Scottish Snippets

15 November 2014

Number 671



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.



Rampant Scotland Pictorial Calendar 2015
The regular Rampant Scotland Pictorial Calendar is once again online for next year. The format is as before, with four pictures to choose from for every month which you can print out on your own system. There does seem to be an even greater variety this year ranging from the usual castles (and newer buildings) and scenery, sunsets, flowers and nature. from around Scotland. But Scottish Country Dancing and the new Edinburgh trams and the Imax cinema from the Glasgow Tower also make an appearance! See: Rampant Scotland Pictorial Calendar 2015

Forth Rail Bridge



The wording accompanying Tam's pictures on the Forth Rail Bridge in the last newsletter gave a misleading impression that the rail bridge was under threat. Just for the record, the wording was by the editor and the iconic Victorian rail bridge (opened in 1890) is looking good for another 100 years after a recent lengthy repaint. The road bridge (opened in 1964) has potential problems and a new road bridge is under construction nearby. Both road bridges will continue to operate. By way of apology, Tam's picture of the Rail Bridge was used in the 2015 calendar. I suspect he will be looking for a bonus for that!

Eshaness Lighthouse Gallery

When Sharma Krauskopf moved back to the USA from the lighthouse keeper's cottage at Eshaness, many of her photographs were lost in transit which is why a number of the illustrations of the former Scottish Radiance articles have graphics sourced from Wikimedia Commons etc. While looking for illustrations recently I came across the Shetland Amenity Trust pages on Lighthouse Holidays in Shetland. They have a page of great pictures of Eshaness. See Eshaness Lighthouse Gallery

Poor Dore Holm



Sharma's imagination resulted in her writing a children's story about a sea stack near Eshaness that is shaped like a dinosaur and how it saved a whale from getting stranded. See: Poor Dore Holm



Close Up and Personal with Dore Holm

Sharma gets the opportunity to go out on a small boat to get a close look at Dore Holm and also sees lots of sea birds and seals as well. See: Close Up and Personal with Dore Holm

Sule Skerry Lighthouse



This lighthouse is acknowledged by the Guinness Book of Records as being the remotest manned lighthouse in Scotland until it was automated in 1982. Among the host of sea birds in the area, the cheeky puffin predominates - 'the air is black with them, the ground is covered with them, the sea is alive with them', as one observer wrote. See: Sule Skerry Lighthouse

Sumburgh Head Lighthouse

Sumburgh Airport, Shetland's main airport, lies immediately to the north of the lighthouse. Flights from here connect to mainland Scotland, the Orkney Islands and Norway. Close to the head is the archaeological site of Jarlshof, at which a series of settlements existed dating back to the neolithic period.The graphic shows Sumburgh in the snow. See: Sumburgh Head Lighthouse

Hyskeir Lighthouse



Hyskeir lighthouse is located on rocks approximately 5 miles south west of Canna and 8 miles west of the island of Rum. The families of the Hyskeir lightkeepers lived in Oban and latterly the keepers were taken out from there by helicopter for their month of duty. In 1974, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland visited Hyskeir by helicopter. See: Hyskeir Lighthouse

Next Newsletter

Tam is scheduled to return with more "tall tales" on 29 November.

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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