My Trip Blog

Perth, the ‘Fair City’ in Scotland a former royal burgh can be discovered at the head of the Tay estuary. During the twelfth and fifteenth centuries Perth competed with Dunfermline for the title of being the capital of the country. In the article below I write about 3 places to visit in Perth, Scotland; Elcho Castle, Huntingtower Castle and Scone Palace:

Scone Palace

At this time, home of the Earls of Mansfield is Scone Palace, and a incredibly popular attraction to travelers from across the world. The palace is an integral part of the history of Scotland, as the Scottish kings were once crowned there. In 1306, Robert the Bruce was crowned at Scone Palace, as was Charles II when he took occupancy of the Scottish Crown in 1651. There is a beautiful and mysterious aura to the palace, which is justifiably so.At one time in the past the area acted as an important gathering place of the Picts and there was also a church on the site said to be early christian.

Elcho Castle

situated approximately three miles from the city of Perth, with stunning views across the River Tay, is Elcho Castle. Elcho Castle is one of the prime examples of Sixteenth century architecture in Scotland today. The Wemyss family commissioned the building of the castle in the 1570’s. The land had been in the family since 1468, when it was handed over to them by King James III. In 1633, the head of the family was given the titles of Lord Elcho and Earl of Wemyss. Elcho Castle and it’s lands remained in possession of the Wemyss family until 1929. At this time, the 11th Earl of Wemyss, bestowed the castle to the nation. The castle has recently been renovated and is now in the charge of Historic Scotland.

Huntingtower Castle

Found just to the west of Perth is Huntingtower Castle, a medieval pile. Although the castle is originaly medieval, it has been redeveloped significantly throughout most of it’s history. The Ruthven family were the owners of the castle and lands from the C12th to the C17th. During this time the castle consisted of two separate towers, built 3 meters apart. When the Murray family took occupancy, later on in the 17th century, they decided to merge the two towers, making the house appear more like a ordinary country manor house. The bridging work between the two towers is still rather noticeable today, on both the interior and exterior of the building.

If you are thinking about a short break in Perth you will discover a large selection of online Perth hotels and guest houses and you will find a huge range at http://www.perthhotelscotland.com/

Now that Inverness is no longer a town (it’s a city) Fort William is the largest town in the Highlands of Scotland. Fort William is an incredibly popular tourist center with many folk appearing to climb or view Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Great Britain. In the article below I talk about a few different attractions well worth visiting if you are staying in Fort William.

The Highly Educational West Highland Museum

Founded in 1922 was the West Highland Museum in Fort William. A group of people from Lochaber wanted to create a museum, about life in the Highlands, for the people of the Highlands. The present building was purchased in 1926 from the British Linen Bank, and is located in Cameron Square, just off the Hight Street. Small but fascinating is how some people describe the museum. The exhibits in the museum present a delightful look into the way of life in the West Highlands over the years. Folk from all walks of life are represented, through the magnificent collections of artefact’s, picture’s and photograph’s

The Superb Old Inverlochy Castle

There are two Inverlochy Castle’s in Fort William, the Old Inverlochy Castle and the newer Victorian, chateau-style Inverlochy Castle, erected in nearby Torlundy (which is now a luxury hotel). The Old castle was rumoured to of been constructed between 1270-1280, by John “the Black” Comyn, Lord of Badenoch and Lochaber, and chief of the Clan Comyn. Even though the castle is ruined, the layout has not altered much since it was first erected. Lord Abinger made alterations and enhancements to the house, in preparation of a visit by Queen Victoria. Old Inverlochy Castle remains an important part of English and Scottish history, because of the role it played during the Civil Wars of the 1640’s.

The Exquisite Jacobite Steam Train

An excursion on the Jacobite Steam Train, is an awe inspiring way to experience the enchanting scenery of the Highlands. The Fort William to the port of Mallaig journey takes you on a breathtaking ride through the glens. One of the most exciting parts of the trip is traveling over the Glenfinnan Viaduct, which the majority of travelers will recognize thanks to the fact that it has appeared in the films about Harry Potter. The 84 mile journey takes you past Ben Nevis, Loch Morar and Loch Nevis, with a break in Glenfinnan before arriving in Mallaig. There is about an hour and half in which to explore Mallaig, before the return journey, back to Fort William. This journey has frequently been declared, one of the Great Railway Journeys of the planet.

There is plenty of accommodation in Fort William available to book online but you will find a comprehensive list of hotels in Fort William at http://www.fortwilliamhotelscotland.com/

When you’re ready for a beach vacation, it can be tough to pick from among vacation destinations.There are so many great places you can go.This list of beaches can help you decide on where to go for your next vacation.

1.  Hawaii    If you live on the mainland, you can choose to put your frequent flier miles to good use and take a beach vacation on the island of Hawaii.Get a vacation deals package and you can relax on the beach, swim, play golf or scuba dive. Its a great place to spend a honeymoon vacation. Hawaii has some of the best weather.That makes it a wonderful choice for your beach vacation.

2. Cape Cod    Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket are all surrounded by beautiful scenic beaches. There are beaches on the bay and ocean sides of the islands, salt ponds, freshwater and kettle ponds. Bayside beaches are perfect destinations for families. Choose from among the Cape Cod hotels available.

3.  Wildwood     Wildwood Crest is a small shore resort community located at the southern end of New Jersey.The Wildwoods beaches are among the nicest in the USA.S. The towns offers plenty of hotel rooms for your accommodation. The boardwalk has amusements and piers with rides. There are many other interesting attractions in southern New Jersey.

4. Myrtle Beach     Myrtle Beach is one of the top domestic tourist destinations in the continental United States. Each year they get millions of visitors a year. It has 60 miles of warm, sandy beaches, and is a popular vacation destinations for millions of Americans. If a Myrtle Beach vacation is what you are looking for, then Myrtle Beach will not disappoint you. Myrtle Beach has great hotels, golf courses, restaurants and shopping. 

5. Florida Keys     The Florida Keys is the perfect tropical retreat with balmy weather and beautiful beaches. It is an archipelago with many tiny islands. The Florida Keys stretch 100 miles away from the mainland and Florida Keys hotels offer new experiences for both old and young alike. Florida Keys vacations start in Key West. The natural surroundings give the island a real tropical feel and smell.

6. Cocoa Beach     Cocoa Beach is an hour drive east of Orlando. It sits on the beautiful Space Coast. It has loads of recreation and leisure. A beach vacation, a weekend getaway, or just a day at the beach, you’ll find everything you need in Cocoa Beach. An affordable vacation spot is exactly what you’ll find in Cocoa Beach. Besides offering the best of a beach vacation, you can go deep sea fishing or parasailing. You may also like to try a casino cruise ship.

7. Costa Rica     This can be the ideal tropical paradise for your Costa Rica vacations. You can enjoy watch whales and dolphins at play. The rainforest covering the mountains are a paradise for eco tourism. Its home to a wide variety of plants and animals. For an action-packed vacation why not try to surf, hike, go rafting, canopying, diving, deepwater fishing and snorkeling. There are affordable and more exclusive resorts for a costa rica vacation.

8. Bahamas    The Bahamas is a caribbean vacation choice many take each year. Beach-goers will sunbathe on the sandy beaches. If you seek waves you will want the beaches on the eastern side of the island closest to the Atlantic, snorkelers may want the calmer waters facing the Caribbean. There are many ways to enjoy the warm waters off the shores of this beautiful island, including surfing, sailing, scuba diving, windsurfing, and swimming. The tough part would be choosing from the  bahamas vacation packages available.

9. Punta Cana    Punta Cana is on the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic. It has 25 miles of white sand and more than 35 resorts. Punta Cana was discovered long ago and Americans are now enjoying it. At this affordable tropical getaway, most guests choose to stay in all-inclusive resorts. A Punta Cana vacation packages may be just right for you.

10. Cozumel     Cozumel has beautiful beaches and an exotic location. A vacation deal would be great for a honeymoon vacation. You can enjoy breathtaking sunsets, moonlit walks on deserted beaches, swim in crystal clear waters and enjoy romantic candlelight dinners. You can go diving, deep-sea fishing, snorkeling, kayaking and more. Cozumel Mexico is endowed with a Caribbean flair. Be sure to book your Cozumel vacation packages early to avoid disappointment.