We all know that Scotland is a one-of-a-kind place. It's known for glorious countryside, amazing food (OK, unusual and surprisingly delicious food), fantastic people and, of course, whisky. Moray is the next stop on our recap of Scotland, and it's got all of that and more.
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| Bow Fiddle Rock., a photo by Gordie Broon. on Flickr. |
Situated by the side of a sheltered forth, tucked away in the far Northeast where many tourists never think to go, lies Moray. Here are a few key tidbits to get you reacquainted (or introduced):
- Whisky runs in Moray's blood. This area is actually the true "homeland" of whisky, boasts the only malt whisky trail in the world, and is home to about 50 distilleries. Here's a question, what's the difference between whisky and whiskey? Is there one?
- Moray is rife with castles, each with its own story. Ballindalloch Castle, "The Pearl of the North," was once a fortified tower, but is now an elegant house that is open to visitors. Today Duffus Castle is little more than a ruin, and nobody knows for certain when it collapsed, though it was probably because of shoddy building practices. Coxton Tower is another sight to see, with a history of family disagreements, complete with bloody daggers.
- Bow Fiddle Rock is perhaps Moray's most iconic photography subject. It was shaped by years and years of water wearing away at the rock, and over time has been speckled white with bird droppings. Care to hop across the water and fetch some gull eggs?
- The king, while engaged on a hunting expedition, lost his way in a thick wood; and while in extremity, and in answer to his prayers, he received the guidance of a white dove. So begins the tale of Kinloss Abbey, a haunting 12th century monastery that was tragically ruined during the Reformation.
- Moray features two famous stones: Sueno's Stone (the largest-known stone with Pictish engravings), and the Witch's Stone (supposedly all that remains of a witch who was killed by rolling downhill in a barrel of nails).
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| world reflected in a whisky barrel, a photo by brockvicky on Flickr. |
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Rolling a witch down the hill in a barrel full of nails? I wonder if that came at the end of the whisky trail. It sounds like something that would only be done while drunk.
ReplyDeleteGood point, Opus. I think there's a good chance that the whisky and the barrel had something in common....
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