World`s Oldest Tree?
The Fortingall Yew (Taxus baccata) is an ancient yew tree in the churchyard of the small village of Fortingall in Perthshire, Scotland. Various estimates have put its age at between 2,000 and 9,000 years.
The yew's once massive trunk (16 metres, or 52 feet in girth in 1769, of unknown original height) is split into several separate stems, giving the impression of several smaller trees. This is a result of the cutting out of pieces of its wood as tourist trinkets in the nineteenth century and the natural decay of the ancient heartwood, which has reduced the centre of the trunk down to ground level. Other than this the tree is still in good health and may last for many more centuries. It is now protected by a wall but can still be easily viewed.
Steeped in history and folklore, prior to the introduction of Christianity, yew trees were regarded as the tree of eternity. Often long-lived, they have a habit of starting to grow again as they reach their 500th year.
According to legend, Pontius Pilate was born in its shade and played there as a child, although this is most likely a myth, as the Roman conquest of Britain took place some years after Pilate's time.
The world`s oldest tree is usually credited to a Bristlecone Pine in California, but this yew is probably Europe`s oldest.
The area immediately surrounding Fortingall has a variety of prehistoric archaeological sites including Càrn na Marbh, a Bronze Age tumulus.
Music: Pilgrim`s Way by Phil Coulter and Aoife Ni Fhearraigh.
The Fortingall Yew, Perthshire, Scotland
A visit to the Fortingall Yew, the oldest tree in Europe at about 5,000 years. My ancestors lived in the village near this tree for 6 centuries until they emigrated en masse in the 1840s.
The Village of Killin, Scotland
The tourist village of Killin and its environs, Stirlingshire, Scotland
Sacred Sites of Scotland
Travel with us to the ancient sacred sites of Scotland
Central Highlands
pitlochry - queen's view - fortingall - kenmore - falls of dochart
Holiday to Kinloch Rannoch Day 3
This is day three of a three day trip up north. Today was when we headed for home. We started by driving south on a different route from the one taken coming up. We intended to head directly for Killin to view the falls of Dochart but, on the way, visited the Fortingall Yew in Fortingall Churchyard.
Although estimates of this ancient tree vary wildly from 2000 to 5000 years its fascinating to think its been around since the dawn of Christianity. The tree itself is now behind a stone wall to protect what is left of it. We eventually reached Killin and had coffee after viewing the famous waterfalls which run through the centre of this small community. Onwards to Crief for a bite of lunch eaten outdoors as the temperatures rose again around 2.00pm. Then it was all too easy to rejoin the motorway and speed the remaining 50 or so miles home. There was a thin,hazy layer of cloud over Benarty Hill but Loch Leven, with its small island castle was easily seen from the car. This is where Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned in 1567. All too soon we were heading over the Forth Bridge again only this time, going south, the view of the rail bridge is more visible. We were home just after 3.00pm. A good short break with a few nice sketches and lots of material for many more paintings.
Ancient Monuments Isle of Lewis April 2007
The video shows pics from a visit to some ancient monuments in the Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, Scotland in April 2007. It includes, Dun Carloway iron age broch, Steinacleit chambered cairn, Arnol Blackhouse and Callinish standing stones. Lewis is a great destination for travelling, and has some fantastic tourist sights to see, including a decent trove of ancient monuments ! The setting is not too bad either !
Perthshire - Cumbria (UK) 2009
A Scottish tour to Blair Atholl Castle, Pitlochry, Aberfeldy, Falls of Bruar (Perthshire). September 2009.
Situated in the very heart of Scotland, Perthshire represents the perfect place to find all that you expect of a great Scottish holiday. Most of Perthshire is little more than one hour by road or rail from Glasgow or Edinburgh, but a world apart.
A delightful journey to Lake Windermere, Bowness, Ambleside, Rydal Mount (The Lake District, Cumbria). September 2009.
I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
(William Wordsworth, 1700-1850)
Glenalmond House
Glenalmond GUEST House Edinburgh
bed and breakfast accommodation In Edinburgh
From the moment you arrive at this very special personally run 4 star Edinburgh bed and breakfast luxury guest house you cannot fail to appreciate the warmth, comfort and hospitality offered by your excellent hosts Jimmy and Fiona.
One of the very best guest houses in Edinburgh. A superb Victorian town house of individual charm and character, restored sympathetically, and retaining many of its lovely original features to provide delightful en suite luxury accommodation, including 5 ground floor rooms. The style is 'traditional contemporary', a warm, luxurious and utterly relaxing 'classic' ambience without that glaring gimmicky chic boutique feel which people either love or hate.
Ideally situated in a delightful residential area in Edinburgh, close to the Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle, Princes Street and all Edinburgh city centre attractions. Leave your car idle in our free private car park for the whole of your stay if you wish. Close too, to some of the best and most reasonably priced restaurants and pubs in town, Edinburgh University, EICC and Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, and easily accessible from the A720 city by pass south, without having to travel through city centre traffic and congestion.
Guests are invariably delighted when they find our luxury Edinburgh guest house partly because of the convenience of being so close to the city centre, but more so because of its charm and the impeccably high standards maintained. 10 delightful en suite rooms include 3 stunning four poster rooms, ideal for romantic breaks in Edinburgh, free guaranteed off-street car parking, and with all the amenities discerning business and leisure travellers to Edinburgh could expect and wish for.