• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Of Muses and Meringues

  • Home
  • Recipe Index
    • Appetizers
    • Bars and Squares
    • Bread
    • Breakfast
    • Brownies and Blondies
    • Cakes and Cupcakes
    • Candy
    • Cookies
    • Easy Entrees
    • Fruit Desserts
    • Lemon and Lime Desserts
    • Miscellaneous Desserts
    • Muffins
    • Pies
    • Salads and Side Dishes
    • Soup
    • Recipes Inspired by Musicals
  • Travel Index
  • Poetry Index
  • Writing Links
  • About My Books
  • About Me

April 26, 2012

Thursday’s child: Urquhart Castle, Scotland

One of the greatest castles to visit in Scotland is Urquhart Castle.  Although the castle itself was blown up over 300 years ago, the location is so evocative and the view so famous that a visit to Scotland wouldn’t be complete without it.
Unlike the other castles I’ve written about this month, there isn’t much to see at Urquhart.  Over its 500-year history, ownership passed from one side to the other countless times.  Early on, the Scottish and English fought for control.  Later, interclan wars resulted in the MacDonalds repeatedly invading from the western isles.  Finally in the late seventeenth century, as the government pulled their soldiers out, they blew up the building to prevent the Jacobites from using it as a fortress.
All that remains now is crumbling stone remains. The location is so peaceful, it’s difficult to conjure up the castle’s violent history.  We had to use our imaginations to picture what it must have been like for the local villagers, living through century after century of siege and tumult.
And using our imaginations also came in handy when we took in the view of lovely Loch Ness which Urquhart overlooks, and which is probably much more well-known than the castle.  No sightings of the Loch Ness monster were made by the Pollock family that day, although one of us wistfully claimed to have seen a fin.

Filed Under: Scotland

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mary Anne MacCrone says

    April 26, 2012 at 4:40 pm

    Oh I loved Scotland when I was there. The scenery is amazing. I regret to admit this was not a castle that I visited – maybe another trip is required!!!

    Reply
  2. Claire Davis says

    April 26, 2012 at 5:22 pm

    Scotland is on my list of places I really want to visit. I love the foggy, misty look of these pictures, makes the castle look magical!

    Reply
  3. Cindy says

    April 26, 2012 at 8:13 pm

    My brother spent 2 years in Scotland and Ireland serving a mission for our church. It's been over 30 years but I'm sure the castles haven't changed much!
    So beautiful.

    Reply
  4. Bonnie says

    April 26, 2012 at 9:35 pm

    Beth, It seems like the place where a vivid imagination could run wild. I would be the one standing on the shore hoping for a glance of ole' Nessy. Bonnie

    Reply
  5. Belinda says

    April 26, 2012 at 9:50 pm

    Awesome – such beautiful country, and amazing how so much of this is still around!

    Reply
  6. Natalie Aguirre says

    April 26, 2012 at 10:03 pm

    It looks like beautiful country. I've always wanted to visit castles. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  7. Carol says

    April 26, 2012 at 10:14 pm

    Looks like a beautiful countryside. Gorgeous views.

    Reply
  8. Stina Lindenblatt says

    April 26, 2012 at 11:14 pm

    LOL And I thought MY porch was in bad shape. 😀

    Reply
  9. Beth says

    April 26, 2012 at 11:54 pm

    So true, Stina. In this context, your porch looks great!

    Reply
  10. Claudia says

    April 27, 2012 at 12:42 am

    I visited there years ago. The setting is peaceful but still evocative of its wild and woolly past. We didn't spot Nessie either.

    Reply
  11. julie says

    April 27, 2012 at 12:46 am

    Oohh… a fin! That castle looks so full of history and tales. I can only imagine all the stories it holds. Wonderful pictures Beth and a wonderful recap.

    Reply
  12. momto8 says

    April 27, 2012 at 3:51 am

    wow…how cool!! I would love to visit there!! beautiful!

    Reply
  13. Rita says

    April 27, 2012 at 1:16 pm

    That is so beautiful! love going back in history; we learn so much.
    Rita

    Reply
  14. Valerie says

    April 27, 2012 at 3:59 pm

    It must feel amazing to walk among such historic ruins…to wonder who stood in that very spot hundreds of years ago!?

    Beautiful, lush, photos. I'm sorry you weren't able to see Nessy. 😀

    Reply
  15. comfortablydomestic.com says

    April 27, 2012 at 4:07 pm

    A UK tour is definitely at the top of our travel list. I love visiting ruins because they are almost more engaging in their "what might have been" imaginings than a preserve structure.

    Reply
  16. Barbara says

    April 27, 2012 at 4:58 pm

    We loved our visit to Scotland, even though it rained the entire time…and was chilly. I regret we missed this castle. Was fun to see it and read about it though, Beth.

    Reply
  17. tueremorton says

    April 27, 2012 at 9:42 pm

    These pics are beautiful!! Definitely one of my dream places to visit. LOVE historical romances that take place here. 🙂

    Reply
  18. bakewithjill.com says

    April 27, 2012 at 10:48 pm

    I was there and have fond memories! I hope to get back to Scotland someday soon.

    Reply
  19. Kathy says

    April 27, 2012 at 11:47 pm

    Beth, Such a beautiful place, I imagine filled with stories just begging to be told! I have never been to Scotland…although I’ve been to Ireland three times…very beautiful similar landscapes! Have a wonderful weekend!

    Reply
  20. Elaine says

    April 28, 2012 at 4:34 am

    Oh, how I have always wanted to visit Loch Ness and have imagined seeing the monster. There may not be much of the castle remaining, but it must have been so much fun climbing amongst the ruins. Beautiful photos, Beth.

    Reply
  21. yummychunklet says

    April 28, 2012 at 12:06 pm

    Ooh, how interesting and picturesque!

    Reply
  22. Jemi Fraser says

    April 28, 2012 at 4:22 pm

    I'd love to go have a peek for Nessie one day! And the castle would be a definite bonus – gorgeous photos!

    Reply
  23. Angie's Recipes says

    April 28, 2012 at 6:32 pm

    An amazing place! I would love to visit Loch Ness one day too.

    Reply
  24. Mary says

    April 29, 2012 at 6:04 am

    I would love love love to spend a day there as well. I would have been the one wistfully mentioning a fin in the water. Thanks for sharing yet another fantastic travel photo!

    Reply
  25. Medeia Sharif says

    April 29, 2012 at 8:24 am

    A castle overlooking water? It looks amazing and magical.

    Reply
  26. gobakeyourself says

    April 29, 2012 at 10:11 am

    This castle seems to call out, full of mystery and beauty – one day I will visit 🙂

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

    Reply
  27. sally says

    May 15, 2012 at 1:30 am

    We are going to the UK next week, and are planning a trip up to Scotland while we are there. We are still trying to decide if Loch Ness is worth going to. What do you think?

    Reply
  28. Beth says

    May 15, 2012 at 10:07 am

    Lucky you, Sally! You'll love Scotland. Loch Ness is beautiful, and Urquhart Castle is definitely worth seeing. Of course, it depends on what part of Scotland you're visiting. I'll be in touch via email.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Connect Online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • Welcome
  • Categories
  • Archives
Welcome to Of Muses and Meringues. Thanks for stopping by! I am Beth! Writer, traveller, baker, mother.
Categories
Archives

Copyright © 2021 · Of Muses and Meringues · designed by blogger boutique · Genesis Framework