Rising from the Mist:  Castles of Scotland
"One of the chief characteristics of the Celtic nations is their fondness for traditions.  
Every ruined Keep or dismantled Tower throughout the Highlands has some marvelous
and romantic tale connected with it, which is lovingly preserved and handed down from
generation to generation with undoubting faith and care.  The poetical cast of the Celtic
mind throws around the most ordinary events a halo of romance.  Few, when brought
under the influence of the spell, can resist the glamour of the times that are gone or
remain indifferent to the ancient tales of love and war."
-- A. H. Millar, "Traditions and Stories of Scottish Castles"
St. Andrews Castle, Fife; built in 1100's, what remains of this restoration was completed in the 1300's.
Castle Menzies, Perthshire  -  Bonnie Prince Charlie rested for two nights
in this castle on his way to the Battle of Culloden in 1746.
Stirling Castle, Stirling  -  One of the most architecturally important castles in
Scotland, with structures dating back to the 14th century.  Mary, Queen of Scots is
among the kings and queens crowned at Stirling.  Bonnie Prince Charlie mounted
an unsuccessful siege against the castle in 1746.
Cawdor Castle, near Inverness; dates back to 1380
Castle Campbell (until 1493, known as Castle Gleume, more commonly referred to as
"Gloom").  It was the seat of the noble family of Argyll from the 15th-17th century,
when it was attacked by the Marquis Montrose, leader of the Grahams, and the
Campbell family of Argyll was vanquished.  This occurred during a long and bitter
rivalry between the clans of the east and the west.
Mists of Scotland

Mists shroud long-fallen cairns and moors, envelope time-ravaged castles and crofts,
And embrace proud Scottish spirits who loved homeland and forfeited all.
Mists that recall the skirl of ancient pipes, mists that cloak heathered hillsides,
And the thistle that kept our countrymen safe long ago.
Pride in homeland and family, pride of legend and heart...
Scotland - a country rising from the mist.

-- Kate Mulder
Castle Gloom

Oh, Castle Gloom!  Thy strength has gone, the green grass o'er thee growin',
On hill of Clare thou art alone, the Sorrow round thee flowin'.
Oh! mourn the woe, oh! mourn the crime frae civil war that flows;
Oh! mourn Argyll, thy fallen line, and mourn the great Montrose.
They all are gone, the good, the great, and nothing now remains,
But ruin sittin' on thy walls and crumblin' down the stanes.
Mirk, mirk was the misty cloud that hung o'er thy wild wood!
Thou wert like beauty in a shroud...and all was solitude.

-- Lady Nairne
Kilchurn Castle, Argyll and Bute, above; and Inverary Castle, Argyll, were both
built about 1450 by Sir Colin Campbell, the first Lord of Glenorchy.
Eilean Donan Castle, Isle of Skye; built as a defense from attacks by
Vikings in 1220
Loch Leven Castle, Perth and Kinross; built around 1300.  Mary, Queen of Scots, was
imprisoned here in 1567-68 and forced to abdicate, before escaping with the help of
the Douglas family who owned and resided in the castle.
Heard Ye the Bagpipe?

Heard ye the bagpipe or saw ye the banners?
That floated sae light over the fields o'Kildairlie?
Saw ye the broadsides, tartans and shields,
Heard ye the muster roll that swore to Prince Charlie?
Saw ye brave Appin, wi' bonnet and belted plaid,
Or saw ye the lords of Seaforth and Airlie,
Saw ye Glengary, M'Leod and Clandonachil,
Plant the white rose in their bonnets for Charlie?

--  Margaret Murray Inglis
Dunstaffnage Castle, Argyll and Bute; one of Scotland's oldest remaining stone
castles, Dunstaffnage was constructed in about 1200 by the McDougall Lords of
Lorn.  (The prefix "dun" in a castle name is gaelic for "fort.")
This is an unknown castle in the Highlands.  I searched, but couldn't find
the name - but I liked it so much, I'm including it.
Glenbuchat Castle, Aberdeenshire; built in 1590.
Corgarff Castle, Strathdon; built in the 1500's, Corgarff was used by the
Jacobites to store and supply powder, muskets and ammunition.
Caerlaverock Castle, near Dumfries; dates back to the 13th century.
Photos on this page are courtesy of:
Kepguru;  MarkHouchin;  smthng;
skreid;  vtveen;  sarniebill1
My Native Land

Fair Scotland!  Dear as life to me are thy majestic hills,
And sweet as purest melody the music of thy rills.
The wildest cairn, the darkest dell, within thy rocky strand,
Possess o'er me a living spell - thou art my native land.

-- Robert White
Music:  Loch Lomond

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