St Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland, and the attractive seaside town of St Andrews on the east coast also bears his name. According to legend, the relics of St Andrew were brought here in the 8th century and a shrine was established, dedicated to the saint. The church of St Rule was built around 1130, and the tower, which still stands tall today, would have served as a beacon for pilgrims heading to worship at the shrine. (For the cost of a few pounds you can climb the tower – the views over the bay are magnificent!).
The growth in the number of pilgrims meant that a new, larger church was required, and work started on St Andrews Cathedral in 1160. This building work was to last over 150 years, as it was frequently interrupted by war, winter storms, and fire, before the cathedral was eventually consecrated in 1318. By then it was by far the largest church in Scotland and the ecclesiastical centre of the country. As one of only two places in the whole of Europe where you could worship at the relics of an apostle of Jesus Christ (the other being Santiago di Compostella in Spain), St Andrews became an important site of pilgrimage for thousands of medieval pilgrims.
Abandoned after the Protestant Reformation of 1560, the church fell to ruins. Today these imposing ruins tower over the North Sea, a testament to what was once the most important religious site in Scotland.
*If you’re travelling in the Highlands just now please be advised to avoid the Glenmore / Loch Morlich area due to wildfire 🥲**UPDATE - 14:15 on 16 July
Emergency services and partners continue to tackle a large-scale fire near Ryvoan Bothy. The emergency response is being coordinated at a national level involving the Scottish Government, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Police Scotland, RSPB Scotland, Forestry and Land Scotland, the Park Authority and multiple other partners.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service have shared that the fire is currently affecting an area of approximately six squared kilometres. We are asking the public to follow the following guidance:
- Please do not travel to the area or attempt to access Glenmore Forest Park, Loch Morlich or the surrounding area while firefighting operations are ongoing. A strict cordon remains in place and road closures continue to support the emergency response.
- Those impacted by evacuations will have been contacted and we would ask everyone to cooperate fully with Police Scotland and other relevant authorities for their safety.
- Residents in Aviemore and surrounding areas are asked to close windows and doors to prevent smoke entering.
-Anyone with known respiratory conditions nearby is encouraged to contact 111 if they experience any difficulties. Contact 999 in an emergency.
Thermal drone footage captured by Park Authority staff last night has helped inform fire fighting efforts and highlight the scale of the fire, but the extent of the damage and the cause is not yet known.
Overnight emergency services, gamekeepers, NGO and estate staff were on the scene working tirelessly to control the fire. We are deeply grateful for their efforts, and those of the businesses and local community providing support to those affected.
We will provide further updates when we have them.
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Happy 250th birthday to the USA! 🇺🇸🏴
Did you know Edinburgh Castle is home to one of the earliest depictions of the Star Spangled Banner outside of North America?
Deep inside the vaults of the castle, back in about 1780, Americans captured during the Revolutionary War were incarcerated in the castle prisons. One prisoner scratched out a faint image of a ship flying the Stars and Stripes on his wooden cell door. A quiet act of defiance by a sailor far from home, you can still see this if you visit the vaults today!
#bluebadgeguides #scottishtouristguidesassociation #britishguildoftouristguides #scotland #scotlandlover #scotlandexplore #scotlandshots #scotlandisnow #ScotlandTravel #scottish #castle #scottishcastles #IndependenceDay #USA250
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