My Fascination With Scotland
During the 1980s and 1990s, the Dutch Automobile Association (ANWB) embarked on an ambitious project to map Europe’s tourist attractions. They meticulously collected and stored the data in a mainframe database known as IDA, believing they had a golden opportunity on their hands. To bring this vision to life, a team of fifteen 'database editors' was tasked with ensuring Europe was fully covered.
But the story took an unexpected turn. The rapid rise of the internet revolutionized the way information was accessed and shared.
By 1994—after more than a decade of effort—the ANWB decided to pull the plug on the project, cutting its losses and acknowledging a changing world.
I loved my job so much that I decided to start a private project: channeling my passion for Scotland—its rich history and breathtaking natural beauty—into a book. After years of dedicated plodding and multiple editions, my labor of love finally materialized into a 300-page guide. But there it sat, gathering dust on my bookshelf, unseen by the world.
It was very anticlimactic, leaving me feeling restless. Was this really the end of the journey? Was this it?
The near-limitless possibilities of the internet however sparked a fresh idea. Why not transform this book into a "virtual" journey? "Yes, I do love a good project!"
But where to start? The web is already teeming with sites dedicated to Scotland’s natural wonders and historic treasures. Why create yet another? What could I bring to the table that’s new, exciting, and uniquely mine?
The answer, as it turned out, lay within the question itself: What drives me? What fuels my admittedly obsessive fascination with a land that isn’t even my own? Why am I so captivated by Scotland? Is it the undeniable charm of its Britishness (sorry; Scottishness), the dramatic contours of the hills and mountains, the "lay of the land," or its complex and fascinating history?
"Old" school?
"New" school?
Yes, all of that, but the main reason for me seems to be that perfect sense of being totally alone while following a twisting path across the moors, with the grey-green craggy hills left and right. There is the call of a lone bird wheeling in the windswept sky and the soft murmur of a peaty stream flowing through the heather. To tread where perhaps no man has trodden before. The land is pristine, untouched, unspoiled, but....than there is this empty coke can in the grass and a jet flashes across the sky, ripping my perfect dream to tatters.......
Oh well. It is just me playing these mind games, but it is nobody’s mind but mine anyway. It's the only one I've got! I love long-distance walking, have a somewhat romantic (read: "seriously flawed") view on the distant past and like pottering about ruined time-worn buildings.
Add Scotland’s spectacular beauty and its proximity to 'the continent' into the mix and the rough outline of my ‘site-to-be’ slowly starts to come to the fore. People sometimes ask why on earth I'm doing this. What's the point? The point is the fun in the creative process itself. It's the creation of something that's forever receding in the distance. You're just never done. Always new discoveries or another way of presenting something to the world.
This will by no means be a comprehensive listing of all the places to visit in Scotland.
It is a very personal site that will reflect what tickles me and hopefully....might tickle you too!
The scant ruins of Fast Castle just north of Coldingham are the perfect example. These ruins I find infinitely more intriguing (***) than the grandeur and splendour of castles like Inveraray or Dunrobin. These may be **, but for me they'll never be ***.
No matter how imposing these castles with the perfectly manicured lawns and parks might be......I prefer Fast Castle. I am looking for that haunting sense of time, grand vistas, spectacular settings or simply a good story. These will be my guiding principles. It’s all a matter of taste!
Talking about castles: Although many castles have disappeared, there are still quite a few in existence (more then 2000!), most in ruins or modified to become family homes, but that still leaves the visitor with many interesting, sometimes even spectacular discoveries to make.
There are literally 100's of sites in Scotland where blood was spilled for many a different (and now often forgotten) cause. A very sobering thought if you ask me.
It’s odd, but the best known fields of 'honour' like Bannockburn and Culloden are so commercialised that visitors with even a minimal sense of history and no more than a thimbleful of imagination could very well be disappointed.
The grass is kept short, the hedges are well trimmed and, of course, there is a visitor centre with a coffee corner and audiovisual show. Still, do go and see, because, although there is nothing even remotely reminiscent of yesteryear's strive, one can at least say: "Been there, done that".
There are many lesser known sites e.g. Glenfruin or Red Ford or Redeswire where in the heather one may just hear the faint echo of steel on steel. Famous names which spring to mind are Rob Roy McGregor, Macbeth, Robert the Bruce, Eochaid ‘the Poisonous’ (I love that name!) and William Wallace. Yes, they all had their day and they all saw the sun set over the green clad hills. Yet, no matter how important they thought themselves to be back then, there is no escape from "the way of all flesh".
Apart from all that, there are the abbey ruins at Melrose, Jedburgh and Arbroath and museums by the score.
Scotland's most impressive asset above and beyond is it's natural beauty. The vibrant and lush Cairngorms, the dreamy dales of the Borders region and the rugged mountains in the northwest. Its all there to be discovered. Torridon, Forsinard, Cape Wrath or Beinn Eighe are just a few examples.
And...what to think about the many hundreds of miles of Long Distance Walking Trails, the elusive, almost mythical Heritage Paths and the wonderful Scenic Routes.
I can't imagine Scotland ever disappoints, although the weather and especially the midges might be a bit of a bother...........
This site is a serious effort on my part to somehow, make sense of it all. To create a viable and much more accessible alternative to the guidebook I mentioned earlier. It may not have the scope and depth of e.g. Undiscovered Scotland, but they've been around for quite a while and catching up is not exactly what I have in mind. I hope you'll enjoy this "labour of love" just the same!
I would like to extend a very warm thanks to my dear friend Judith Sleigh, owner of Tourism Scotland at Banchory. I have known Judith for about 35 years and she is very good at keeping me focused with my eyes 'on the ball'. A wonderful lady with a true passion for her home turf.
Site rating:
Although all of the content is my personal choice, I have made a serious effort to differentiate 4 levels:
- (***) This is, for whatever reason, a very personal favourite and would definitely be on my itinerary! It could possibly be disappointing though.
- (**) A major must-see tourist attraction that you can find in many a brochure and on many a site.
- (*) Worth seeing and possibly interesting if you happen to be in the vicinity.
- (-) A hefty dollop of imagination is a must, but it might be interesting if you know the background.
You will not find a detailed description and the complete historical context. I merely intend to show you what is where, but I will certainly endeavor to tickle your budding interest (fancy). There are links on the right hand side of most pages to dedicated sites and don't forget the USEFUL LINKS page.
Dirk Jelier, Frederiksoord, The Netherlands, Autumn 2019