Tour Scotland Winter 4K travel video, with Scottish bagpipes music, of the gatehouse of the Palace in Falkland village on ancestry, genealogy, family history visit and trip to Fife, Britain, United Kingdom. There are painted decorations on three heraldric panels on the exterior of the gatehouse including Lion of Scotland Coat of Arms and the Coat of Arms of Stuart of Bute Armorial device shield supported by angels. One of the first scenes for Outlander was filmed in the picturesque town of Falkland, which substituted for 1940s Inverness. Before Falkland Palace was built a hunting lodge existed on the site in the 12th century. This lodge was expanded in the 13th century and became a castle which was owned by the Earls of Fife, the famous Clan MacDuff. The castle was built here because the area could be easily defended as it was on a slight hill. The fortalice and much of associated hunting lodge were destroyed by the English in 1337, but the tower was rebuilt. In 1371 Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany, took control of Falkland. Albany was the most powerful man in the kingdom, a ruler in all but name. In 1402 he imprisoned his nephew and heir to the throne, the Duke of Rothesay, at Falkland. It was not a gilded cage, as rumour suggests that Albany had the Duke chained in a cellar and starved to death. When Albany finally fell from power in 1424 Falkland was seized by the crown. King James II converted the keep into a suite of comfortable apartments for his wife, Mary of Gueldres. James III expanded the complex of buildings, and was given to writing poetry on retreats to the palace. The present palatial grandeur of Falkland was down to King James V, who called in masons from Europe to transform the earlier buildings into a Renaissance palace in the French style. James, when a young man was imprisoned here by his chief aide, Archibald 6th Earl of Douglas. The young king managed a daring escape, dressed as a groom. James died at Falkland, following his defeat against the English at the Battle of Solway Moss in 1542. When Mary's son James went south to take the English throne in 1603 Falkland became less important as a royal retreat. King Charles I and II each visited, but only briefly. In 1654 soldiers commanded by Oliver Cromwell burned the Great Hall and inflicted heavy damage to the rest of the palace buildings. It was left to the 3rd Marquis of Bute, Hereditary Keeper of the Palace, to restore Falkland in the late 19th century. The surrounding land eventually became the Palace gardens. Falkland Palace provided the young Mary Queen of Scots with the opportunity to indulge her passion for sport and the outdoors, fostering a strong attachment to this royal residence. By the meteorological calendar, the first day of #Winter is always 1st December in Scotland; ending on 28th of February. Of interest to folks with ancestry, genealogy or Scottish Family Roots in Scotland who may wish to visit one day. Find things to see and do in Scotland where you are always welcome
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
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