Royal attractions, events and activities in Scotland
SCOTLAND'S
TOP 10 ROYAL HOTSPOTS
Stay
a step ahead of the corgis this summer with an insider's guide to
Royal Scotland in the 21st century.
Balmoral Castle
Top of the royal pops, the Scottish home of the present monarch
and her family is not, in fact, the original castle. That was demolished
back in 1856 when the new granite building was completed to plans
approved by Prince Albert - who bought the castle for Queen Victoria
in 1852.
The castle's ballroom, carriage room, gardens and grounds are open
to the public until the end of July. If you want to hobnob with
blue blood why not book a holiday at Balmoral? The estate lets several
self-catering properties although some are reserved for members
of the Royal household during the Queen's summer visit.
For more information visit www.balmoralcastle.com
Royal walks
Queen Victoria reputedly spent many hours at the distinctive pyramid
monument erected in honour of her husband Prince Albert near Balmoral.
A relatively easy 45 minute walk will reward you with great views
over the estate and Prince Charles' favourite mountain - Lochnagar.
For authenticity climb the hill on a sturdy pony and then drop in
at the Ropyal Lochnagar Distillery on the way back - it's one of
eight distilleries with a royal warrant and has been distilling
single malt whisky since 1826. Find out more at www.scotch-whisky.org.uk
Royal Rods
Fly fishing is one of the Royal's favourite outdoor sports when
in Scotland and it is easy to see why. There are numerous lochs
full of native brown trout, wild salmon are returning to the rivers
and big game fishing off the west coast has reeled in some record
beating skate.
To catch the latest information take a look at VisitScotland's
fishing pages at www.visitscotland.com/outdoors/fish/
Royal Retreat
Prince Charles is known to be particularly fond of Berneray in the
Outer Hebrides and has even been known to cut the odd peat stack
in his youth. This small Hebridean island is now linked to North
Uist by a causeway but its idyllic isolation remains largely unchanged.
Fantastic fishing in an abundance of freshwater lochs is the main
activity although the island is also a mecca for birdwatchers. Berneray
and neighbouring Mingulay both have Site of Special Scientific Interest
status due to their maritime vegetation, rock shore and cliff habitats
- all of which encourage the seabird population.
For more information visit the website www.visithebrides.com
Royal Golf
St Andrews is world renowned for its superb Old Course which is
regarded as the home of golf although it is not the oldest course
in the country. That claim is made by Musselburgh Old Course, a
nine-hole course reputedly played by Mary Queen of Scots in 1567.
The Old Course in St Andrews is one of nine courses in the Fife
town and one of 75 courses in Fife.
More information can be found on the www.standrews.com
website.
Maritime Mecca
The west coast of Scotland, with its enchanting islands, numerous
wrecks, abundant wildlife and secluded anchorages is a magnet for
watersports enthusiasts including several Royals.
Traditional west coast holiday resorts such as Oban have developed
excellent facilities for both sailing and diving and the town's
West Highland Week regatta has become a "can't miss" event for many
UK and overseas visitors. The Princess Royal and her husband are
regular visitors to the town as they keep their yacht nearby.
However it is the historic island of Iona a few miles off shore
that can claim the best Royal connections. The sacred island is
the final resting place for 48 early Scottish kings and the birthplace
of modern Scottish Christianity.
For more information on Oban visit www.oban.org.uk
The Old Man of Lochnagar
The towering peaks of Lochnagar with 11 summits over 3000 feet inspired
Prince Charles to write a book for his younger brothers. The mountain
- the loch of the goats - is part of the balmoral estate and has
recently been classified as a Special Protection Area for upland
birds under the European Commission's Wild Birds and Habitats Directive.
It is a popular mountain for both walkers and climbers and attracts
180,000 people a year. That figure is expected to increase this
year as Scotland's mountains are highlighted as part of the International
Year of the Mountain. More details can be found at www.mountains2002.org
Royal Edinburgh
Whilst
Royal Deeside can justly claim to host Royalty at play, Edinburgh
can boast the Queen's official residence - the Palace of Holyroodhouse
- The Royal Yacht Britannia and Edinburgh Castle, Scotland's number
one visitor attraction at the top of the Royal Mile. The castle
is home to the Scottish Crown Jewels and the Stone of Destiny, on
which early Scottish monarchs were crowned.
One mile away at Holyrood, you can visit the royal apartments, the
throne room and the great gallery and see the tower apartments of
Mary Queen of Scots where she lived following her return from France
in 1561 and where she witnessed the murder of her favourite secretary
David Rizzio. Edinburgh's port at Leith is now home to HMS Britannia
which served the Royal family for over 40 years and travelled more
than a million miles. The jubilee is a significant year for Britannia
as the contract fo build the ship was signed on 5 February 1952
- just one day before King George VI died and his daughter became
Queen.
The Sport of Kings
Scotland has five horse race courses and most can claim royal connections.
The Princess Royal has raced at Hamilton Park which claims to be
Scotland's oldest course, Perth claims to have a royal location
as the course is within the grounds of Scone Palace, home to many
Scottish Kings, Ayre is situated within a Royal burgh and hosts
some of the most prestigious races including the Scottish Grand
National and Musselburgh's Edwardian grandstands were extended with
the Queen's stand in 1995. Kelso's tiny racecourse makes up for
its lack of royal links by priding itself on being "Britain's Friendliest
Course." For details of family offers at Scotland's racecourses
race to www.scottishracing.co.uk
The Isle of Bute
When Prince Charles visits Scotland he uses the title of the Duke
of Rothesay. Rothesay is on the island of Bute, the ancestral home
of the Stuart kings of Scotland. Robert III, King of Scots, made
his son David the first Duke of Rothesay in 1398.
Rothesay Castle with its enormous 12th century shell keep and four
round towers was the king's favourite residence. It saw off a Viking
invasion but was captured by the English. Robert the Bruce eventuall
won it back but it was left a ruin after Argyll's forces torched
the castle in 1685.
Now in the hands of Historic Scotland the castle is open to the
public all year round and is one of Bute's many visitor attractions.
Rothesay town was a hugely popular seaside resort in the Victorian
era and its Victorian toilets, seafront and Winter Gardens have
all been recently restored to their former glory. Other popular
attractions on Bute are Mount Stuart House and Gardens, Ascog Hall
Fernery and Gardens and St Blane's Chapel.
For further details visit the island's web site at www.isle-of-bute.com
For general information regarding holidays in Scotland visit
the VisitScotland website at www.visitscotland.com
(09/05/2002)
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