The Hill House, Helensburgh

Travelling home from Argyll we broke the journey a couple of times - the first stop being at The Hill House, designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh in 1900.













The interior is pretty much unchanged, with many of Mackintosh's iconic flower designs to be seen on furnishings and walls, but the exterior isn't faring well. The rain is now getting through the external render (harling) and it's now under a protective mesh cage, inside which a walkway takes visitors round, up and over the house.






It's a very strange experience. I'm not normally fond of heights but they didn't worry me here as I couldn't believe I was looking down on a full-sized house.










Weirdly I felt I was looking at a model, not real rooftops and chimneys!














 Another advantage of being so high is that the views out over the Clyde are wonderful. In fact, it's almost worth visiting just for them!

Loch Fyne and Crinan - part two

For a very short break, we seemed to pack a lot into our time away, so, as a follow-on to part one, here's part two of our stay in Argyll :)














We stayed in a cottage (found through AirBnB) in the village of Minard, on Loch Fyne, (above) just down the road from the National Trust for Scotland's Crarae Garden, which I very much wanted to visit while we were staying so close by.













It's not a formal, flower-bed sort of garden, and doesn't feel planned and designed, but it is.












A steep-sided Scottish glen has been transformed resemble a Himalayan valley.with paths wandering back and forth across the burn as it cascades down the hillside.













































There are rhododendrons, eucalyptus trees, bamboo, and Japanese maples, but everything seems so completely at home in this setting that it's hard to remember that most of these plants and trees aren't native.

We'd fortunately stumbled on one of those wonderful sunny West Highland days when the sea lochs reflect the blue of the sky. and the scene from the viewpoint was breath-taking.

It's not a long walk round but it was certainly the hilliest of the weekend, so cake was needed before we left. This delicious slice was the last of a courgette and avocado cake - not something I've tried before, but definitely would again.

It was onwards then, down a wriggly road beside Caol Scotnish, one of those fingers of sea that cuts deeply into the land round here, to the village of Tayvallich. There are lots of forest walks around here but we weren't really equipped for them, so headed just south of the village to Taynish Nature Reserve.








Here there's again a variety of walks but we chose the shortest - to Taynish Mill and back - and discovered it to be the site of a series of outdoor art installations.



































































The mill itself is now a ruin, but the burn which once fed its machinery falls prettily down rocks, and not much further on the path reaches the sea - Loch Sween this time

I didn't manage to photograph dragonflies on our walk the previous day at Loch Barnluasgan, but on the return to the car at Taynish we spotted several sunning themselves on a bench.

We definitely didn't have time to see and do all we wanted to, but these few days have got me back into the mood of holidaying, and spending time away from home. Next year I'm sure we'll be back for longer

Scotland 2014 - #8 Hidden Gardens

 This first oasis of a garden is, almost unbelievably, situated just off Edinburgh's Royal Mile at Dunbar's Close. It's a courtyard style garden, with apple trees and climbing roses separating each 'room', herbs and flowers to scent the air, and seats to rest awhile. Considering its location, it's surprisingly quiet, even at Festival time.
I discovered it by accident last year and had to revisit.

Another garden still within walking distance of the city centre, though admittedly further at just over one and a half miles, is Dr Neil's Garden at Duddingston.
















Although on the edge of Holyrood Park, looking at the view over the loch it feels like the middle of the countryside.









And in case you walked there, there are plenty of seats to sit and gaze at the view from.

Lastly, we went a little further from town. Less than half an hour away is the pretty village of Inveresk and hidden behind a stone wall the garden of Inveresk Lodge, a National Trust for Scotland garden with mixed beds and borders and a wilder area round a pond.

Another lovely spot to escape the bustle of the city.

Scotland 2014 #6 Old Edinburgh

 Whenever I go back to Edinburgh, I'm always drawn to its Old Town. Get away from the crowds or just stand still and look upwards, and it feels walking through a film set for a gothic horror or historical romance. Last year I spent some time wandering round the Old Town and investigating the hidden closes off the Royal Mile but didn't get to see anything like all of them, so this year I went back ....

There always seems to be a new bit to discover with towering buildings leaning together over the streets and narrow closes.

I could wander round these olde-worlde streets forever - and I always find something unexpected like this 'terrace' with open-air cafes and pubs, and a marvellous view down to the Grassmarket below.

I also spent a couple of happy hours just down the Royal Mile from here at the National Trust for Scotland's 17th century townhouse property Gladstone's Land. The guides were some of the most helpful and informative that I've met, and told me all sorts of fascinating things about the house itself and the growth of Edinburgh. I only left because I felt guilty keeping them chatting after 'closing time'.

..and another 'discovery' - White Horse Close which I've seen pictured plenty of times on postcards but never seen for myself.