UK Ports of Call...

**Ally** · 08-14-2006, 04:54 AM

Officially known as Kingston upon Hull, this port city lying between the Hull and Humber rivers, was given its first charter by Edward I in 1299. Hull's old town retains its medieval pattern and some buildings going back to the 18th century and before. In the High Street is Wilberforce House (now a museum), birthplace in 1759 of the anti slavery campaigner, William Wilberforce and in the centre is Holy Trinity Church, England's oldest parish church dating from the 14th century. Reclamation of the old docks is providing the city with parks, marinas and a Maritime Museum.

Near to the city is the Humber Bridge - it has the longest single span in the world. Also worth a look is Beverley with its ecclesiastical architecture in the splendid 13th century Gothic Minster and the 14th century St Mary's church. Burton Constable Hall and Park lies to the northeast of the city and to the northwest is Skidby Windmill - a 19th century working mill.

**Ally** · 08-14-2006, 04:56 AM

One of the world's greatest cities, London is situated in south-eastern England at the head of the River Thames estuary. Cruise ships will moor in the river centre and landing will be by tender to the piers, either at London Tower right in the the city or at Greenwich, 5 miles from the centre.

It is a melting pot of centuries of cultures offering an endless collection of historical and modern sites. Tourist attractions include the many museums, art galleries, monuments, historic buildings, gardens, churches, and shopping facilities. The most popular attractions are the British Museum (with over 6 million visitors in 1994-1995), the National Gallery, Westminster Abbey (where the sovereign is crowned), Madame Tussaud's waxworks, the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Houses of Parliament, Kensington Palace, Hampton Court, St Paul's Cathedral, Greenwich and the Maritime Museum. London is also one of the world's leading centres for theatre, and there are about 100 theatres in the capital.

Man has been traced in the area as far back as the Bronze Age, and later was occupied by the Celtics. The written history of London began with Roman occupation under the rule of Emperor Claudius. By the first century AD, London was an established trading centre, providing the Romans with a central base from which to explore the remainder of Britain. In the centuries that followed, the city changed hands periodically and grew into a major world capital. One of the London's most noteworthy periods of history was when King Henry VIII ruled during the sixteenth century and disobeyed the church of Rome by marrying six times.

**Ally** · 08-14-2006, 04:58 AM

Newhaven is a cross channel ferry port in East Sussex at the mouth of the River Ouse. The mouth of the Ouse was at Seaford until the 16th century when in 1579 a great storm diverted the river and "New Haven" became a port. The ferry service to Dieppe in France started with paddle steamers in 1847. Sited on the headland, Fort Newhaven was built in the 1860s as one of 72 coastal forts to keep the French at bay and has an excellent field of fire across Newhaven harbour and Seaford Bay. A bridge across the moat leads to Castle Hill Coastal Park with great views.

Along the coast to the west is Brighton, a major seaside resort and home to the Royal Pavilion, built in the early 19th century by George IV when he was Prince Regent. Inland you can visit Bentley - wildfowl collection and motor museum, Firle Place - a Tudor and Georgian house, Lewes - Anne of Cleeves house and Sheffield Park - Tudor house and gardens.

Plymouth is a city in the county of Devon, south-western England. It is located on Plymouth Sound and the Plym and Tamar rivers, possesses a fine natural harbour and is the site of the Royal Naval Dockyard, a major employer in the city. It is also an important fishing port and handles passenger traffic to the Continent. The city has an aquarium, zoo, several museums, and the Theatre Royal.

Originally named Sutton, the town received a charter and its present name in 1439. During the 16th century it became a base for the expeditions of Sir Walter Raleigh, Sir Francis Drake, and many others. In 1588 the English fleet sailed from Plymouth to meet the Spanish Armada, and in 1620 the Pilgrims embarked from here aboard the Mayflower. During World War II the city was bombarded by the Germans; it has since been extensively rebuilt.

Portsmouth, in the county of Hampshire, is located on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is one of the most important naval bases in the United Kingdom and a ferry port to the Continent. The Southsea section of the city is a popular seaside resort. Historical landmarks include the cathedral (mostly 12th century); the wreck of the Mary Rose, the most important warship of Henry VIII, which sank off Southsea in 1545 and was raised in a major underwater operation in 1982; HMS Victory, the flagship of Admiral Horatio Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar (1805); HMS Warrior, the strongest and fastest Victorian warship; and the house in which Charles Dickens was born in 1812.

Portsmouth was founded in 1194 by Richard I. In 1496 the Royal Dockyard was established and the world's first dry dock was built. During World War II, because of its strategic military significance, Portsmouth was damaged by extensive German bombing.

Salford Quays is part of the inland Port of Manchester and is a newly developed leisure and residential area featuring waterside restaurants, shops, museums and housing. The Quays are close to Old Trafford, the Manchester United Football ground. Manchester has a 15th century Cathedral, the Free Trade Hall, an imposing Town Hall dating from 1877, some fine Libraries and Museums, The Lowry Theatre and many large shops and department stores.

The Port of Tilbury is home to the London Cruise Terminal, the city's only deep water purpose-built cruise facility. It is located in south-eastern England at the head of the River Thames estuary, 30 miles to the east of London, near the M25. London and its sights are the main attractions and the centre can be reached by car or coach but there are also places of interest nearby.

Just a few minutes walk from the Terminal, Tilbury Fort is the finest and best preserved example of 17th century military engineering in England. Throughout the 18th and early 19th centuries, Tilbury and the batteries at Gravesend across the river, formed the first line of defence for the Thames and London. Audley End House & Gardens was built by the first Earl of Suffolk, Lord Treasurer to James I, on the scale of a great royal palace and indeed became one when Charles II bought it in 1668. The landscaped park was created by Capability Brown.

**Ally** · 08-14-2006, 05:00 AM

Alderney is the most northerly of the Channel Islands but lies only 16km (10 miles) from the Normandy coast of France. About 8 sq km (3 sq mi) in area, the island is a plateau with two main inlets - Braye Harbour in the north and Longy Bay in the southeast. Most inhabitants live in the only town, St. Anne's, overlooking Braye Harbour. Tourism and dairy farming are the main industries. The earliest known inhabitants were builders of megalithic tombs and evidence of Bronze Age habitation can be seen. The Romans built a small fort (the Nunnery) on the island. In the 11th century Alderney came under Norman control, and hence, after 1066, into the possession of the English Crown. It is now administered as a part of Guernsey.

**Ally** · 08-14-2006, 05:02 AM

Cowes is located on the Isle of Wight, an island of the south coast of England. Set on the northern coast of the island at the mouth of the River Medina it overlooks the Solent (the strait of the English Channel between the island and the mainland). It is the principal port on the Isle of Wight and owes its origins to its excellent harbour. Cowes grew around fortifications that were first built at the mouth of the river by Henry VIII in 1540. The battlements are now part of the headquarters for the Royal Yacht Squadron, base for the famous yachting and social event, Cowes Week, which takes place each June. Nearby is Osborne House (1846), the former seaside home of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert (its architect).

St Mary's is one of the Scilly Isles, a group of 140 small islands and rocks, in the Atlantic Ocean 40 km (25 miles) south-west of Land's End in Cornwall. From Tresco you can visit the islands but only five are inhabited: St Mary's, Tresco, St Martin's, St Agnes, and Bryher. Prehistoric remains show that the islands have been populated since c. 2000 BC. The islands are noted for their rugged granite cliffs, wild scenery and mild climate - Tresco Abbey Garden, arranged on several terraces mounting a hillside, is well worth a visit. The capital, Hugh Town is on St Mary's and has a substantial harbour. Many ships have been wrecked on the rocky coasts of these islands.

Tresco is one of the Scilly Isles, a group of 140 small islands and rocks, in the Atlantic Ocean 40 km (25 miles) south-west of Land's End in Cornwall. From Tresco you can visit the islands but only five are inhabited: St Mary's, Tresco, St Martin's, St Agnes, and Bryher. Prehistoric remains show that the islands have been populated since c. 2000 BC. The islands are noted for their rugged granite cliffs, wild scenery and mild climate - Tresco Abbey Gardens, arranged on several terraces mounting a hillside, is well worth a visit.

**Ally** · 08-14-2006, 05:03 AM

Douglas has been the capital and principal port and ferry terminal of the island since 1869, the island itself having become a Crown possession in 1828. It lies at the mouths of the Dhoo and Glass Rivers, hence its name. About a third of the islanders live in Douglas, which originally developed around smuggling, but today has light industry, tourism, and is the seat of the island's parliament, the Tynwald and House of Keys (the oldest parliament in the world). Many tourists visit the Isle of Man for its interesting features, such as its own unique currency and the famous tailless Manx cats. Douglas boasts Castle Mona (1804), and the Tower of Refuge (1832), as well as the impressive Manx Electric Railway (1893) and Douglas horse-drawn trams (1876), both of which are still in service.

Located along the Irish Sea, the Isle of Man lies half way between England and Northern Ireland, and its wooded hills and jagged coastline offer some of the country’s most spectacular scenery. The island was once occupied by the Celts, who left behind Iron Age forts and huts. Though the Romans never settled here, it is believed that Celtic Christianity was introduced by St. Patrick and flourished from the fifth century to the end of the eighth century when the Vikings conquered the island.On the island you can also visit the Calf of Man bird sanctuary, and Castle Rushen at Castletown, the former capital of this island of cliffs and moorlands.

Peel lies on the east coast of the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea. It features an old fishing harbour, with narrow winding streets, dominated by the vast fortress of Peel Castle on St Patrick's Isle. This isle is linked to the mainland and forms an arm protecting the harbour.The castle stands on the site of a much older fortification that was captured by the Vikings in 798 AD. Its main walls date back to the 14th century abd inside you will find a massive Round Tower and the ruins of the 13th century St German's Cathedral. There is a sandy beach and promenade on the eastern side of the harbour.

Many tourists visit the Isle of Man for its interesting features, such as its own unique currency and the famous tailless Manx cats. Tynwald Hill at St John's, 3 miles southwest, was the meeting place of the ancient Viking Parliament, the Tynwald. It still meets today.

**Ally** · 08-14-2006, 05:06 AM

Cardiff, (Welsh, Caerdydd), is the capital city of Wales, and lies at the mouths of the Taff and Ely rivers on the Bristol Channel. It is the largest city in Wales and is an important administrative, commercial, and industrial centre.

Cathays Park in the city centre contains the impressive baroque-style buildings of the Civic Centre begun in 1901, including the City Hall, the Welsh Office, Assize Courts, the Temple of Peace, and the National Museum of Wales. Close by is Cardiff Castle, reconstructed in the 19th century by William Burges for the Marquis of Bute. The Welch Regiment Museum as well as the Welsh School of Music and Drama are in the castle. Nearby is the 15th-century church of St John the Baptist. Llandaff Cathedral, with its modern Epstein, Christus, was founded in the 6th century; badly damaged in World War II, it has been completely restored. In the old docks area, the City has created "Europe's most exciting waterfront development" at Cardiff Bay incorporating restaurants, shops, museums, housing and a marina.

An early Roman outpost was established in c. AD 75. In the 11th century, a Norman castle was erected when Robert FitzHamon built a fort on the motte (fortified hillock) which today stands within Cardiff Castle's walls. A small market town developed close to the castle, and the town grew in importance as a market for the surrounding region. However, it was the Industrial Revolution, and the consequent need for coal, that was the impetus for Cardiff's growth and by the end of the 19th century Cardiff was the world's leading coal-exporting port.

Fishguard on the west coast of Pembrokeshire in Wales is set on a beautiful bay, and the old part of town - Lower Fishguard - was the location for the 1971 film version of Under Milk Wood that starred Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. In 1997, the town commemorated the 200th anniversary of the last "invasion" of British soil, when French forces had landed here in 1797 after being diverted from Ireland due to stormy seas. While there was no pitched battle, the local fishwives did contribute to the downfall of the French when they were mistaken for British reinforcements.

Nearby is Pembroke Castle (13th century), with its massive castle walls and the magnificent round keep that rises more than 70 feet above the ground. This central keep dominates the surrounding countryside and is the largest in Wales. View a plaque inside the castle passages that marks the birthplace of Harry Tudor, who defeated Richard III to become Henry VII. From Fishguard you can also visit St David's and its cathedral and the resort town of Tenby.

Holyhead itself stands on the far side of Anglesey, which is an island connected by a bridge to Wales across the narrow Menai Straits. Angelsey is quite flat, but the distant mountains of Snowdonia provide an ever-present backdrop. You can visit the unusual house of Plas Newydd on the banks of the Menai Straits. This late 18th century eclectic house, set in peaceful parkland, combines Gothic and Tudor styles and is extravagantly decorated with stained glass windows and oak panelling.

This north west corner of Wales is named after its highest mountain - Snowdon. It is an area of great natural beauty, and has been designated as a National Park. Here can be found not only splendid mountain scenery, but also charming villages and small towns, as well as traces of the early industrial activities of mining. Traveling through Snowdonia, the visitor will see many medieval castles, for this was a period of great unrest and the Welsh battled against the English unsuccessfully to retain their own independent kingdom.

It seems that every town was fortified, and many of these castles remain in a remarkable state of preservation, despite their battle scars! Such castles as Conwy, Caernarvon and Harlech are well known, but there are many more, both large and small. However, even to this day the Welsh still retain a strong sense of their own identity, preserving their own Welsh language and cultural traditions, many of which are to do with music and the performing arts. You may also visit the Garden of Bodnant, one of the finest in the country. Bodnant is known for the magnificent collections of rhododendrons, camellias, and magnolias and for its beautiful setting above the River Conwy and the extensive views of the Snowdon Range.

The port for Pembroke is probably Pembroke Dock lying within the large spectacular natural harbour of Milford Haven. Located on the south-western coast of Wales, the harbour has more than 70 miles of sheltered coastline protected by a sea entrance only 1.5 miles across. Sailing warships, fishing trawlers, coastal colliers and supertankers have all used this harbour over the centuries. Pembroke Dock was created in 1814 as a new Admiralty dockyard for the Napoleonic Wars. The wide straight strrets of Georgian houses rise up the hill above the docks where more than 200 ships were built.

Pembroke, incorporated in 1090 by royal charter, was a walled town (some remaining) built along a narrow limestone ridge, at the west end of which is the famous castle. Dominating the Haven and the jumble of buildings in the streets below, the massive fortress centred on its massive circular keep was the seat of the earls of Pembroke in the 12th and 13th centuries and birthplace of Henry Tudor in 1457 (later Henry VII). Other sights include St. Mary's Church, founded in 1260, and nearby the ruins of a Benedictine priory established in 1098 - its church was fully restored in 1882. There is also a Museum of Gypsy Caravans.

**Ally** · 08-14-2006, 05:11 AM

Buildings of beautiful white granite characterize Aberdeen. Set beside the North Sea, Aberdeen is both a university town and the capital of the Scottish oil boom. In addition, it is one of Scotland's largest seaside resorts. The city’s attractions include the 15th-century St. Machar’s Cathedral, the striking Mercat Cross of 1686, the 14th-century Brig o’ Balgownie, which is Scotland’s oldest bridge and the Winter Garden (Europe’s largest indoor garden). Old Aberdeen, the students’ quarter of the city is home to the campuses of the two ancient universities, King’s College (founded 1495) and Marischal College (founded 1500), now combined as the University of Aberdeen.

Aberdeen is excellent as a base for touring the nearby castles of Dunnotar, Slains and Crathes and whiskey distilleries such as Glenfiddich, Glenlivet and Speyside Cooperage. Other sites include Balmoral Castle, the Royal Family’s summer residence and Braemar Castle, which hosts the largest Highland games every September.

Brodick lies on a beautiful sandy bay on the east coast of the Isle of Arran, in western Scotland, in the Firth of Clyde. The island is mountainous, and has an area of about 433 sq km (169 sq miles) reaches 874 m (2,866 ft) high and Brodick rests at the foot of highest, Goat Fell, along with 16th century red-sandstone Brodick Castle. This stark fortification contains a priceless collection of furniture, porcelain and paintings. In the north of the island the 17th century ruins of Lochranza Castle were once a royal hunting lodge and an earlier castle on the same site is believed to be where Robert Bruce stayed on his arrival from Ireland in 1306. The island also is noted for the wild and rugged breakers of the northern shore, beautiful glens and picturesque waterfalls. At Blackwaterfoot on the west coast there are standing stones and King's Cave in which the liberator of Scotland, Robert Bruce, is believed to have taken refuge from the English in 1307.

Craighouse is the main village on the Isle of Jura. Rugged Jura is fourth-largest of the Inner Hebrides Islands in north-western Scotland and measures 27 miles by 8 mile. Located north-east of Islay and within 2 miles of the mainland, Jura is also notorious amongst mariners for the Corrievreckan whirlpool off the northern coast. Jura reaches a height of 784 m (2,571 ft) in its southern half at the Paps of Jura, three spectacular rounded quartzite peaks formed from frost shattering after the last Ice Age.

Forestry, agriculture, and a distillery in Craighouse are the main island activities although hunting estates popular with wealthy visitors and famous for red deer - the island's name derives from the Norse dyr-ey, "deer island". The island features mesolithic remains from c. 7000 BC and Iron Age forts including the Kilearnadil burial ground.

Dundee was once noted for jam, jute and journalists. It remains the marmalade capital of the world and still produces more than its share of newspaper writers. Tourists, however, will find little of interest in the city - its old centre was destroyed during World War II. The city's major attraction is the Maritime and Whaling Museum and the ship Discovery, which was used on the first Antarctic expedition of Capt. Robert Scott.

To the north of Dundee, however, you can see Macbeth's Glamis Castle (more recently the birthplace and childhood home of the Queen Mother). Also in that area are Brechin Round Tower (built more than 1,000 years ago by Irish monks) and the unique and lovely gardens of Edzell Castle. To the northeast lie the beautiful ruins of Arbroath Abbey and the spectacular remains of Dunnottar Castle. In Broughty Ferry, a quaint village to the east of Dundee, the architects of Claypotts Castle experimented with many styles and forms, creating a bizarrely hybrid structure that is awesome in the true sense of the word. To the south visit St Andrews, one of the most historic towns of Scotland.

Greenock lies at the entrance to the Firth of Clyde on the west coast of Scotland and is a gateway to Glasgow. This industrial port shipped herring in the 17th century but became industrialised and was blitzed in 1941. A few older buildings remain like the Customs House but not many. James Watt, the discoverer of steam power was born here in 1736 and there is a statue of him.

Tucked away in the Cromarty Firth, Invergordon opens the door to the unfathomed legends of Loch Ness, whose glorious Northern Highland setting dwarfs the human scale of ruined Urquhart Castle, forlornly reflected in waters over 700 feet deep. Nearby Inverness has much to offer. Or explore Scottish history amid the brooding splendour of 15th century Cawdor Castle (forever but wrongly - linked with Shakespeare's Macbeth), or at imposing Dunrobin Castle, dating from the 13th century and housing a fine collection of paintings, objets d'art and family memorabilia of the Earls of Sutherland. Also near to Invergordon is the pretty resort town of Tain, with its quaint collection of historic architecture spanning many centuries.

You can also travel north for a visit to Glenmorangie Distillery, overlooking the shores of the Dornoch Firth. Continue to the town of Dornoch. Dignified and sleepy best describe this wonderful little town, clustered around its little Cathedral all in local stone. Also visit the Falls of Shin located in a picturesque wood in the Achany Glen. Local tours like these can be found on Invergordon Shore Excursions, Day Tours from the Port of Invergordon and Inverness.

One of the largest of the Inner Hebrides in north-western Scotland is Mull, marked by rolling green hills and charming historic towns.Mull is a roughly triangular island that covers an area of 925 sq km (353 sq miles) and features a coastline deeply indented by sea lochs. Mull is mountainous and rich in wildlife, and is home to red and fallow deer, otters, seals, buzzards, eagles, and several thousand seabirds.

Peterhead is a port on the east coast of Scotland, situated 20 miles north of Aberdeen on Scotland's North Sea coast. The town was founded in 1593 and grew with the development of the local fishing industry, which was predominantly herring-based. At the beginning of the 19th century Peterhead was the centre of the country's whaling industry, and in 1982 was the United Kingdom's largest port in terms of the value of fish landed. The town's Arbuthnot Museum records its traditional economic dependence on these industries. In the 1970s the town's economy was bolstered by the discovery of oil offshore in the North Sea. Architecturally, it is noted for its many pink granite buildings.

Nearby you can visit Pitmedden Gardens to the north of Aberdeen. The centerpiece of this property is the Great Garden, originally laid out in 1675 by Sir Alexander Seton. Also on the estate is the Museum of Farming Life, Visitor Center, herb and wildlife gardens. Also close is Fyvie Castle. Lying between Aberdeen and Banff, the castle is beautifully situated on a mound above the River Ythan, Fyvie Castle is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful castles in Scotland and dates from the 13th century.

**Ally** · 08-14-2006, 05:14 AM

On the other side of the Forth Bridge, Rosyth is a gateway to Edinburgh. Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland, is built on a group of hills and crags between the southern shore of the Firth of Forth (which flows from the Scottish lowlands into the North Sea) and the Pentland Hills.

The dominating feature of interest is Edinburgh Castle, crowning Castle Rock at the core of the city. Located in the castle is the 11th-century chapel of St Margaret, Edinburgh's oldest building. The Scottish crown jewels are on display in the castle. Castle Rock is connected to the Palace of Holyroodhouse (c.1500) to the east by a road known as the Royal Mile, the main thoroughfare of the Old Town district of the city. Other notable landmarks in Old Town include St Giles' Cathedral (largely 15th-century); the Parliament House (which was the seat of the Scottish Parliament until 1707); and the house of the 16th-century Protestant reformer John Knox. To the north of this district is New Town, the largest area of Georgian architecture in Europe, and probably the world. Two other major attractions in the city are the Royal Botanic Garden and Edinburgh Zoo. From Edinburgh you can also visit Glasgow, St Andrews, Scone Palace and the Glenturret Whisky Distillery.

There is archaeological evidence of human habitation on Castle Rock in the Bronze Age (c. 1000 BC), which makes the site one of the longest continuously inhabited places in northern Europe. Castle Rock was occupied by the Picts in about the 6th century AD. In the 11th century Malcolm III, king of Scotland, had his castle here. King Robert Bruce granted Edinburgh a charter in 1329 and the town became the national capital in 1437. Edinburgh lost much of its importance after 1603, when James VI assumed the throne of England as James I, and removed his court to London. By the Act of Union with England (1707), the Scottish Parliament, with its seat in Edinburgh, was dissolved. Edinburgh is now once again the seat of government in Scotland with the re-establishment of the new 129-seat Scottish Parliament.

Stornoway is located 38 miles from the mainland of north-western Scotland, on the east coast of Lewis, overlooking the North Minch and Atlantic Ocean. It has a large natural harbour and is a fishing port and ferry terminal, with services to Ullapool on the Scottish mainland. Stornoway is the main manufacturing centre for the Harris tweed cloth and garments that have been made on the island for centuries and today are exported or sold to the island's many summer visitors. The Victorian castle, known as Lews Castle, is now a college. Oliver Cromwell destroyed the original Lews Castle of the Macleods. There is a museum and the An Lanntair art gallery.

Nearby are some marvelous historical structures: the Standing Stones of Callinish (Scotland’s Stonehenge) and Dun Carloway Broch. The Callanish stone circle near the shore of Loch Roag is thought to date from 1975 BC. It features avenues of stones radiating north, south, east, and west. A spectacular stone pillar in the centre of the circle stands 5 m (16 ft) high. The 2,000 year old Carloway Broch and the Black House Museum is a spectacular site, with original furniture and a peat fire in the centre of the room.There are also three other smaller stone circles around the shores of Loch Roag.

Stranraer lies in the shelter of Loch Ryan on the southwest corner of Scotalnd. It is the ferry port to Larne in Northern Ireland. The railway pier forms the east side of the natural harbour sheltered by the Rhins of Galloway. On the west side is the fishing quay and swimming and boating lake. The Castle of St John dating from 1510 is in the town while Castle Kennedy Gardens to the east contain the 15th century ruins of Castle Kennedy and Lochinch Castle (1867). Logan Botanical Gardens, to the south of Stranraer, is packed with exotic trees and flowering shrubs from South America, China, Australia and New Zealand. Ardwell House to the north of Logan is a more traditional Scottish Garden. Nine miles south of Stranraer you can also visit the early Christian Kirkmadrine Stones.

Ullapool was founded by the British Fishery Society in 1788 on a sheltered arm of land jutting into Loch Broom, on the north west Atlantic coast of Scotland. Still an important fishing port today, the town is linked by ferry to Stornoway on Lewis, and gets its fair share of visitors during the high season. There are two main streets with signs in English and Gaelic. Most of the action takes place around the harbour, especially when the boats are in. In the winter Russian and Eastern European fish processing vessels cram the harbour. The Ullapool Museum features exhibits on crofting, fishing and local customs. Nearby are the Inverewe Gardens, possibly the most famous, certainly the most beautiful, demonstration of the moderating effects of the warm Gulf Stream on the climate of the west coast of Scotland.

Skye is an island in north-western Scotland, the largest of the Inner Hebrides, separated from the mainland by a narrow channel and connected to the mainland by the new and controversial Skye Bridge which is the largest of its type in the world with a total length that exceeds 2.4 km (1.5 miles). Skye is mostly mountainous, rising to a height of 1,009 m (3,309 ft) in the impressive Cuillin Hills. The chief occupations are fishing, sheep and cattle and the production of Talisker Whisky.

A popular tourist resort, Skye is the site of Dunvegan Castle, Loch Scavaig, Portreee (island capital), Quiraing gorge, and the Old Man of Storr. The Isle of Skye, one of the larger Inner Hebrides, is best known as the place where Charles Edward Stuart, known as “Bonnie Prince Charlie”, escaped to during the Jacobite Uprising in 1746. The Jacobites were revolutionaries who fought for the Highlands’ independence from England. The extensive group of the Hebrides are divided into two groups - the Outer and Inner Hebrides. Lying off the coast of Western Scotland in the Northern Highlands, these islands are among the most beautiful in the world.