Dark Island Guided Tours Scotland

15/08/2024

On Tuesday I visited Inverary in Argyll, the seat of Clan Campbell. Behind me is the Vital Spark. It's not the original, but it's namesake was a boat that featured in the Tales of Parahandy, a series of books by local author Neil Munroe featuring the adventures of the a very similar puffer boat and her crew. However, she is probably best known through the 1960s TV series The Vital Spark. The 1990s remake featuring Rab C Nesbit actor Gregor Fisher is well worth watching too.

07/08/2024

A few foties from yesterday's tour of a very festive Edinburgh. 😁🎉

04/08/2024

Today I'm in Luss on the bonny banks of Loch Lomond. This picturesque town was the set for soap opera Take the High Road and has been part of Clan Colquhoun lands since the 14th Century. Behind me are the graves of a more recent chief and his family.

26/07/2024

Back in Stirling today, at the castle. Behind me is one of the 16th Century oak carvings known as the Stirling Heads. This one depicts James I whose love of tennis cost him his life. He was assisinated after he had his secret escape route blocked up because he kept losing balls down it. 🎾🫅☠️

24/07/2024

Back at Edinburgh Castle again today. Behind me is Mons Meg, built in 1454 at the order of the Duke of Burgundy, it was gifted to James II and with a barrel width of 20 inches, it is one of the largest calibre canons ever built. 🪓🌏☠️

23/07/2024

It's always nice to be in Stirling. Behind me is Rob Roy MacGregor, the famous Jacobite and Robin Hood type figure who defended the poor against the ravages of despotic landlordism. His long running fued against the Duke of Montrose was legendary. None of this prevented his sword getting stolen though. 🫤

14/07/2024

It's a lovely evening to be waiting at the Wemyss Bay ferry/train terminal for the returning boat from Rothesay. This most picturesque of railway stations was build by the Caledonian Railway company in 1903 and is well known by generations of Glaswegians that have gone 'doon the watter' for their vacation in years gone by.

12/07/2024

Our and about Glasgow today doing a walking tour Behind me is the Gallery of Modern Art. In front of the gallery is the Duke of Wellington mounted on his horse Copenhagen. The police have given up removing the traffic cone. 🐴🎨🚶‍♂️

07/07/2024

Next time you visit Ayrshire's Culzean Castle, check out their fantastic book shop.📚📖🧐

25/06/2024

Behind me is Ayrshire's Dunure Castle. It is thought that it was originally a Mckinnon stronghold, but that it eventually fell into the hands of the Kennedys of Casilis. The little bee hive shaped building to the right is a doocot, where they kept pigeons. Yum, yum! 🐦‍⬛🍽😋

17/06/2024

It's a lovely day here in Edinburgh. I've just been to the castle where I had a look at the One O'clock Gun, traditionally fired at 1pm to allow ships' captains to set their chronometer.

14/06/2024

Good luck to our national soccer team tonight as they take on Germany in the Euros. C'mon Scotland! ⚽️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

13/06/2024

Today I am at Robert Adam's wonderful Culzean Castle, the former home of the Marquis of Ailsa and where American president Eisenhower had a private apartment. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇺🇲

02/06/2024

Today I was at the Rest and be Thankful in Argyll. The stone I'm standing next to is a replica of a stone put here by the builders of an old military road. Known as Wade roads, these roads were built in a campaign to defeat rebellious Jacobite Highlanders.

01/06/2024

Today I'm at Glasgow's Kelvingrove Art Gallery and museum. Behind me is an Spitfire fighter aircraft that was once part of the RAF City of Glasgow Squadron that flew out of what is now Glasgow Airport.

23/05/2024

In Stirling educating the good folk of Las Vegas about the Bard. A big thanks who came on Tuesday's tour. It was a cracking day. 🇺🇸🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

22/05/2024

This week I had the pleasure of taking a group from Florida to Edinburgh to visit the grave of father of economics and renowned Scottish Enlightenment figure Adam Smith.

17/10/2023

Stirling's Wallace Monument this morning, just as the mist is beginning to lift.

17/10/2023

I'm working with guests from the Peace Boat today. Sounds like I could be in for a real chilled out time. ✌️

14/10/2023

I'm off for a walking tour of Glasgow this morning. It's cold, but sunny. Perfect for walking. 🚶☀️

27/09/2023

Back in Ayr again for the first time since the fire. It's sad to see such an iconic building in this state. Many Glaswegians will have memories of the Ayr station hotel from trips to the seaside. Sadly, it's just the latest in a growing list of buildings neglected by absentee owners and now, in all likelihood, condemned. 🙁

23/09/2023

Today I'm at Robert Adam's marvelous Culzean Castle. This is the view looking eastward along the Ayrshire coast.

22/09/2023

Today I'm at Andy Scott's wonderful Kelpies. The largest equestrian statues in the world. 🐴

21/09/2023

Latest Scotland in Focus blog about Rob Roy MacGregor. Remember and subscribe for future blogs.

Clan Gregor is by no means considered to be the most illustrious of Scottish Clans, but one of their number, Rob Roy MacGregor, is remembered today as a true folk hero. As a successful cattle trade…

11/09/2023

I could be in Edinburgh today. 😝

29/07/2023

New Scotland in Focus blog has just published it's first post. Subscribe to learn about all aspects of Scotland's culture, history and built heritage. The first post is about the oldest houses in Edinburgh's New Town. Slainte. Alec.

Edinburgh’s 18th C. New town is a marvellous example of Georgian town planning which displays a variety of architectural styles attracting lovers of built heritage from far and near. Between …

14/05/2023

Today I'm off to Dunure Castle in Ayrshire. This amazing ruin in the South West of Scotland was the clan seat of the Kennedys of Carrick before they built a new castle in nearby Culzean. The beehive shaped building is a dove cot which used to provide the castle with meat and eggs.

Tours across Scotland. Just ask!