Month: July 2025

The “mouth of the Clyde” is a council area in Scotland. Together with the East Renfrewshire and Renfrewshire council areas, Inverclyde forms part of the historic county of Renfrewshire, which currently exists as a registration county and lieutenancy area. Inverclyde is located in the west central Lowlands. It borders the North Ayrshire and Renfrewshire council areas, and is otherwise surrounded by the Firth of Clyde. It is one of the smallest in terms of area as well as by population. Along with the council areas clustered around Glasgow it is considered part of Greater Glasgow in some definitions,[1] although it is physically separated from the city area by open countryside and does not share a border with the city. The name derives from the extinct barony of Inverclyde conferred upon Sir John Burns of Wemyss Bay and his heirs.

Located on the west coast of Scotland with access to some of the best walking and sporting activities in Europe. There are easy access links to Glasgow and Edinburgh, as well as to the Clyde islands of Arran, Bute and Cumbrae. Greenock, Gourock and Port Glasgow are the main towns offering a huge variety of shops, bars and cafes and an excellent shopping centre at the Oak Mall, as well as. There are great local routes for walking or cycling amongst some stunning scenery. For sports, there are a variety of local golf courses (open to non-members) as well as sailing clubs, outdoor bowling, horse riding and much more. For local attractions, there is the Greenock Fire Brigade Museum, Newark Castle at Port Glasgow, Beacon Theatre or McLean Museum and Art Gallery now known as the Watt Institution. There is also the Waterfront Leisure Centre which includes swimming, flumes, gymnasium, sauna and ice skating and for the more daring swimmers, there is an outdoor pool in Gourock.

I can seldom find what I am looking for. Search results are dominated by Amazon, Tripadvisor and high tech impersonal content hubs I have no interest in.

Unwelcome influences.

The isles of Barra, North & South Uists, Benbecula, Harris and Lewis make up the Outer Hebrides or Western Isles, as they are alternatively known.  Situated on the extreme North West of Scotland, the Hebrides are known as the “Long Island” as they stretch for over 100 miles. The islands are steeped in history and culture, ranging back thousands of years.

The Isle of Lewis is the most northern of the Western Isles. and Stornoway is the main town on the Isle of Lewis and is also the home of the Western Isles Council. Just over 6,000 people live in the town, which represents about a third of the total population of the island.  Barra and Vatersay are the most southerly islands.  Two ferries and numerous causeways join the islands together, giving a stepping stones feel to the islands.

They form part of the archipelago of the Hebrides, separated from the Scottish mainland and from the Inner Hebrides by the waters of the Minch, the Little Minch, and the Sea of the Hebrides.

The Highland Clearances of the 19th century had a devastating effect on many communities, and it is only in recent years that population levels have ceased to decline. Much of the land is now under local control, and commercial activity is based on tourism, crofting, fishing, and weaving.

Sea transport is crucial, and a variety of ferry services operate between the islands and to mainland Scotland. Modern navigation systems now minimise the dangers, but in the past the stormy seas have claimed many ships. Religion, music and sport are important aspects of local culture, and there are numerous designated conservation areas to protect the natural environment.

Something for everyone.  Forty five miles of rugged coastline; long sandy beaches; rolling countryside; coastal and market towns; rural villages; a rich and cultural heritage; world-class golf; award-winning local food and produce… South Ayrshire has a global reputation as a must-see destination.

Ayrshire’s most interesting, picturesque and historic places. Robert Burns trail, Irvine’s maritime history, Ayr Harbour, Culzean Castle, Turnberry Castle, World famous golf courses.

South Ayrshire is one of thirty-two council areas of Scotland, covering the southern part of Ayrshire. It borders onto Dumfries and Galloway, East Ayrshire and North Ayrshire. South Ayrshire had an estimated population in 2021 of 112,450, making it the 19th–largest subdivision in Scotland by population. With an area of 472 sq mi, South Ayrshire ranks as the 15th largest subdivision in Scotland.

South Ayrshire’s administrative centre is located in its largest town, Ayr. The headquarters for its associated political body, South Ayrshire Council, is housed at the towns County Buildings located in Wellington Square. Ayr is the former county town of the historic Ayrshire county, with the political activity of the Ayrshire County Council being based at County Buildings.

South Ayrshire’s population is mostly concentrated around the adjoining coastal towns of Ayr, Prestwick and Troon located to the north-west. Other areas of significance include the towns of Maybole and Girvan which are located to the south of the council area in the district of Carrick.

Orkney, also known as the Orkney Islands, is an archipelago in the Northern Isles of Scotland, situated off the north coast of the island of Great Britain. Orkney is 10 miles north of the coast of Caithness and has about 70 islands, of which 20 are inhabited. The largest island, the Mainland, has an area of 202 square miles, making it the sixth-largest Scottish island and the tenth-largest island in the British Isles. Orkney’s largest settlement, and also its administrative centre, is Kirkwall.

The islands have been inhabited for at least 8,500 years.  They were absorbed  into the Kingdom of Scotland, following failure to pay a dowry promised to James III of Scotland by the family of his bride, Margaret of Denmark.

In addition to the Mainland, most of the remaining islands are divided into two groups: the North Isles and the South Isles. The local climate is relatively mild and the soils are extremely fertile; most of the land is farmed, and agriculture is the most important sector of the economy. The significant wind and marine energy resources are of growing importance; the amount of electricity that Orkney generates annually from renewable energy sources exceeds its demand. Daytime temperatures generally range between 5 °F in winter and 61 °F in summer.

The local people are known as Orcadians; they speak a distinctive dialect of the Scots language and have a rich body of folklore. Orkney contains some of the oldest and best-preserved Neolithic sites in Europe; the “Heart of Neolithic Orkney” is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Orkney also has an abundance of marine and avian wildlife.

The mainland is the largest of the Orkney Islands and, Kirkwall is the centre town and main port. It is a Norse Viking town founded in 1035. The prehistoric sights of the Orkney’s are the biggest tourist attractions on the island. The Scapa Flow on Hoy is an old 20th Century naval complex built by Churchill in World War 2. which has a Visitors Centre and museum.

Off the shores of the mainland there are many ferry services to the northern and southern isles. Each have there own unique characteristics including historical sights, sea wildlife and natural landscapes.