Scotsman Walking Wearing Kilt By Lochwood Castle On History Visit To Dumfries And Galloway Scotland

Tour Scotland short 4K Autumn travel video of a Scotsman wearing a kilt and Sporran and walking by trees and ruined Lochwood Castle on ancestry, genealogy, family history visit and trip to the Dumfries and Galloway, Britain, United Kingdom. For centuries, it served as the ancestral seat and principal stronghold of the formidable Clan Johnstone, one of the most powerful and feared of the Scottish Border clans. The earliest version of the castle was likely a timber motte and bailey design built on a strategic ridge by the Bruces, who were the Lords of Annandale. The Johnstones may have initially occupied the site as knights serving the Bruce family. After the early fortifications were destroyed or abandoned, the Johnstones constructed a massive stone tower house towards the end of the 15th century. The castle's name is derived from a forest or wood near an ancient lake or loch, which later deteriorated into a bog known as Lochwood Moss. The castle was purposefully built in this swampy, treacherous woodland to make it incredibly difficult for an invading army to approach with heavy equipment. During the military conflict known as the Rough Wooing, English forces led by Sir Thomas Carleton successfully captured Lochwood in 1547 through sheer stealth. A dozen English soldiers sneaked past the outer wall before dawn and intercepted the housemaids. As a maid opened the tower's heavy wooden door, the soldiers rushed it. In her panic to secure the wooden door, she failed to lock the massive inner iron gate or yett, allowing the English to flood the castle and seize it without a heavy siege. The English occupiers recorded being highly impressed by how well-stocked the castle was, noting vast stores of salted beef, malt, barley, oatmeal, butter, and cheese. The Johnstones managed to reclaim it in 1550. The Johnstones were locked in a generational, incredibly bloody feud with their great regional rivals, the Clan Maxwell. In 1585, Robert Maxwell and his men retaliated against the Johnstones by attacking and burning Lochwood Castle to the ground. This bitter rivalry eventually culminated in the famous Battle of Dryfe Sands in 1593, where the Johnstones won a decisive victory and Lord Maxwell was slain. The castle was rebuilt after the Maxwell raid and hosted King James VI in 1592. However, by the late 17th and early 18th centuries, the fortress became outmoded and uncomfortable compared to modern residences. The Earls of Annandale relocated their primary lives to Edinburgh, completely abandoning Lochwood around 1724. 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. Meteorological Autumn or Fall is different from standard and astronomical Autumn and begins September 1 and ends November 30 All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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Scotsman Walking Wearing Kilt By Mellingshaw Tower On History Visit To Galloway Scotland

Tour Scotland short 4K Autumn travel video of a Scotsman wearing a kilt and Sporran and walking by trees and ruined 16th Century Mellingshaw Tower on ancestry, genealogy, family history visit and trip to the Dumfries and Galloway, Britain, United Kingdom. The prominent Johnstone clan, a powerful Border family famously known as the gentle Johnstones, who were anything but gentle to their enemies, held the heritable rights to the land. Records from 1527 to1528 document that Archibald Johnstone, son of Gavin Johnstone of Elshieshiels, formally resigned his rights to the five mark land of Greskine and Mellingshaw to his clan chief, John Johnstone of that Ilk. It is highly likely that a branch of the Johnstone family constructed the tower shortly after this period to secure and manage their localized estate. Mellingshaw Tower was built as a typical Scottish tower house, designed primarily to protect its inhabitants and cattle from Border Reivers, the notorious raiders who plundered the Anglo Scottish frontier. 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. Meteorological Autumn or Fall is different from standard and astronomical Autumn and begins September 1 and ends November 30 All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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Scotsman Walking Wearing Kilt By Grey Mare's Tail Waterfall On History Visit To Galloway Scotland

Tour Scotland short 4K Autumn travel video clip of a Scotsman wearing a Kilt and Sporran and walking by Grey Mare's Tail, a 200 foot high hanging valley waterfall, the 5th highest in the United Kingdom, near to Moffat on ancestry, genealogy, family history visit to Dumfries and Galloway. The fall is produced by the Tail Burn flowing from Loch Skeen cascading into the Moffat Water in the lower valley below. The footpath from the valley floor up to Loch Skeen is one of the more popular walks in the area. There is also historical evidence in this area of Iron Age settlers and the Covenanters who sought sanctuary here in the 17th century. Covenanters, Scottish Gaelic: Cùmhnantaich, were members of a 17th century Scottish religious and political movement, who supported a Presbyterian Church of Scotland, and the primacy of its leaders in religious affairs. The name is derived from Covenant, a biblical term for a bond or agreement with God. The origins of the movement lay in disputes with King James VI, and his son King Charles I over church structure and doctrine. In 1638, thousands of Scots signed the National Covenant, pledging to resist changes imposed by Charles on the kirk; following victory in the 1639 and 1640 Bishops' Wars, the Covenanters took control of Scotland and the 1643 Solemn League and Covenant brought them into the First English Civil War on the side of Parliament. Following his defeat in May 1646 King Charles I surrendered to the Scots Covenanters, rather than Parliament. By doing so, he hoped to exploit divisions between Presbyterians, and English Independents. As a result, the Scots supported Charles in the 1648 Second English Civil War. After his execution in 1649, the Covenanter government, in order to protect the Presbyterian polity and Calvinist doctrine of the Church of Scotland, signed the Treaty of Breda in 1650 restoring his son to the Scottish throne and supporting him against the English Parliamentary forces as Charles II . King Charles II was crowned King of Scots in Scone by Perth, Perthshire, in January 1651, but by then the terms agreed at Breda were already a dead letter. The army associated with the Kirk Party under David Leslie, 1st Lord Newark was destroyed by Oliver Cromwell at the Battle of Dunbar in September 1650 and the English Parliamentarian New Model Army had taken Edinburgh and much of Lowland Scotland. The resulting annexation of Scotland by the Commonwealth of England abolished Scotland's legislative institutions. At his Restoration in 1660, the King reneged renouncing the terms of the Treaty and his Oath of Covenant, which the Scottish Covenanters saw as a betrayal. The resulting disappointment with Charles II's religious policy became civil unrest and erupted in violence during the early summer of 1679 with the assassination of Archbishop Sharp and the Battles of Drumclog and Bothwell Bridge. The Sanquhar Declaration of 1680 effectively declared the people could not accept the authority of a king who would not commit to his previous oaths, nor recognise their religion. In February 1685 the king died and was succeeded by his Roman Catholic brother, the Duke of York, as King James VII. After the 1660 Restoration, the Covenanters lost control of the kirk and became a persecuted minority, leading to several armed rebellions and a period from 1679 to 1688 known as "The Killing Time". Following the 1688 Glorious Revolution in Scotland, the Church of Scotland was re-established as a wholly Presbyterian structure and most Covenanters readmitted. This marked the end of their existence as a significant movement, although dissident minorities persisted in Scotland, Ireland, and North America, and exist today as the Reformed Presbyterian communion of churches. 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. Meteorological Autumn or Fall is different from standard and astronomical Autumn and begins September 1 and ends November 30 All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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Grey Squirrels On Autumn Saturday Visit To My Cottage Garden Scone Perth Perthshire Scotland

Tour Scotland 4K Autumn Saturday wildlife nature camera travel video clip of the sight and sounds of bushy tailed Grey Squirrels spotted opening feeder box and eating peanuts on morning visit and trip to my Scottish cottage garden in Scone by Perth, Perthshire, Britain, United Kingdom. While Squirrels are known for their agility and resourcefulness in finding food, providing them with supplementary nourishment can offer an exciting opportunity for observation and interaction. As its name suggests, this squirrel typically has a grey coat with white undersides, though the coat colour can also be quite brown at times. Grey squirrels are mainly herbivorous, eating acorns, hazel nuts, berries, fungi, buds and shoots, and even bark. The grey squirrel was introduced to Great Britain in the middle of the 19th century. There is now an estimated population of 2 million making them much more common than the native red squirrel. They arrived in England from North America and are now one of Britain's most well known and frequently seen mammals, with an estimated population of 2 million. It is a myth that grey squirrels chase red squirrels away. Greys are just more adaptable to new surroundings. Being in nature, or even viewing scenes of nature, reduces anger, fear, and stress and increases pleasant feelings. Exposure to nature not only makes you feel better emotionally, it contributes to your physical wellbeing. Feeding grey squirrels provides a wonderful opportunity for observing their behaviours up close. You might witness their playful antics, social interactions, and even their impressive agility while navigating your garden. While squirrels may become accustomed to your presence, it's essential to remember that they are wild animals. Maintain a respectful distance, and never attempt to handle or approach them closely . Feeding grey squirrels in your garden can offer a unique connection to nature, fostering a sense of appreciation for the wildlife that coexists alongside us. By providing suitable and healthy food options, you can contribute to their well being while enjoying the delightful charm these creatures bring to your outdoor space. Meteorological Autumn or Fall is different from standard and astronomical Autumn and begins September 1 and ends November 30 All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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Coal Tit Bird On Autumn Saturday Visit To My Cottage Garden Scone Perth Perthshire Scotland

Tour Scotland short 4K Autumn Saturday wildlife nature camera travel video clip of the sight and sounds of an active Coal Tit Bird spotted eating on a morning visit and trip to my Scottish cottage garden in Scone by Perth, Perthshire, Britain, United Kingdom. The coal tit bird is mainly found in coniferous woodland, but can also be spotted in gardens and parks. Coal tits are active feeders, hunting out insects and spiders among the smaller branches and leaves of trees in woodlands. But they are also well adapted to gardens and towns and will visit bird tables and feeders. In winter, they form flocks with other tits, roaming woodlands and gardens. The coal tit is grey above and buff below, with white cheeks, a black cap and a white neck patch. Whether you live in town or country, you can help to look after garden birds by providing food and water for them. Being in nature, or even viewing scenes of nature, reduces anger, fear, and stress and increases pleasant feelings. Exposure to nature not only makes you feel better emotionally, it contributes to your physical wellbeing. Meteorological Autumn or Fall is different from standard and astronomical Autumn and begins September 1 and ends November 30 All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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