Scotland

[Azi Tohak]

No, this is not political (so no Backroom for me), and it isn't really history either (so no Monastery).

My question is what should my friend and I do to explore Scotland when I am there for four days in July? Specifically Edinburgh its surrounding Lothian area. We certainly would not be unwilling to travel more (she wants to rent a car... there is no way I would want to drive there!), but Edinburgh is big and I'm sure we can spend a fair amount of time just in that area with more fun and less driving.

I am going to be close to Nottingham for two months for training for work, but before I start all that I am flying into Manchester to meet up with my friend, and then we are going to have four days to explore Scotland. I just hope I can understand the locals.

Anyway, I am a big military history buff so I would like to visit battlefields in that area. I do have this link, but for some reason, I don't have a map of where all the battlefields are. D'oh!

http://www.visitscotland.com/library/battlefields

I am particularly interested in Flodden Field, and I think it is close enough to Edinburgh for us to get to. Aside from that, I'm not sure where the rest of the battles were to get a good idea of what we can check out. Of course, going with a chick means I won't be able to see every battlefield, but I'm not complaining. I'm sure she is going to want to see something I wouldn't think of otherwise.

Anyway, any input from the locals or others who have visited there?

Thanks!
Azi

[ShadesPanther]

I recommend Stirling Castle(It's better than edinbrough's although you should goto both) and the Wallace Monument (It is excellent and it even has Wallace's Broadsword.) as well.


Also make sure you rent a Manual car

[Zain]

Look up anything that has to do with William Wallace. He was a big influence in the Scots getting independence from the English.

-ZainDustin

[InsaneApache]

Look up anything that has to do with William Wallace. He was a big influence in the Scots getting independence from the English.

-ZainDustin

[Scurvy]

walk the monroes

[Justiciar]

Seconded!

[naut]

What ever you do you have to do two things:

First, try deep fried mars bar

Second, go to a wiskey brewery

Well hum let me think ... In Edinburgh there's the Castle and the Flodden Walls. You can always visit Greyfriars cemetery, or maybe look for Ebenizer Scrooges grave-stone. Um, theres the parliment square, supossibly John Knox (famous protestant preacher for those who don't know who he is) was burried there (under space 44 IIRC, theres a yellow square saying his bodies there or something). You could walk the high street, there's a brass H set in the road IIRC, marking the last hanging that took place in Edinburgh. There's St. Gile's Cathedral, and it infamous throwing of the stool riot. Theres also the Tolbooth Prison (was used to hold witches IIRC). Um there's the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Oh and Arthur's Seat.

Hope that helps some

[Big King Sanctaphrax]

Look up anything that has to do with William Wallace. He was a big influence in the Scots getting independence from the English.

-ZainDustin

Oh dear.

I myself would reccomend Sterling. I've stayed there on several occassions, and it really is a lovely place.

[BigTex]

Originally Posted by ZainDustin
Look up anything that has to do with William Wallace. He was a big influence in the Scots getting independence from the English.

-ZainDustin

Darn and I've always thought it was Mel Gibson who was a big influence in the Scottish getting independence from the British.

[Azi Tohak]

Hope that helps some

Thankyee, greatly appreciated. I know it isn't for a while, but with my personality (always wanting to get my ducks-in-a-row and all that) I think a good idea of what I want to do before I get over there will be very useful.

Keep 'em coming!

Azi

[InsaneApache]

I lived in Scotland for a while when I was a nipper but on the other side. If you do get chance try to get to the west coast, it really is beautiful. I had the most stunning view from my bedroom window when I was 13, but being 13 and heavily into Ziggy Stardust et al, I didn,t pay it much due.

Directly opposite was the isle of Aran, with Goats fell dead in the center. I kid you not it looked just like the 'Paramount' mountain you see at the begginning of films. It even had snow on it's peak a lot of the year. To the south-west there's Elsa Craig a long dormant and extinct volcano. Again it looks like a volcano should, rising steeply from the Firth of Clyde to a sheared top.

Every now and then I'd see a huge black thing out to sea. Didn't know what it was at first, and then I twigged it was a Polaris sub from Faslane.

[InsaneApache]

Darn and I've always thought it was Mel Gibson who was a big influence in the Scottish getting independence from the British.

Very, very unlikely.

[Somebody Else]

Whatever you do... Bring an umbrella.

[Mikeus Caesar]

Look up anything that has to do with William Wallace. He was a big influence in the Scots getting independence from the English.

-ZainDustin

The sad is, this isn't a comedy post. It's quite serious.

Those idiots at Hollywood have spread so much misinformation.

What next, a film saying that America won the Battle of Britain? Probably...

[ShadesPanther]

What next, a film saying that America won the Battle of Britain? Probably...

Well In the film Pearl Harbour they did

[Duke Malcolm]

Darn and I've always thought it was Mel Gibson who was a big influence in the Scottish getting independence from the British.

Yes, indeed. Scotland is currently under the control of a raving Frenchman with an American accent... Also, we all speak a bizarre and twisted language, and I have to use a translator to type this... And we have used nuclear explosives to remove ourselves from the island of Great Britain, so there is only the Island of Scotland and the Island of England and Wales, and we sailed to Ascension Island, where the grass is greener...

Anyhoo, I would advise you to visit Stirling, and the Battle of Bannockburn site and centre. My school has been banned from going there, so I've never bee, but I've heard it is quite good.
Also, get a train to Glasgow, where they have just re-opened the Kelvingrove Art Gallery after 3 years' refurbishment, it is supposed to be spectacular now, also, there is the Museum of Modern Art there and the Transport Museum and a few other things...

[Zain]

I thought the William Wallace deal was true, because of some of the side videos on the Braveheart DVD was talking about monuments to him and all that.

I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything, since I don't have any first hand experience in this whole category.

They wear Kilts (sp?)!!!

-ZainDustin

[English assassin]

I second (third) Stirling, AND Mel Gibson fought one of his battles there, if that is important.

ZD, pay no attention to the scoffers. Braveheart was cobblers, but Wallace was a historical figure and you could loosely say he (tried to) restore independence for Scotland (only loosely because Scotland was de jure independent even if Edward 1 did have his fingers all over it http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/scottis..._wallace.shtml)

I don't know much about the history of Texas, after all.

I'll tell you something else, you really didn't want to get on the wrong side of Edward 1, "Hammer of the Scots"

Wrapped in an ox hide to prevent [Wallace] being ripped apart, thereby shortening the torture, he was dragged by horses four miles through London to Smithfield.
There he was hanged, as a murderer and thief, but cut down while still alive. Then he was mutilated, disembowelled and, being accused of treason, he was probably emasculated. For the crimes of sacrilege to English monasteries, his heart, liver, lungs and entrails were cast upon a fire, and, finally, his head was chopped off. His carcase was then cut up into bits. His head was set on a pole on London Bridge, another part went to Newcastle, a district Wallace had destroyed in 1297-8, the rest went to Berwick, Perth and Stirling (or perhaps Aberdeen), as a warning to the Scots

[Zain]

Muahaha! William Wallace was real! Shut UP people!

My smartness shines once again.

I know all about Texas history, especially about the Spanish war between the United States and Mexico over Texas. The Alamo was a big battle during that war. Between 250 or so Texans and 2,000 Mexicans. The Texans were all killed, but they also killed something like 800 of the Mexicans. And then Sam Houston, and awesome general, caught the Mexican army in San Jacinto and killed them all in a 10 minute battle.

I could go on and on, but this thread is about Scotland.

-ZainDustin

[Sigurd]

One day trip… Be sure to start early:

A motorcycle trip to Castle Urquhart on the banks of Loch Ness is great.
Be sure to start in Glasgow and go north. You’ll pass (be sure to stop) great places as Loch Lomond, always misty Glencoe and the Highlands, a little detour to Eilean Donan Castle (famous from “Highlander” and “Entrapment”) before riding next to Loch Ness and up to Urquhart.
There is only a short distance to Inverness if you want to see that place.
You should be able to reach back to Glasgow by nightfall if you have a fast bike…
The turns and twist under the blanket of a forested road by Loch Lomond is especially fun to ride when you have “warmed up”.

[Ja'chyra]

Head over to Loch Lomond and maybe even walk up the Ben, you get a great view on a clear day.

[doc_bean]

Muahaha! William Wallace was real! Shut UP people!

Sure, but as for Scottish independence...

I think Wallace only became an 'important' historical figure after the movie, there's at lest one statue of him that's really just a statue of Mel Gibson

[English assassin]

Head over to Loch Lomond and maybe even walk up the Ben, you get a great view on a clear day.

....which happens once every five years...

[Taurus]

My question is what should my friend and I do to explore Scotland when I am there for four days in July?
Azi

Find and capture the Loch Ness monster...

Other than that, you should visit a truckstop (forgot the name) in the Jenkinson's depot. Best traditional Scottish breakfast EVER!

[Azi Tohak]

Other than that, you should visit a truckstop (forgot the name) in the Jenkinson's depot. Best traditional Scottish breakfast EVER!

Knowing what little I do of Scottish food... is that supposed to entice or revolt me?

I do appreciate the help guys. But... being that I'm going with a chick (albeit an engineer, so she's not going to want to shop the whole time [I hope]) I'm already sure that her opinion will carry more weight than mine.

Actually, while I'm thinking about it, is there a general Scottish history book I could read before I go? I know there have to be lots in Scotland itself... but I'm in Midland, Texas. So probably a well known one would help.

Thanks guys! This is great.

Azi

[Ja'chyra]

....which happens once every five years...

Ouch.......

[Taurus]

Knowing what little I do of Scottish food... is that supposed to entice or revolt me?

Definatly entice.
It's basically a full english breakfast with a square sausage.

[English assassin]

Surely a traditional Scottish breakfast is a can of Tennants Export with a Tennants Export chaser?

Or maybe that's just Glasgow coach station....

[matteus the inbred]

Surely a traditional Scottish breakfast is a can of Tennants Export with a Tennants Export chaser?

Or maybe that's just Glasgow coach station....

ah, that cheered me up. Rab C Nesbitt, great.