Good Morning and Welcome to my Atlantic Life😊
I'm at in again....it's a lengthy one with many more pics from my adventure in Scotland!
I've always been drawn to historical places - the kind of places that have a story to tell. There's just something about walking in the footsteps of those who came before us, seeing the world through their eyes, and feeling the weight of their experiences. Today I wanted to take you on one of the walks I took whilst visiting with my Mom and Dad in Scotland - sharing some more of the places I grew up around. Ayr is absolutely steeped in history - well, the town was created in 1205!!
Maybe it's because I love stories, and historical places are like pages in a book, waiting to be read (and you know how much I love a good book😉), maybe it's because I have a deep respect for the past, and for the people who built the world we live in today, or maybe it's the sense of mystery and intrigue that often surrounds historical places...💕
Whatever the reason, I find myself captivated by the crumbling ruins of castles, the intricate designs of ancient cathedrals, and the grandeur of old-world mansions. I love the feeling of stepping back in time, of immersing myself in a world that once was.
Follow me through a gate in time....
My first stop was Bellisle Country Park - The estate was founded circa 1754 by Dr Alexander Campbell. Around 1765 the property fell to Campbell's brother, Archibald who was a writer in Edinburgh, and in turn he was succeeded in 1775 by John Campbell of Wellwood (nephew). Over the years the estate changed hands many times, was enlarged, and the original house was rebuilt and extended to include large, mullioned and transomed windows, crowstepped gables and tall, thin pencil towers. Of particular note was the elaborate interior Jacobean plasterwork and timber carvings - all of which were lost when a fire ravaged the beautiful old building in 2019.
A tad blurry, but still worth seeing...
Bellisle House Hotel before the fire in 2019
So many beautiful sights...
Where to now...?
Bellisle Conservatory
Fire in 2019 that ravaged Bellisle hotel (the owner later confessed that he and some workers had set the building on fire accidently when repairing the roof with a blowtorch)
All that remains...
The sad shell left...
Original stonework features that survived
Bellisle Golf Course Feb 2023
I was super fortunate to have often been inside Bellisle House, which had been turned into a hotel, with an 18-hole golf course and restaurant, whilst maintaining its historical grounds with walled garden and conservatory - my family and I even attended a couple of New Year's Eve parties at the hotel. Although sadly the building is a mere shell, you can still wander around the large estate with its beautiful walkways, conservatory and walled garden (which even though its winter and the plants are dormant, was still incredible to stroll around), play golf, and eat in the restaurant.
I then walked a super familiar walk that I have done so many times before, across the golf course and then Monument Road, to enter Rozelle House Estate. Rozelle was also founded in the mid 1700's and is now home to an art gallery, the Ayrshire Yeomanry museum, Rozelle Craft House and Rozelle Coffee Shop - all of which are open to the public.
My fondest memories of Rozelle are of playing high school field hockey there when our school fields were in use.....you can only imagine how much I enjoyed a game of hockey - playing the position of center forward, and often captaining the team before I gave up to concentrate on the real love of my life my horseriding (I was following in my Mom's footsteps, who also played the same position and captained her high school team)
Rozelle Walkways
The back of Rozelle House
Rozelle Duck Pond
The story stroll trail around Rozelle
Squirrel Nutkin from "The Tales of Squirrel Nutkin" by Beatrix Potter (1866-1943)
Sherlock Holmes from the famous detective series written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
(1859-1930)
The Sorting Hat from the Harry Potter series by JK Rowling (I love Harry Potter!!!)
Rupert the Bear from one of my childhood favorite comic/book series originally printed in the "Daily Express", then annual books. Authors include:
Mary Tourtel (wrote 1920–1935)
Alfred Bestall (wrote 1935–1974)
Freddie Chaplain (wrote 1965–1978)
James Henderson (wrote 1978–1990)
Ian Robinson (wrote 1990–2002)
Stuart Trotter (writing 2008–present)
I remember laughing at these sculptures (for a teenager, they just seemed bizarre) after playing hockey on Saturday mornings
One of the paths I would take back home when I was younger
After wandering around the pond and grounds, I left the estate and walked into Alloway - the birthplace of the poet Robert Burns. Burns was born in 1759, in Alloway, and like his father, was a tenant farmer. However, toward the end of his life he became an excise collector in Dumfries, where he died in 1796. His poetry recorded and celebrated aspects of farm life, regional experience, traditional culture, class culture and distinctions, and religious practice. He is considered the national poet of Scotland and wrote many, many beautiful poems and songs, including "Auld Lang Syne" which is often sang at New Year (Translation below original poem)
"Auld Lang Syne"
Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind ? Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and auld lang syne ? For auld lang syne, my jo, for auld lang syne, we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet, for auld lang syne (chorus) And surely ye’ll be your pint-stowp! and surely I’ll be mine! And we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet, for auld lang syne. Chorus We twa hae run about the braes, and pu’d the gowans fine. But we’ve wander’d mony a weary fit, sin auld lang syne. Chorus We twa hae paidl’d i' the burn, frae morning sun till dine; But seas between us braid hae roar’d sin auld lang syne.
Chorus And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere ! and gie's a hand o’ thine ! And we’ll tak a right gude-willy waught, for auld lang syne.
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and good old times?
[Chorus:]
For old times since, my dear,
for good old times,
we'll drink a cup of kindness yet,
for good old times.
And surely you’ll have your pint cup!
and surely I’ll have mine!
And we'll drink a cup o’ kindness yet,
for good old times.
(Chorus)
We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since good old times.
(Chorus)
We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine;
But seas between us broad have roared
since good old times.
(Chorus)
And there’s a hand my trusty friend!
And give us a hand o’ thine!
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for good old times.
Entering Alloway Village
The thatched cottage where Robert Burns was born in 1759, now a museum
Alloway Village Post Office (obviously the flowers are artificial....it is Scotland in the depths of winter after all 😁)
Alloway Church Hall (I remember attending a "Pony Club" Christmas party there many, many moons ago)
By the time I walked around Alloway Village, having satiated my appetite for history, it was time to satiate my appetite for some good old fashioned Scottish food, so I headed back to my parent's home where Dad was cooking the traditional staple of "mince and tatties" - a hearty meal of ground beef, carrots, brown gravy and mashed potatoes ( I have heard someone call it "deconstructed cottage pie" without the baking 😁)
"Yummy Mince and Tatties" (Thanks Dad!)
In a way, visiting historical places feels like a way to connect with the past, to honor those who came before us, and to learn from their experiences....and as I've mentioned before....life is a series of lessons, that's how we grow and evolve.
Until Next Time...
Take care, Stay Safe and....if you have some time, why not step back through the window of time by visiting a historical place...or maybe just grab a mug of coffee and read about it 💗
Love and Hugs,
Pam
PS. It's raining pretty hard here...time for more coffee and some work on the websites!
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