliffs without a care in the world. A grand place Berwickshire :o)
You can just about 'smell' the history when you visit places like castles. Even the ones in ruins.
CD, I wouldn't attempt a 3rd Mr Subrosa either that's why I have a lodger :)
I do like Braemar Castle too, it's quite unique and I enjoy the fact it's not been 'dickied up' by the likes of HS.
You too CD, thankfully it's cooler here.
I tend to agree Conan. Climbing Munroes just for the sake of it has never appealed.
I much prefer the more intellectual pursuit of crawling round a castle without a guide in sight, or on site.
Ah thank you FL, I shall do them in October as I've never seen them at all, even though I lived in the borders as a young lass.
You can indeed Rab, some just reek of history. Another favourite of mine is a HS one and that's Caerlaverock Castle in Dumfriesshire. Not a lot to see inside but it sure beats driving round any old corner.
The castle in the town where I was raised, (not Kilmarnock!), is an old ruin. The dungeon is known as 'Wallace's larder' due to the fact(?) that he slaughtered an English garrison and chucked the bodies into the dungeon.
Hope that cheered you up a wee bit! ;-)
Munros! Castles! Nothing beats a Pub Crawl round a strange town!
You can bag lighthouses as well apparently. Princess Anne does.
As to castles I quite like Edzell Castle but then I’m fond of gardens.
Just as well you like gardens the Munguin as there's very little castle left at Edzell. Glamis has lovely gardens.
Don't think pub bagging sounds the same do you Dark Lochnagar? lol
It did Rab, made my day that has. I didnae ken Wallace wis a cannibal though ;)
Rab C. Nesbitt
That post has been copied and pasted to Scottish Unionist ASAP.
another example (for his upcoming compendium of Scottish nationalist hate Quotes) of the viscous hatred the Nationalist have for all the English peoples.
vile !vile! vile!
PS- I didn't really do that Didn't want to give S.U. a brain hemorrhage..he he he
The only problem is Niko - Rab's not a nationalist lol.
And most of my family are English, and my Father was born in Nottingham! So there, Ha! :-)
Thanks for that information Rab, I really feel enlightened now. :) After all, someone has to come from Nottingham don't they? ;)
And if my mother hadn't got fed up down there and jumped on the train home when 9 months pregnant with me I would have been from Mottingham too!
Lucky escape!
You said it Rab ;)
Rab C
Are you a Pikey or a Merry Man
Now I like this idea as I get to a more tender age and Munro's get a bit harder. We have so many around this area, many just being left to crumble but with fascinating histories. Of course true Nats will avoid all those nasty castles such as Balmoral where they might see the Queen just as they avoided the Parliament last week!
Fitaloon, I avoid Balmoral for other reasons. When it first opened it was only the stables converted into some kind of hall that was for the hoi polloi to see the few photos and items. It costs £5 to see that.
Since then I know they've opened part of the castle but the cost has gone up. Also, you know the castle is closed in August/September when the Queen is there.
Glamis is much better value at £8 and access to everywhere other than the family's apartments.
You do have some very interesting ruins up there right enough.
Popped along to Glamis earlier this year and thought it was excellent and had a great time with all the family.
a few of the Photos here.
Also went to Balmoral and you are right you get to see very little of it but the grounds are nice enough.
GBBG, Rab sounds more of a Robbin' Hoodie.
I'll get ma coat.
Superb photos fitaloon - they deserve a post of their own. I'm sure Glamis would give you complimentary tickets for another visit if you let them know.
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