September 5-6, 2018 - Scottish Highlands and Edinburgh

Following a session at the Paris Temple, we flew to Edinburgh where we took a daylong trip to the Scottish Highlands including Glencoe and Loch Ness.  As is typical for this time of year, we had times of sun and times of drizzle.  It was beautifully green and mountainous and we had a sighting of the Loch Ness Monster while we were there!

The rolling hills and verdant pastures in the Scottish Highlands.  Scotland is divided into the lowlands in the southeast half of the country and includes the larger cities such as Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling, Dundee and Aberdeen.  The Highlands consists of the northwest half and is sparsely populated with Inverness being the largest city.  In an effort to retain population in the Highlands, the government provides incredible incentives such as free healthcare and education through university.  It is a sensitive subject for many in the UK.

Meandering river and hills in the Scottish Highlands.

A panoramic view of the mist-covered Glencoe mountains.  

Two of the "Three Sisters" mountains in Glencoe.

The lush green pastures of the Scottish Highlands.

Notice the various pines in the forest of the Scottish Highlands.

Ancient Roman viaducts that have survived over a thousand years in the Scottish Highlands.

A plaque describing the Three Sisters mountains of Glencoe.  The plaque also memorializes the massacre of the Clan MacDonald by the government during the Jacobite rebellion. Jacobites (James in Latin was Jacobus) were followers of King James II, who was deposed from the British throne because he was a Catholic.  The English reformation led by Henry VIII in 1534 which established the King of England as the Supreme Head of the Church of England which was then independent of the Roman Catholic Church.  On 13 February 1692, an estimated thirty-eight members of Clan MacDonald of Glencoe were killed by government forces on the grounds they had not been prompt in pledging allegiance to the new monarchs, William III and Mary II.   

Two of the Three Sisters of Glencoe.

A traditional Scottish bagpiper at the base of the Glencoe mountains.

Sister Burkinshaw with the Glencoe mountains in the background.

The Loch Ness Cruise Ship.

Elder and Sister Burkinshaw and Uncle Mark aboard the Loch Ness cruise ship.

Loch Ness is a freshwater lake (loch in Scottish Gaelic) 23 miles long and up to 750 feet deep in the Scottish Highlands southwest of Inverness.  It is best known for alleged sightings of the cryptozoological Loch Ness Monster,  known affectionately as "Nessie".

The banks of Loch Ness and the Church in the town of Fort Augustus.

This is a video we caught of the infamous Loch Ness Monster!  He was really scary!!!

While waiting for the bus with other family members, we discovered the Old Calton Cemetery in downtown Edinburgh with some interesting memorials.

This is the mausoleum of historian and philosopher David Hume (1711–1776), author of Treatise of Human Nature.  His was a household name across Europe in the 18th century, and a critical figure in the Scottish Enlightenment. He was a strong influence on many other thinkers and public figures, Adam Smith among them. However, his grave had to be guarded for 8 days after burial, due to strong public hostility towards him at the time of his death, largely due to his professed atheism.  His writings are still studied in depth today.

The Scottish-American Soldiers Monument, was dedicated on 21 August 1893 to Scots who fought and died in the American Civil War. Depicting a standing figure of Abraham Lincoln, with a freed slave giving thanks at his feet, it is a focal point of the Old Calton Cemetery, located just in front of David Hume’s tomb.  The inscription, "To preserve the jewel of liberty in the framework of Freedom" is a quotation from Abraham Lincoln. 

Edinburgh Castle is built on the plug of an extinct volcano.  Although there have been buildings there since the 2nd Century AD, it has been a royal castle since the early 1100's when David I was king of the Scots.  It is very imposing on the Edinburgh skyline.

Elder Burkinshaw on the steps leading up to Edinburgh Castle.  Climbing them was not a trivial feat!

Sister Burkinshaw at the entrance gate to Edinburgh Castle.

A panoramic view of the Edinburgh skyline from the Castle.

A view of the 17th century cannons which protected the castle.

The Edinburgh skyline including the North Sea in the distance.

The Scottish National War Memorial at Edinburgh Castle where all branches of the armed forces which fought in WW I and WW II are honored.  Since Sister Burkinshaw's "Black" line in from Scotland, we noted that there were many "Blacks" listed in the records of servicemen who died in these wars.

A mural honoring those who died in the armed forces of Scotland in the two world wars.  "They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them"

A plaque and mural honoring the women of Scotland who cared for the soldiers.
"In honor of all Scotswomen who, amid the stress of war, sought by their labours, sympathy and prayers to obtain for their country the blessings of peace."

The hallway of the Scottish National War Memorial.

Elder Burkinshaw, Uncle Mark and Aunt Robyn in front of the Royal Palace within Edinburgh Castle where the crown jewels of Scotland are kept.

Within the Edinburgh Castle Royal Palace are the "Honours of Scotland" or the crown jewels.  Although Scotland consists of the northern third of the isle of Great Britain, it existed as the independent Kingdom of Scotland from the 5th century AD until 1707 when it became part of the United Kingdom.  

Entrance to the Great Hall of Edinburgh Castle.  A wonder of medieval Scotland, the Great Hall was completed in 1511 for James IV (who later became King James I of England and the sponsor of the King James translation of the Bible) and stands at the heart of the castle. 

Inside the Great Hall of Edinburgh Castle.  Its magnificent wooden roof is one of the most remarkable in Britain.  Giant beams rest on stones engraved with heads and important symbols like the thistle - a badge of Scotland.

The painting featured prominently in the Great Hall of Edinburgh Castle is of Scottish Ensign Ewart of the Scots Greys heroically capturing a French eagle at Waterloo.

One of several sets of armor and swords displayed in the Great Hall of Edinburgh Castle.

Sister Burkinshaw in front of the fireplace of the Great Hall of Edinburgh Castle

Sister Burkinshaw on the Royal Mile which is a succession of streets forming the main thoroughfare of the Old Town of the city of Edinburgh in Scotland, near the Castle.

Scotland reminded us of the beauties of the lands of our forefathers. Granny Abraham (Catherine Young Abraham) was born 21 Jan 1863 in Castlerow, Edinburgh, Scotland which is south and a little east of Edinburgh. Her mother Catherine Black is said to have worked in the woolen mills in Iverness and raised there. We of course shopped several times at various Woolen Mills stores and bought the Black clan tartan. Catherine Black's obituary says, "She was a kind hearted and careful mother and by her wise counsel and Christian example reared an exemplary family. The world was better because she lived and her kind deeds will stand a monument to her noble life for generations."  There are no memories of Granny Abraham on family search at this time. There is somewhere, maybe with my cousin Sylvia a record which has her talking. Sylvia was little at the time and sang an alphabet song which was also recorded.  Catherine Young Abraham (Granny Abraham) was buried in Byron, Wyoming and her mother Catherine Black was buried in Rock Springs Wyoming As with each opportunity we were very grateful for the opportunity to visit Scotland.

Elder and Sister Burkinshaw