A Walk Beyond Stonehaven

Last September we stayed in Stonehaven, Scotland, for four nights, and almost every morning there was a beautiful sunrise over the North Sea. Something this amazing yanks me out of bed for a few pics. :)

 On this particular day, which was very nice, warm and sunny, we decided to take a walk and explore Stonehaven. From our hotel room window, we had a view of the above cliffs and island. I don't know the name of it. We walked in that direction along the shore.

We passed this beautiful garden and talked to the gardener who created it. Although he was saying it hadn't grown well because of the weather, we thought it was one of the prettiest we'd seen, ever.

Standing on the shore, this is the view back toward the area of Stonehaven where we stayed and the beach. Click the photo to enlarge.

We walked out onto a pier and had this great view of Stonehaven Harbor.

 
 The War Memorial atop the hill above Stonehaven. We decided that would be our destination because we could see it from our room, and it is also visible from Dunnottar. But as you can see the hill is far too steep to climb.

 We walked along Shore Head Street which faces the harbor. I love all these old buildings. Some of them are hotels and inns.

Another view of Shore Head Street.

 Beyond Shore Head Street, nature takes over again. I loved this view of the harbor with the flowers.

The beautiful flowers in front of The Granary, a historic building.

The sign said it was a 2 1/2 mile walk to Dunnottar Castle. We had already been there the day before (we drove), but we wanted to walk to the War Memorial which was not too far from the castle. Unfortunately, the normal road and walking path was closed down due to a landslide, so we had to take an alternate route. We soon left the town and walked along the road through the forest.

After turning off the main road and walking up a hill along a narrow road through the trees, we came out near this beautiful farm land and hay fields.

We still had the War Memorial in our sights. For some reason it always looked not that far away, even though it was.

We walked through a picturesque dairy farm. This barn had lots of cows inside it and the farmer was bailing hay.

Here we find another road to walk along. I think the cattle drink out of the wee loch. This pasture was surrounded by an electric fence. We know it was working because one brave tourist touched it. She screamed and jumped around a bit. I know the farmers must think we're all nuts. LOL

 A view of Dunnottar Castle from the road. We continued on toward the War Memorial. Seeing an open fence gate into a field where the hay had been cut and hauled away, we thought why not take a short cut? By then we had been walking 2 or 3 miles and were tired. But we shouldn't have gone that direction!

You can't get there from here. This field was surrounded by a fence. Was it electric? None of us wanted to touch it and find out. We would've needed to climb through or over the fence to get up to the War Memorial. There was another way... going back across the hay field and walking along the road which circled around the huge field. It was probably another mile at least. Sigh. We were all too tired. Besides we also had to walk back down to Stonehaven. So this was as close as we got to the War Memorial.

The Stonehaven War Memorial sits on top of Black Hill. It was designed to look like a ruined stone temple of early Doric design to signify the lives that were ruined during World War I. Over two hundred men from Stonehaven gave their lives in the war. The monument was unveiled on May 20, 1923. I thought this was interesting. The Black Hill was chosen for the site because it was: “Where the Men o’ Mearns kept watch and ward over their homes in troubled times”, and, “which has been from time immemorial the rallying ground for defence of the coast”. So this site had great historical significance in regards to war. You can learn lots more about the War Memorial here.

Even though we didn't get up to the memorial, we had this spectacular view of Stonehaven from the hilltop. We could even see our hotel from here.

This hay field appears to lead right to the sea.

 We headed back to town. Stonehaven has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Neolithic pottery has been found in the area. This town sits on the only Medieval route from south, along the coast, up to Aberdeen. This route was an old drover's road called Causey Mounth and used in the 12th century. Some of the ancient roads remain and some were simply footpaths. Some were destroyed and taken over by fields. Aside from this route, the Grampian Mountains and bogs blocked off the Lowlands from the Northeast.

We walked back through Stonehaven a different way than we had left. I loved this picturesque bridge.

I was glad to get back to our hotel so I could rest. We estimated that we probably walked at least six miles. A bit more than I'm used to.

Later that evening, we went to eat. A rain shower came and this this beautiful rainbow.

I hope you enjoyed this short trip through and outside of Stonehaven. :)
Thank you!!
Vonda
www.vondasinclair.com

Beautiful and fiercely protective of those she loves, Lady Seona Murray captured Keegan MacKay’s attention when she first set foot in Dunnakeil Castle. Though she is a chief’s daughter and forbidden, Keegan has fallen in love with her from afar and burns to possess her. But so does the clan traitor, Haldane, an obsessive outlaw bent on murder and kidnapping.

Sinfully handsome, Keegan MacKay is a fearsome guard as well as the chief’s cousin, but Seona’s father would never consider him a worthy husband for her because he is not a titled laird. Seona has secretly watched the sensual, tawny-haired warrior from across the crowded great hall for months, but when he is tasked with escorting her across Scotland, back to her home, their simmering attraction flames into sizzling passion with just one kiss.

Though she fears she is endangering Keegan’s life, Seona cannot resist his seductive charm or his spellbinding kisses. Keegan sets fire to the memories of her sad past and shows her what it means to truly live. But her father has other plans. He’s arranged for her to marry a wealthy Lowland laird. Is Keegan daring enough to steal her away? Or will the vindictive Haldane snatch her first?

Stonehaven & Hogmanay Fireballs

Happy New Year & Happy Hogmanay!

For those of you who don't know what Hogmanay is... it is the Scottish holiday celebrated on New Year's Eve and up to the second day of January. This holiday tradition goes back hundreds of years. One of the first times the word Hogmanay was recorded was in 1604, but most sources think the holiday is much older, perhaps going back to ancient Norse traditions. The Norse Vikings invaded and settled in parts of Scotland over a thousand years ago.

Each area of Scotland celebrates Hogmanay in its own way. Edinburgh has a huge street party, live music, fireworks, etc. Tens of thousands of people visit Scotland at Hogmanay to join in the celebration. Stonehaven in eastern Scotland has its own unique way to celebrate Hogmanay too--The Fireball Ceremony. Local people walk down High Street swinging huge fireballs.

Other Hogmanay customs include "first-footing", which means the first person to cross your threshold in the new year, usually a neighbor. If a tall, dark-haired man is the first across your threshold after midnight of the new year, this is considered lucky. Definitely sounds lucky to me! LOL This "first-footer" is supposed to come bearing symbolic gifts of (traditionally) salt, coal, shortbread, whisky, or black bun (a type of Scottish fruit cake.) These gifts are considered lucky. The host then gives food and refreshment to the "first-footer." This visiting may happen throughout the night and into the next day.

 Back to Stonehaven and their Fireball Ceremony... I've found a video to show you what it's like.

 

I've never been to Scotland in winter, but we were fortunate to get to stay four days in Stonehaven during September. Here are some views of the town.

The view from the front of the hotel where we stayed and the pub where we ate a few times.

Market Buildings on Allardice Street

Stonehaven Harbor

Shore Head Street that faces the Harbor

Beautiful flowers in front of The Granary, an old, historic building 

The Royal Hotel where we stayed

I hope you enjoyed this little tour of Stonehaven. What did you think of the Fireball Ceremony? Personally I'd love to be there for one of those, but I think I'd want well away from the street. LOL
Vonda
www.vondasinclair.com