Attractions in Scotland
The Trossachs
A picturesque journey through time through Scotland!
It should be a must for every Scotland tourist to have visited the country’s first national park. The so-called Trossachs is a picturesque wooded valley that borders Callander to the east. Because of its access to The Trossachs National Park and the surrounding area, this town is also known as the “Gateway to the Highlands”.
How a poem carried the fascination of the Trossachs into the world…
In the midst of these highlands you can visit the Trossachs, which can boast above all with wonderful slopes and lakes (with the exception of the Lake of Menteith said Scottish lakes are called “loch”). A trip to the Highlands, combined with a detour to the Trossachs, is not only suitable for nature lovers. Historians, art and literature lovers will also get their money’s worth in this area. But what ultimately led to the Trossachs becoming a household name around the world and attracting a large number of tourists? The trigger for this was a certain Sir Walter Scott, who dedicated himself to the breathtaking beauty of this region in 1810 in his poem “Das Fräulein vom See”. It was also Scott who took up this subject again seven years later in his novel “Rob Roy”, by describing the life of a cattle thief named Raibert Ruadh, who was born near Loch Katrine. This literary reference is one of the most important reasons why the Trossachs are particularly suitable for study trips.
Follow in the footsteps of John Ruskin
Once in this area, you can also go in search of traces of the former art critic John Ruskin. The expert in Victorian art set out in 1853 together with the painter John Everett Millais in the direction of the Trossachs to take a closer look at the rock formations. As part of this trip, Millais made a portrait of his fellow traveler, which is still important today and was last exhibited in London in 2004.
Castle stalker
One of the beautiful low castles in Scotland
This is one of the most popular postcard designs in the Scottish Highlands: Castle Stalker. The historic residential tower, which was originally a fortification, was built in the 13th century on a small island in the middle of picturesque Loch Laich. The old building in front of the karst mountains of the highlands served as the backdrop for a film by British comedian Monty Python entitled “The Knight of the Coconut”. Those who would like to visit Castle Stalker can avail themselves of a boat and a guided tour after registering in advance. At low tide, the small island can also be reached on foot.
Battle of warring families
The word “stalker” was apparently borrowed from the Gaelic dialect and can be translated as “falconer”. The castle is not far from the small village of Appin on the A82 and is now privately owned. It can look back on a long history and on bloody conflicts. Originally it belonged to the members of the MacDougall clan, who played an important role in the history of the Scottish Highlands. In 1468 there was a legendary battle of warring families at Castle Stalker. It was a kind of vengeance after a murder that ended with the victory of a certain Dugald Stewart against the MacFarlane clan.
authentic and defiant castle in front of a dreamlike backdrop
Over the centuries the owners of the Castle Stalker changed again and again before the castle fell into more and more disrepair around 1800. In 1908, the Stewarts, remembering their family history, bought the castle and turned it back into a residential building. A comprehensive restoration of this historical complex took place 25 years ago. It has retained its authentic character over this long period and is undoubtedly one of the best preserved residential towers in Scotland. The scenery in front of the mountains of the Isle of Mull looks repellent on dark days and yet enjoys a special charm as a defiant island castle. Castle Stalker is an important part of the “Lynn of Lorn National Scenic Area” and is one of the most beautiful landscapes in Scotland.
V&A Dundee
V&A Dundee is a design museum in Dundee, Scotland that opened on September 15, 2018. V & A Dundee was designed by the renowned and award-winning Japanese architect Kengo Kuma following an international competition and is his first building in Great Britain. Regarded by many as the most important Japanese architect today, Kuma is also designing the stadium for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. His vision for V&A Dundee is that it will be a welcoming place for everyone to visit, enjoy and linger – a “living room for the city” – and an opportunity to connect the city with its historic River Tay. During his planning for the V&A Dundee design museum, the architect is also involved in a number of other large, ongoing projects,
The team of architects came up with something special for the museum. Curved concrete walls and no straight outer walls hold 2,500 prefabricated rough stone slabs, each weighing up to 3000 kg and with a span of up to 4 meters, to create the appearance of a Scottish rock wall. There are 21 separate wall sections. In summary, V&A Dundee is an impressive 8,000 square meter building with 1,650 square feet of gallery space. Behind its curved walls, V&A Dundee connects the city with its beautiful and historic riverbank and juts out of the water like a huge ship’s hull. Museum visitors are welcomed in the oak-paneled atrium. Over a wide staircase, Dark limestone floors and a glass elevator finally take you to the huge exhibition floor. From the seating areas, the café and various tours, the view falls unexpectedly everywhere on the water, on the cranes and the bridge over the river. The city’s trading and shipping history is also the subject of the first major exhibition at the art museum.
