Sunday, December 25, 2011

PERTHSHIRE - Big Tree Country

I went in September with friend on a short excursion to the north of Perth , one Saturday , and I have been planning to write about that since then . Mainly around Dunkeld , visiting old cathedral there , nice tree gardens just next to , and the falls on river Braan . So I found out there from a brochure that Pertshire County is called Big Tree Country - because nowhere else in Europe grows so many big trees . Many exotic specimens are cultivated in numerous gardens , and many heritage trees can be found . The Birnam Oak is a remnant of the ancient Birnam Wood , made famous by Shakespeare in Macbeth . And the ancient yew at Fortingall is believed to be the oldest tree in Europe . I recommend to look at this website ;
http://www.perthshirebigtreecountry.co.uk/

But in Perthshire not only trees can attract . I have been to this county a couple of times and can only encourage coming there , if you want to taste Scottish landscape and history . The county is situated in the heart of Scotland ( the towns like Aberfeldy or Pitlochry claims to lie at the geographical centre of Scotland ).Thanks to a good road network is possible quickly move away to other parts of the country .

Perth , Scottish capital in the late middle ages , is worth visiting for a couple of hours , at least . The Palace of Scone , just off Perth , the crowning site of Kings of Scots , is must see place . And Dunkeld , which I mentioned before , in the 9th century was established by king Kenneth McAlpin as religious capital of Scotland . Some interesting castles , with Blair Castle on the top could be seen .

Surely the small Victorian resort , Pitlochry , is iconic in this region . Fine place for relaxing time in this splendour little town , among Grampian Mountains . In Pertshire there are many nice historic towns and villages , like Dunkeld , Aberfeldy , Crieff .

Pertshire is known also for its waterfalls , the most famous , Falls of Moness by Aberfeldy . The western part of the county is covered with many Lochs , just to mention Loch Tay , Loch Tummel and Rannoch .

Nevertheless , a few images taken in the Big Tree Country .


                                                                   River  Tay

                                                  Waterfalls at The Hermitage , river Braan

                                                  Bridge over river Tay , Dunkeld

                                                                             Dunkeld                                                                                                              
                                                                                                               Dunkeld  Cathedral

                                                              Sunset over Loch  Earn




   The road above Loch Tay                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

                                                              Rannoch  Moor

                                                        Falls of Dochart ,  Killin

                                                                     Ben  Lavers'  range .

                                                                       Glen  Lyon

                                                                         Castle  Menzies

Saturday, December 24, 2011

POSTCARDS FROM BELFAST



I have gone on a short trip to Belfast recently , the main city of North Ireland . Not so long ago , that was the biggest city in whole Ireland . Situated on the tip of a long bay , this city has got many faces . With the big harbour , where many visitors arrives via ferry boat from Scotland and England . And where " Titanic " was build . The town itself  is an example of  fine architectural mixture , of Victorian and modern styles .
If you come to Belfast during Christmas and Festive time , you would find at the Town Hall a Christmas Market , with food and craft from different countries .

Just below a couple of pictures , taken in this beautiful city. After visiting Belfast , its image  as  a gloomy and industrial city can surely change .








                                                      Inside of Belfast pub .








                                                            Belfast   Cathedral .


     
   
























                                                                                                  


Monday, December 12, 2011

MONTENEGRO - the pearl of Adriatic sea


I would recommend to visit this tiny country to everybody . For a couple of reasons , but firstly because on the small area of this recently established country you can find variety of attractions . All the places which are worth seeing are located closely to each other . There is very good network of roads and well developed tourist infrastructure , mainly on the coast . The  coastal towns like Bar and Budva are really well prepared for visitors . Bar which is main sea port of the country , is build in very modern way , with broad boulevards and modern shopping malls . Bar has got many beaches as well .

On the whole stretch of Montenegrin coast ( of 250 km ) there are many places of historic interest , old monasteries and beautiful medieval towns - the heritage of Venetian rule in this part of Adriatic sea . Especially the Old Town of Kotor is amazingly situated between the Kotor Bay and mountains slopes and is declared as UNESCO Site .

And Boka Kotorska itself ( The Kotor Bay ) is worth spending even a couple of days experiencing wonders of this long Mediterranean fiord , surrounded by high mountains .The historic towns located on the shores of Boka Kotorska , Kotor , Perast and Herceg Novi are the must-see attractions .

But if you feel a bit tired of scorching weather during a long summer season, you can go into country's interior among high mountains , where the air is fresher , among mountain woods . Especially  " Durmitor National Park " is the place when you can choose different activities , from hiking , fishing ,  mountainbiking to rafting in the Canyon Tara , considered as the highest and longest canyon in Europe . The town of Zabljak , the highest situated town in Balkans ( 1450 m ) , is the perfect base for staying in Durmitor region .
http://www.montenegro.com/accommodation/zabljak
http://www.durmitor-autocamp.com/

Another " wonder of nature " - the Lake Skadar - is shared with Albania and protected as " Skadarsko Jezero National Park ".
And the place of national pride - mausoleum of King Nicholas on the top of Mount Lovcen - it is possible to get there on the car - the views from there are fantastic and get to know some history of Montenegro . Down in the large valley  lies historic town of Cetinje , Royal Capital , the place where the country's independence was formed .

I should mention as well about  Bar- Belgrad railway ,which leads through very picturesque mountain terrain. Especially the Montenegrin part of railway is believed to be the most interesting , thanks to many bridges and tunnels on the route .

So maybe a couple of pictures  will encourage some of you to visit Montenegro .


Budva

                                                                 Budva - citadel
                               
                                                        Lovcen Mountains

                                           Boka Kotorska seen from Lovcen Mountains                                     
                                                                            
                                                                 Waterfront in Kotor
          
                                                                         Kotor

                                                   Stari  Bar - the Old Town                      

Budva Old Town

Perast , Boka Kotorska


Streets of Kotor

                               Boka Kotorska                                         

                                                        Durmitor National Park
                                              
                                                        Sv. Stefan -  the Island of St . Stephen

                                                                    Herceg Novi

                                                            Durmitor  Mountains

                                                               Tara River Canyon

                                                 View toward Skadar Lake

                                       Bar aquaduct , 16 th century                                                                                                                                                                      

                                                                      Tara River

Also more photos from Montenegro here ;

http://www.flickr.com/photos/50392306@N04/sets/72157628359714915/

 http://www.flickr.com/photos/50392306@N04/sets/72157628181407469/