Space Opens for Glasgow Tour 2019

I have had a person who had signed up for the Glasgow Tour write to say she has had to cancel because her granddaughter is getting married and the wedding date is during the time of the Glasgow Tour.

That now opens a space for Glasgow 2019. If you are interested in joining us, you may want to act quickly. This space will be assigned on a first come, first serve basis and likely won't last long.

For more info: https://www.genealogytoursofscotland.ca/home.html

Spaces Added to Glasgow Genealogy Tour 2019

Due to popularity, three spaces have been added to the Glasgow 2019 Tour. The dates are May 16-24th, 2019. I can tell you first hand, this provides incredible opportunities for people with ancestors in the Glasgow, Argyll and Lanarkshire areas. As with the last two Glasgow tours, these spaces will fill quickly so if you have an interest, you may want to register soon: https://www.genealogytoursofscotland.ca/glasgow-tour.html

Glasgow Genealogy Research

Once again, it has been a whirlwind of research. This time the focus has been on Glasgow ancestry with some additional research for those with ancestors from Lanarkshire or the West of Scotland. 

The tour began on Wednesday evening with a meet a greet. The Glasgow group is actually larger than the Edinburgh tour was. Nine of the 15 researchers are return participants and another three were also with me on the Edinburgh tour. 

Thursday was spent in the Mitchell Library, at the Glasgow City Archives or at the ScotlandsPeople hub. 

Friday we were off to Motherwell. The group was split in half with half of the group going to the North Lanarkshire Archives and the other half going to the Lanarkshire Family History Society. The groups swapped places in the afternoon. 

The weekend was free for those who wanted some time to explore. Most of the group joined me on Saturday for a tour of the Glasgow Women's Library followed by a heritage walking tour of the East End of Scotland. 

On Sunday, several of the participants enjoyed a guided tour of the Necropolis. 

On Monday, we were off to the Glasgow and West of Scotland Family History Society. 

Today the group was back at the Mitchell. Tomorrow is our last day together as a group. It is incredible how quickly the week has passed. Connections have been made. Pieces of the genealogy puzzle have fallen into place. We have a greater understanding of the lives of our ancestors and we are richer in our own heritage as a result of our research and learning this week. 

Culross

On Sunday, the plan had been to take a walk along the bay after breakfast. However, with the rain chucking down, I only did half of the bay, under the safety of a brolly supplied by the B&B. From Stonehaven, I headed to Dunnottar Castle. It is quite dramatic as it sits perched on a rock high above the sea. 

William Wallace, Mary Queen of Scots, the Marquis of Montrose and King Charles II were among some of the better known guests at the Castle. However, during Cromwell's time, a garrison managed to hide the Scottish crown jewels hidden here, keeping them safe from destruction,  

On a darker note, in 1685, Dunnottar also served as a prison to a group of Covenanters. 

The Castle was once home to the Earls of Marichal, the last being convicted of treason for his part in the 1715 Jacobite rising. The castle and the rest of the Earl's lands were seized as punishment. 

From Dunnottar, it was off to Fife to spend some time in Culross. Culross is a lovely, well preserved royal burgh in Fife. The village is under the care of the National Trust of Scotland and most recently has become famous as one of the filming locations in Outlander. The palace is available to tour for the ridiculous price of £10.50. Given that it is actually not a palace, but was, rather, the home of a wealthy merchant. There really isn't much to see and certainly not £10.50 worth, when you consider that the entry to Glamis Castle was less and has a great deal more to offer. The rest of the village is definitely well worth a visit, however. 

A Weekend Away

One of the things I thoroughly enjoy about my time in Scotland is the opportunity to see new parts of the country. This year, I chose Aberdeen, Stonehaven and Culross. 

I was up and away early Saturday morning and headed off to Aberdeen. En route, I saw the signs for Glamis and decided to detour to see the castle. 

Glamis Castle, childhood home of the Queen Mother
and birthplace of Princess Margaret, the first Royal
baby to be born in Scotland in over 300 years

This part of the Castle is still a private residence for
Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne

The old sundial

As with most castles and manor houses, if you have seen one, you have essentially seen them all. I was there just after opening time and decided to take the tour. The tour takes just over an hour, but self guided or self guided with audio could be done far more quickly. There was a lot of down time while we waited for people to wander aimlessly around each room waiting for the guide to move us forward. Part of the Castle is still a private residence so photos are not allowed inside. 

From Glamis, it was straight to Aberdeen. Aberdeen is like any big city. Add to that the fact that it is also a busy, bustling sea port. I particularly enjoyed the Maritime Museum, a free museum that explores the history of Aberdeen and its connection to the sea. 

Deckhouse, used for relaxation or as sleeping quarters for the crew

Recreated home of a shipbuilder

Rattray Head lighthouse

Two of the boards denoting donations made to poor seamen

From Aberdeen, I headed back down to Stonehaven. A beautiful wee place on a sheltered bay. The B&B is right on the sea. 

I took a walk to the shorehead and enjoyed a lovely meal at the Ship Inn. There are a number of historical plaques along the way to share the history of the town. 

From the Shorehead, I took the boardwalk back along the bay. There are a number of 
metallic sculptures dotting the shore line. They are the creation of a local artist.