Scottish Snippets

5 April 2014

Number 657



The Scottish Snippets Newsletter in its original format began in April 1997 and continued in an unbroken series for 591 issues. Although no longer produced in that style, there is now this regular update on the new and updated pages on the Rampant Scotland site including "Scottie's Photo Diary From Scotland".

HotTo receive a text version of this newsletter as a reminder to look at these Web pages when they are published, just send an e-mail to Scottie@RampantScotland.com with "Subscribe Newsletter" in the subject line.


Small Gigantic Country

When Sharma Krauskopf undertook to write a guide book on Scotland she looked forward to this adventure with great joy. But she found that "only" 70,000 words meant she had to pick and choose, otherwise the book would have been 200,000 words or more and she concluded that Scotland is indeed a "Small Gigantic Country." See: Small Gigantic Country

Coffee and Shortbread at Turnberry


A visit to Turnberry Golf Resort in Ayrshire by Sharma (a non-golfer) confirms that it has the best coffee and shortbread in Southwest Scotland. But the iconic lighthouse seen by millions of TV viewers on the golf course proves to be a disappointment. Never mind though - she meets a friendly Morgan Freeman, the well-known actor. See: Coffee and Shortbread at Turnberry


Saintly Rivals

Columba was not the only saint to bring Christianity to Scotland. Brendán, Donnán, Máelrubai, Boniface, Ternan, Machar and Adomnán (many of whom were proclaimed as saints) all made a major contribution. See: Saintly Rivals

Adomnán and the Ionan Paruchia (Parish)



The real apostle to the Picts was not Columba but Adomnán, the prime mover of the cult of Colum Cille. Adomnán was the most self-effacing of all Scottish saints. See: Adomnán and the Ionan Paruchia (Parish)

Lighthouses - Carraig Fhada (Port Ellen)

Carraig Fhada Lighthouse is located at the tip of a rocky promontory just over a mile from the harbour of Port Ellen on Islay. The building was commissioned by Walter Frederick Campbell in memory of his wife, Lady Ellenor Campbell. The building is unusual for a Scottish lighthouse being a square shape. See: Lighthouses - Carraig Fhada (Port Ellen)

Lighthouses - Dubh Artach



Dubh Artach is a remote skerry of basalt rock off the west coast of Scotland lying 18 miles west of Colonsay and 15 milessouth-west of Mull. The rock is subject to extraordinary sea conditions with waves of 92 feet (28 m) or more being encountered by the keepers. The difficult conditions meant that it took from 1867 to 1872 to construct it. See: Lighthouses - Dubh Artach


Marriage Customs in Scotland

Some of the customs which used to be prevalent in Scotland and some which have survived to this day. Did you know it was Queen Victoria that started the fashion for white wedding dresses? Prior to that, any colour was ok except green (which was associated with the fairies) and black (which was for mourning). See: Marriage Customs in Scotland

Legend of Lucky White Heather



Here is his tale about why white heather is considered lucky as related by "Ossian" (who, in all probability was the Scottish poet James Macpherson). See: Legend of Lucky White Heather

Next Newsletter

The next newsletter is scheduled for 19 April.

Yours aye

Scottie

Previous editions of this Newsletter are available in an Archive. The Index to the other pages of the Rampant Scotland site is available here.



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Where else would you like to go in Scotland?

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