by ssc | Jan 23, 2014 | Blog
The most famous portrait of Burns, painted by Alexander Nasmyth
Robert Burns was born on 25 January 1759, in Alloway, South Ayrshire, the eldest of the seven children of William and Agnes Burnes [as originally spelled], who were poor tenant farmers. Taught mainly by his father, Burns received formal education in Latin, French, grammar and mathematics only when the tough manual labour of harvests would allow. Yet, despite this inauspicious upbringing, Burns was to become Scotland’s most celebrated poet, lyricist and writer in the Scots dialect. So what is it about him that so captured our imagination?
Precocious talent and an eye for the girls
By the age of 15, Burns was already revealing some of his most famous character traits: his talent for poetry and song, and his fondness for ‘the ladies’. While trying to eke out a living in farming alongside a little study, Burns would write about any girl that captivated him, whether fellow farm labourer or student. By the age of 24, he had written several poems and songs, and had begun creating a Commonplace Book. Throughout his life, Burns’s writing was unfailingly driven by his passions: for Scotland, story, politics, and not least by his many love affairs.
Linguistic ability
Tam O' Shanter, one of Burns's most famous epic poems
Burns’s writing career took off with a bang on publication of his Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect (or the Kilmarnock Volume) in 1786. It attracted immediate critical acclaim and marked the beginning of his success in publication. In the years to follow Burns distinguished himself not only as an able writer in Scots, but in Standard English, and in an accessible, lighter Scots dialect. His writing was attractive worldwide, not only for this broad linguistic ability, but the diversity of his subject matter too. Burns was as at home with the romance of ‘A Red, Red Rose’ to the fantasy of ‘Tam O’Shanter’ to the outspoken politics of his ‘Election Ballads’. Further, Burns was not only the creator of many melodies that we now think of as traditional songs such as ‘Auld Lang Syne’, but worked hard to collect, preserve, and sometimes adapt many of the older folk songs of Scotland. Without his work, it’s likely that many of these would have been lost.
A tragic, early death
Burns was an outspoken poet, especially when writing in Standard English. His open support of the French Revolution and reform for the working classes alienated his friends, the Crown and his literary critics. Despite his fame and improved prospects, this alienation took its toll on Burns: both his health and morale faltered early in life. Critics blamed ‘intemperance’ for his worsening heart condition and others spread rumours that the poet’s failing constitution was caused by venereal disease. On the morning of 21 July 1796 Burns died in Dumfries, at the age of just 37, after a simple dental extraction.
Celebrating his life – the Burns Supper
To honour the life and work of our flawed, talented, and fascinating poet, Scotland celebrates Burns Night on 25th January every year. This traditional meal begins with the reading of Burns’s ‘Selkirk Grace’, after which the haggis is carried ceremoniously into the room, usually preceded by a lone piper. Burns’s ‘Address to a Haggis’ is then read and the haggis cut open. After the meal, a Burns poem may be performed, followed by an account of Burns’s life and a toast to his ‘Immortal Memory’. A male speaker will then make the ‘Toast to the Lassies’, a light-hearted observation on the attractions and foibles of women. A female speaker will then respond in kind with a ‘Reply to the Toast’, poking mild fun at men, at Burns, and ending on a positive note. The Burns Supper ends with everyone joining hands to sing Burns’s ‘Auld Lang Syne’ before parting – perhaps his best-known work that is known and sung the world over.
Why not hold your own Burns Supper in honour of the Bard? For more information, see: www.bbc.co.uk/arts/robertburns/burns_night_running_order.shtml
by ssc | Jan 9, 2014 | Blog
The Hermitage Falls, River Braan, Perthshire, less than 90 minutes from Stirling. Photo copyright: Visit Scotland/Scottish Viewpoint
January: it’s the month of clean slates and fresh starts. It’s the month that most of make at least a few over-ambitious New Year’s resolutions, and the very same month that 92 percent* of us abandon them. So, what are we doing wrong every year? Seems to me that instead of promising ourselves good things that could have a positive impact on our lives, we seem determined to deny ourselves those (usually little) things that make us happy day to day, like new tastes, new experiences, and leisure. How about, for one year, we ditch all other New Year’s resolutions, and resolve instead to travel, making life a little bigger and brighter for a while?
Make it Scotland and make it 2014
Scotland has been voted the third best country in the UK to visit in 2014. Not only because it has a magnificent and historic landscape, but because there are just so many brilliant things going on in this year. The Commonwealth Games take place in Glasgow in July and August with some tickets still available. Whether you get tickets or not, simply being in Glasgow throughout that time will be unforgettable, just as London seemed alight with excitement throughout the 2012 Olympic Games, and even months later. The Ryder Cup follows swiftly after, bringing golfers and visitors from around the globe to the stunning Gleneagles estate in Perthshire. Alongside these, Scotland will be celebrating its ‘Year of Homecoming’, a packed, 12-month calendar of events with Stirling at its heart. More than 160 events will take place in Stirling alone, including the 700th anniversary re-enactment of the Battle of Bannockburn, the Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival and the Spirit of Stirling Whisky Festival – to name just a few.
Make Stirling your base
The Firth of Forth from Inchcolm Island, 90 minutes from Stirling. Photo: Erica Linder
If you were to pick one place from which to explore the very best of Scotland throughout 2014, you’d be hard-pressed to better Stirling. Because of its central location, Stirling is less than one hour’s drive time from more than half of the population of Scotland**, and only 45 minutes’ drive from either Glasgow or Edinburgh airports. You can head north to Inverness in just 2 hours and 45 minutes, east to Aberdeen in 2 hours and five minutes, or west to Oban – gateway to the Western Isles – in 2 hours and 10. Five minutes’ walk from Stirling city centre, Stirling rail station offers direct routes to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee, and Inverness too, not to mention the coach services. Suddenly, most of Scotland is accessible, and you can still be home for dinner.
The Courtyard, a Stirling Self Catering property with enclosed garden
Go self-catering
So where would home be? Hotels can be an expensive choice, especially if you want to get up early and hit the road sightseeing, possibly missing fixed breakfast and dinner times. For the freedom you need to explore Scotland at your own pace, then self-catering could be your best option. Families can spread out, eat when (and what) they want, pack picnics, and, if you’re staying with Stirling Self Catering, make use of cots, high chairs, and toys – for free. A safe, enclosed garden is a welcome space after a day’s sightseeing, and preferable to towering hotel balconies that leave you terrified for toddlers. With room to unpack instead of living out of a suitcase, self-catering gives you the chance to feel, and live, like a local: the very best way to immerse yourself in a new place. So what’s your New Year resolution for 2014 now? Eat more fruit? Or plan the holiday of a lifetime? Why not come to Stirling for an unforgettable self-catering break, and while you’re at it, try the Farmers Market for fresh, local fruit too. Who says you can’t have everything?
*Source: www.statisticbrain.com
**Source: www.visitstirling.org
by ssc | Dec 23, 2013 | Blog
We love Christmas in Scotland, and it’s a brilliant and beautiful time of year. But why should you spend it with us? Here’s just a few good reasons why.
Forecasters predict a white Christmas in parts of Scotland
Snow: If Christmas just isn’t Christmas for you without snow, then head to Scotland for better odds of a white Christmas. Compared to London’s six percent chance of snow on December 25th, Scotland offers much better odds, with Glasgow at 35 percent, Aberdeen at 53 percent, and Lerwick boasting a festive 75 percent chance of snowfall!* You can’t deny that a white landscape on Christmas morning does lend an air of magic, and it also makes the prospect of a day indoors, a wood fire and some good food even more appealing. Breaking weather reports as we post say that we are going to get just that – a white Christmas 2013!
Dark nights: Christmas falls just after the shortest day, which means fewer daylight hours and long dark nights over the festive period in Scotland. Christmas lights are sparkling by 4pm in Scotland’s streets, the lamps of Christmas market stalls seem to shine a little brighter, and warm firesides are yet more beguiling. Somehow, the darker nights give us permission to relax a bit more too; it’s okay to be in jammies by 6pm if you want to, and who really minds if you gain a little festive weight – unlike our friends down under, you won’t be barbecuing in beach gear.
Markets: Scotland is gaining deserved recognition for its thriving markets, just like regular local Farmers’ Markets found in towns and cities like Linlithgow and Stirling. In recent years, we’ve become sensitive to where our produce comes from, is reared or prepared. Because of this, more and more consumers are choosing to shop locally, buying direct from trusted local farmers and producers – and when better to do so than Christmas, when we want the very best and tastiest fare for our tables?
At the other end of the spectrum are the large-scale European markets hosted in Edinburgh and Glasgow around Christmas time. These festive markets attract both locals and tourists alike, who also come for the seasonal attractions like skating, big wheels, beer halls and stunning Christmas lights. US broadcasting giant CNN has even named Edinburgh as one of the best cities worldwide to visit over winter. (And to avoid capital city accommodation prices, stay in Stirling; it’s only 50 minutes on the train from Edinburgh).
Stirling's Hogmanay takes place against a historic backdrop
Hogmanay: Say ‘Hogmanay’ and you’ll think Scotland, even though the jury is out on the word’s roots (which could be Norse, French or Goidelic [Manx]). But, regardless of etymology, one thing is true – no one does Hogmanay like the Scots. New Year’s Eve is as big a celebration as Christmas itself in many households, and every Scottish city is alight with fireworks at the toll of 12 to welcome in the New Year. Stirling’s award-winning Hogmanay celebrations will headline with Deacon Blue this year, set against the backdrop of one of the most pivotal castles in Scottish history. It’s the perfect start to 2014, in which Scotland will not only host the Commonwealth Games, but the Ryder Cup, and Homecoming Scotland too.
Traditions: Christmas and New Year in Scotland still have persistent traditional elements. Though the Yule log is now more familiar to us as a cake, the Yule log does have a place in Scottish history. While other countries chose other woods, birch or rowan was traditionally burnt in Scotland’s hearths until the early 20th century, a little at a time for the 12 days of Christmas. Come Hogmanay, the first person across your door after ‘the bells’ at midnight is a ‘first-footer’. Even now, a first-footer will still make an effort to bring a small gift or ‘handsel’. Traditionally an appropriate handsel would be coal, shortbread, whisky, or black bun, but any small gift is now acceptable!
Food: What’s Christmas without good food and drink? And Scotland has plenty of it. At Christmas we choose our best – and often most traditional – food and drink to celebrate the season. Scottish salmon, especially when smoked, is fast becoming a mainstay starter for Christmas dinner (and not just in Scotland), with Scottish venison giving turkey a run for its money for main course. And the Scots like nothing better than carbs, which we do so well. You’ll find many a household serve up a traditional Clootie Dumpling made from scratch on Christmas day as an alternative to Christmas Pudding, while Hogmanay just wouldn’t be the same without Black Bun either. To bring in the bells at Hogmanay, many Scots now serve a portion of haggis with a dram of whisky on the side or poured over. For those with a sweet tooth, you’re in good company; few Scottish houses will see out the festive period without a bite of shortbread or two. This simple, delicious biscuit so strongly associated with Scotland has been with us since the 12th century, with some sources saying Mary Queen of Scots had a hand in tweaking the recipe to that we know today. And last, but not least, you can’t leave Scotland without sampling a single malt (whisky), of which we have many. All have subtle differences in flavour, aroma, and colour. Scotland has been producing single malt for centuries, always using just two ingredients: our clear Scottish water and malted barley. Only whisky that is distilled in Scotland, in oak casks, and matured for at least three years, can make a claim to the name of ‘single malt’. The best, simplest, and most natural ingredients. And time.
So if you really want to get a true feel for, and flavour of, Christmas – come spend Christmas and Hogmanay with us. But mind: wrap up, and come hungry.
*Statistics provided by the National Meteorological Library.
by ssc | Dec 12, 2013 | Blog
The golden eagle came first in the Big Five polls
Say the phrase ‘Big Five’ and you may picture African savannah, khaki, and big-game hunters. That’s the ‘Big Five’ of the past, when hunting was still socially acceptable, Ron Ely was sporting a loincloth, and the term described the five toughest animals to hunt on foot. Happily, the phrase has been adopted by safari tour operators with gentler pursuits in mind. These days, if you’re off in search of the Big Five, you’ll be packing binoculars, not guns. And you don’t even need to fly to Africa, because Scotland has its very own Big Five right here. They are the red deer, golden eagle, harbour seal, otter and red squirrel.
In 2013, and celebrating the Year of Natural Scotland, VisitScotland and Scottish Natural Heritage asked people to vote for the animals which they considered the most iconic, the most representative of Scottish wildlife. The votes closed in November, and the results are here:
1. The Golden Eagle: With almost 40 percent of votes, the golden eagle was a clear favourite. It’s a fitting choice too: almost all of the breeding pairs left in Britain are in Scotland. With a wing span of over two metres, this bird can fly at speeds of up to 80 miles per hour. Head to the Highlands and Islands for a chance to see them soar. Emblematic of the importance of protecting rare species, the golden eagle is likely to become Scotland’s national bird. You can sign the petition here.
The smallest, and perhaps the most endearing of Scotland's Big Five
2. The Red Squirrel: The endearing and acrobatic red squirrel is the only UK native squirrel – the grey was introduced to Britain in the late 19th century. Scotland boasts around 120,000 reds: 80 percent of the UK entire population. Southern Scotland, the central Lowlands and the Highlands are great places to see these brilliant little flashes of rust-red life. Walk quietly and you will be rewarded.
3. The Red Deer: This is the UK’s largest mammal, and one of the biggest deer in the world. The stag’s antlers cut a striking silhouette and have become deeply associated with all things Scottish – from paintings to shortbread to whisky. Winter is a good time to see red deer as they come down off the hills in search of food. Your best bet for sightings are Perthshire, the west Highlands, Rum, Jura, or Dumfries & Galloway.
Otters are doing well throughout Scotland
4. The Otter: Though secretive, the otter is doing well, and can be found across Scotland in both coastal and inland areas; even thriving in towns and cities. However, the coastal otters around the West coast, the Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland, are a little less jumpy than their inland counterparts, making them easier to spot. Dawn and dusk are the best times.
5. The Harbour Seal: These seals can be spotted easily in estuarine waters around the Scottish coast. There are colonies in the Firth of Forth, the Firth of Tay, and the Moray Firth, as well as Shetland, Orkney and the Outer Hebrides. Awkward on land, these animals are incredibly graceful – and curious – when in the water.
These are just a few of Scotland favourite and most iconic animals. Close runners-up to the ‘Big 5’ classification are species such as the pine marten, Scottish wildcat and puffin. To find out more about all these species, find out where you can see them, and even to watch live webcams, see: www.visitscotland.com/about/wildlife/
by ssc | Dec 5, 2013 | Blog
The Kelpies under construction near the M9
Towering above the M9 just ten minutes’ drive from the centre of Stirling, two new and breath-taking sculptures break the skyline. These are the Kelpies, two 30-metre high silver horse heads that rear over the Forth & Clyde canal, overseeing its east coast entrance. These 300 tonne sculptures are amongst the tallest in the UK – topping Anthony Gormley’s Angel of the North by ten full metres. They have been created by artist Andy Scott, perhaps best known for his heavy horse sculpture that overlooks the M8, and beloved of many a daily commuter. The Kelpies take their name from the supernatural water-horses of Celtic myth that were believed to haunt the rivers and lochs of Scotland and Ireland, but in reality, the structures themselves represent so much more: an expression not only of our national folklore but of the role that horses have played in the life of Central Scotland.
The Kelpies form a new gateway to Scotland's canal network
Andy Scott took inspiration from his own roots: his father’s home town was Falkirk and the artist cites ‘old family connections anchoring me to the project’. During the creative process, Scott found he was blending the vision of mythological Kelpies with the muscular reality of the working horse in Scotland to create his final work. Inspired by the working, heavy horse breeds, he used two Clydesdales horses provided by Glasgow City Council as models for his sculptures. The result is testimony both to the romantic notion of the horse in Celtic folklore and to the horses that literally powered central Scotland – in its fields, canals, and heavy industry. It is no coincidence that the Kelpies are forged in steel: a material that embodies Scotland’s industrial heritage, and which now also creates its beautiful public art.
Unveiled at the end of November ahead of their official opening in 2014, the Kelpies were under development long before that date, with the project already in its infancy in 2006. On-site construction began in June 2013, much to the curiosity of passing M9 drivers as the equine profiles took shape. And the Kelpies have not only caused a stir in the UK – having been on tour throughout Scotland, Andy Scott’s original 1:10 ‘maquettes’ are now making their way across the USA. Shipped to Chicago in 2012, these 3-metre Kelpies were installed at the Field Museum, Grant Park, Chicago, as part of the Chicago Sculpture International Exhibition. After wintering at the sculpture park of Purdue University in Indiana, plans are also under way to ship them to New York City and onward.
The Kelpies nearing completion - evening.
Back in Scotland, the near completion of the full-size Kelpies is an important milestone in the development of the Helix – a 350-hectare park built on land between Falkirk and Grangemouth. Now in the latter stages of completion, this park will connect 16 communities in the area, while creating a haven for wildlife, recreation, enterprise, learning, and public art. The Kelpies will also reflect and complement the canal-based fusion of art and engineering already exemplified by the area’s Falkirk Wheel, with a new canal link and boating facilities improving access to and from the Forth estuary and Scotland’s canal network. The Helix, the Kelpies, and the Falkirk Wheel are undoubtedly bringing new prominence to a landscape formerly overlooked by tourism, and re-interpreting an industrial area’s past for the future in the most sustainable – and beautiful – way.
More info on the Kelpies and Helix: http://www.thehelix.co.uk/discover-helix/the-kelpies
To follow the Kelpies on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheKelpiesatTheHelix
All photos were kindly supplied by, and copyright of, the Kelpies team.
