The lesser-known Scottish road trip FULL of sights and surprises! Join me on the North East 250
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- Опубликовано: 24 авг 2024
- I must admit to never having heard of the North East 250 until a subscriber mentioned it in a comment. On hearing the name I instantly thought it must just be trying to cash in on the fame of the North Coast 500. So there was only one thing to do - DRIVE IT!
Join me on a quick dash around the loop over two days in September 2021. Fair to say I came away quite surprised!
Driven in an anti-clockwise direction from Aberdeen Airport on 7th and 8th September 2021.
Enjoy the video and thank you to EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU!!!!
Hi, I’m Steve. I am a travel reviewer and post my trip reports here on RUclips. I pay for my own travel and produce my own videos. If you have any questions about my journeys or travel advice in general, please drop me a comment - I do read every single one. I’d also love to hear any recommendations you may have for future content, or why not challenge me to try something a little out of the ordinary! If you are looking to collaborate on any type of project, I’d love to hear from you - email me your ideas and hopefully we can work together in the future.
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Music courtesy of epidemicsound.com
Map courtesy of google maps / craigston-castle.co.uk
#NorthEast250 #Scotland #SteveMarsh
Hi, Steve. My 7 year-old classmate, Dave Smith, found Johnny Ramensky in his hayloft in 1958 about 40 hours after Ramensky escaped from Peterhead Prison( he got out about three times, I think). His safe-cracking skills were put to good use during the war but Johnny could not go straight and eventually fell from a roof in Glasgow (?). Decades later Peterhead welcome a prisoner who had previously escaped from Saughton Prison in Edinburgh: a cross-country run passed the prison and this inmate whom I think may have been working in the Governor's garden stripped down to his vest and shorts, hopped a fence and joined the athletes. On arrival at Peterhead he was immediately christened the Saughton Harrier.
Ahhhhh... So, there IS an upside to memory loss. I'd seen this video before, but forgot most of it. I'm now in the middle of watching it again and loving it. Now, if only YT would let me give it another thumbs up...
The coast road from The Broch to Inverness is an absolute joy. Just one beautiful little town or village after another.
I remember being in the Lake District seeing planes tearing through the valley far below!
As a relative latecomer to your channel I have nearly caught up on all your videos. Somehow I'd missed this one until now. This is a real gem of a trip, what an amazing route packed with delightful places to see and explore. Of course this area is more on your doorstep than ever, and what a treat. I haven't lived in Scotland since 1970 (Penicuik) , but I'm back living much closer to the border now and I'm increasingly drawn north with so many places I want to visit that I wonder if I have enough years left to see them all!
Lovely trip to watch 👍 … I’m pretty certain your diving bird was a juvenile guillemot 🙂
Thanks Odet! And by doing an image search, I think you're spot on! Thank you!
I was looking for someone to have said guillemot. Think they're about the closest thing we have to penguins. Narrow wings for swimming.
I've been inside Peterheid Prison many times, before it became a museum, to deliver and collect some serious individuals including the 'Limbs in the Loch' murderer, in my official capacity as a Custody Officer (7 years) based near Edinburgh.
Great to see an area of Scotland that is often ignored relative to its west coast alternative! 👍
Wow cheers Richard! I'll be searching this name now! :)
WOW, what a fabulous blog Steve, again great coverage of our beautiful Scotland and the weather you got on your journey was stunning, I was so envious of your journey! Reading all the comments you are receiving in your blogs just shows how popular you are, or becoming! I only watch 1/2 of your blogs a night, so obviously I will still be viewing more into 2023! Thanks Steve - Stay safe!
Thanks so much Alan! Great to see someone watching my older videos as well :) Really appreciate it!
Oh, this was heavenly in this time of turmoil. America is hysterically horrible. I love the part where you said you loved boats and ships, so do I especially trawlers. Gorgeous watercraft. Thank you for this trip, Hi to Alijcia. I missed you! Merry Ann from Minnesota. The land of 10,000 lakes, the land of sky blue water.
I can't wait to visit some of those wonderful lakes!!! So glad you enjoy the videos - all the motivation I need to get out there! And feel bad for poor Alicja at work while I was having so much fun :O All the best to you :)
I love you Merry Ann Mac 🏴😜
Your videos are fascinating to me. I’m from Albuquerque New Mexico. All these places you go are so alien to me. I’ve been to England,Ireland, and France but couldn’t get to Scotland. Good thing we have your eyes see through. Thank you for bringing us along.
But you have visited Chaco Cultural NP eh wot? Superb history, scenery etc.
On the day I visited Aberdeen, the sky was the exact same grey as all the buildings. That gave it a rather dream-like atmosphere. A fascinating city, quite unlike anywhere else.
Totally agree!
Never knew you were a Stoney lad. Love the place. My Brother-in-law used to own a bakers in town. Many happy memories. Thanks for the video.
I bet I’ve visited there many times :) what was it called?
@@steve-marsh JH Falconers. Opposite the bud station. Also had a shop in Newtonhill.
*bus
Well done Steve just another fantastic movie in the can, again your building up a great wee collection here. Must be one of the best routes to drive anywhere in Scotland especially as you had very little time to plan.
Cheers Alistair! It really was a last-minute one, and although 2 days were nowhere near enough, it was fairly manageable
Loved this video. Great to see some familiar territory from my childhood visits to my Grannie.
Thank goodness that 'you could easily fall, and fall a long way' were not your last words Steve! Thanks for this, I had no idea about the North East 250.
Cheers Alan :) I didn't even film at the top of that staircase as I was concentrating so much!
Scotland is the most unique place in the globe. (I have been there for 1 year.) The landscape is beautiful and it is worth exploring if you have money, time and body energy. Steve, thank you for taking us around. I miss Scotland a lot.
I live on this route, I would recommend people use the NC500!!
Ok, do 15 mins of house chores first, then relax with cup of tea and watch 30 mins of Steve's latest adventure! A fair compromise 😁
Or....ignore the chores & “visit” Scotland for 45 minutes! Sounds MUCH better to me. 😃 🏴
Until my videos become the chore :D
@@steve-marsh Never going to happen mate😃
@@steve-marsh for us, or you? 🤔
Never, either way, I’d say. We get to “visit” Scotland and you are IN Scotland - a win for everybody! 🥳
@@steve-marsh - Steve do you fish? If so, maybe include some of the prime Scottish fishing areas. Not necessarily you fishing but the overall landscapes and scenery. I've heard there are majestically beautiful salmon rivers, etc., but didn't get to see them when I toured the country quickly.
Nice journey Steve 👌 👍
Another great drive through scenic Scotland! I loved the fishing villages along the coast! Beautiful scenery!
One of my favorite shows was Paul Murton's Grand Tour of the Scottish Islands. I watched it relentlessly but there are only so many episodes to rewatch. I'm so glad I found this channel. You are now my favorite show to watch.
Thanks so much, really appreciate it!
We have just done some of the north east250 ,we landed at Inverness so worked backwards to you,but we loved it,slaine castle amazing ,porsoy so pretty, we visited footdee in aberdeen, and barmoral but didn't manage to get in! Loved your viedo Steve
Thanks for sharing. I love seeing the countryside and the villages. Scotland is beautiful.
Oh Doris I'd live in ANY of the places I visited on this trip - wonderful part of the world!
Another remarkable tour Steve, you uncovered some great little fishing villages, and light houses, and the formidable Dracula’s Castle ruin, Peterhead prison was rather daunting with its rough looking inmates, what a fabulous coast line, Scotland never ceases to amaze! big plus, I never thought in a million years I would ever see the famous ‘Glenfidich’ Distillery and the amazing ‘Glenlivet’ shop two of my late husband delights when we visited over forty years ago, plus the Unforgettable Balmoral Estate! Indeed Steve the things you do for YT and you ever grateful ‘Sassenach’ Slainte mhath! 🥃
Awww thanks so much Bernice! I need to do a proper tour of one of those distilleries now for sure! :) All the best to you!
Steve, surprise of my life seeing said distillery’s, we visited most if not all inc. the smallest over forty year span, my late husband loved the ‘tasting’ tours they made his holiday! I must admit I found them quite interesting and the smell of the hops, intoxicating, although not a great lover of whisky, until that is my Son treated me last Christmas to ‘Outlanders’ Sam Heughan’s ‘Sassenach’ mind you it has a kick like a mule, two drams and I was has high has a kite, best Christmas Eve ever! so now just on special occasions I add a wee drop of water 💦 “perfect” Slainte 🥃
Wow, that brought back a lot of memories of our honeymoon 25 years ago, well in October. We followed virtually the same route! We must have been trailblazers. I am from down south and this was my first real experience of Scotland.
Thank you.
I'm so glad to retrace such a memorable journey! Cheers Bob!
For me, it was my first experience of Scotland back in 1967.
Another great video! The Museum of Scottish Lighthouses is an interesting place to visit in Fraserburgh.
Another reason for me to go back :)
Very interesting video, thank you Steve, I'm from Kent and plan to come for the very long drive up after the school summer holidays, I may go across to shetland for a few days , just weighing up the costs, very grateful for you showing areas I most likely wouldn't never of seen
This is SUCH a beautiful location for the video. Bright blue skies, clean streets, and a wonderful sense of peaceful permanence. Thank you.
Cheers Greg!
Yet again Steve, you've delivered! Your Vids are outstanding and highlight a fantastic country 🏴. I am taking the family to the Highlands in November (as long as Wee Jimmy Krankie doesn't shut Scotland down again 🙄) We cannae wait! 👍
Ahh have a fantastic time when you come! Winter in the Highlands is my absolute favourite :) Aye, fingers crossed there are no more restrictions - and then I might see you up there!
Hi Steve, according to Google the puffens on May Island, the male is slightly biger then the female, but they all look the same. Those black birds are called Comorant. I enjoy this trip, but get angsious that you might miss your boat. Keep up the hard walk and work. Enjoy each other, you and Falicja, life is just to short. 😊
Once again, a real treat to watch. I’ve been around the north east many times and you’ve inspired me to check out some places I haven’t visited. You had glorious weather too as I normally have when up there. For those that don’t know, the East and North East of Scotland does get a lot of sunshine, though not always.
Thanks Rachael! I swear I've never seen Lossiemouth in the rain!
@@steve-marsh nor me, I guess we’ve been lucky. Please continue with your vlogs as they are so enjoyable. Scotland is so beautiful.
Hi Steve, thank you for your very entertaining video's. Seeing this one brings back memories. Almost 2 thirds of this video we did see for ourselves in various holidays. Of all the tours we've done in several years, the The Glenlivit tour has a special place in our heart. It should lasted for around 45 minutes I think. But in reality it took almost 2 hours due to a fantastic tourguide and group. Our dedicated driver didn't like that all. She spent the whole time on the terrace waiting for us :-)
Keep up the good work! Stay save, stay healthy. Scotland is the Best!!!
Thanks so much mate! Glenlivet is now very much on the list :)
So far lovely places 😊
Hi Steve, really enjoyed this a good introduction to a lovely and rather ignored part of your lovely country! I have had many holidays around Moray firth. Few people seem to find the lovely beeches on that coast, some of the best in the UK! Fraserburgh particular has a great beech. one of the joys of Losimouth is that the runway from the airbase starts almost on the beech, great jet views!
Visited a few of these places on Tuesday & Lecht was fairly busy with folks skiing. Great video.
Scotland is just one huge film set ! Great video
So true Jon - cheers!
Guillemonts. .... birds with clockwork like feet....you did not recognized...many of them in Oban...lovely video Steve. Cheers
Ahhhh! Awesomely talented little fellas!
After watching your videos, you and Alicja trying authentic Cullen Skink, I found the Cullen recipe and made it at home. It was excellent! Thanks for the inspiration.
That is awesome!
I am so glad I discovered your channel it has never failed to surprise me and it has done so again, a magnificent journey and one I hope to do myself one day, thank you so much for taking me along now stay safe and keep well.
Really appreciate that Simon! Thank you so much!
Very good. Very much underrated part of Scotland. I've done that bit of the road past the ski area in the Cairngorms. It is a spectacular route that'll takes you to Perth. Full concentration as I'm sure you also had with those dips and rises in the road. It's s real rollercoaster. Loved that bridge on it, all sky as you go over it.
Those fishing villages are great though, enough trips for two lifetimes just in Scotland!!!! Better get cracking then🚀
Yes absolutely Michael! :) And I have a million reason to repeat that journey at a much slower pace!
That was one road trip to remember great video steve really enjoyable watch...
Cheers mate!
Great vlog from my part of the world, done it a few times, maybe that bird was an Guillemot?
I'm so jealous Marty - move me there NOW! And cheers for the info :)
Spot on Marty. Definitely a Guillemot - there's loads of them on the Farne Islands Steve.
I saw my town on the map in the middle of the ring!
Thanks Steve for again a beautiful road trip. We do not know this part of Scotland but we will visit it now.
Thanks so much! Re staying there - no problem at all I'd say. I'm very cautious about these things but would camp up there no problem. Hmmm maybe a future video!
Hi Steve, just watched this video again, as we're heading upto Stonehaven today, and then up to Gardenstown.. Inspired of course, by this video! Thanks so much 🙂
Thanks so much Charlie! Hope you got some of that lovely North East weather! :)
Having spent many a long weekend in Aberdeenshire visiting family I can attest to what beautiful county it is, whether on the coast, or inland. Pretty villages, stunning rivers and exhilarating hikes up mountains. Highly recommended.
Steve, you showcased the area beautifully. 👏👏👍😎
Great video Steve.
Thanks for the Local Hero reference, a great movie and a soundtrack that brings me many happy memories. It’s somewhat an anthem of Newcastle.
Another tour to add to my bucket list from your videos.
Absolutely love it Kevin, and a real pleasure to get there at last!
On the subject of pet cemeteries, I often used to walk on public footpaths near Brocket Hall, in Hertfordshire. There's good walk that starts near a ford and ends up in a village Not sure what got me off the beaten track but in some woods nearby, I found the graves of what I presumed must have been hunting dogs. They had proper headstones and all. There's a good walk that starts by a ford and makes its way to the village of Lemsford where there's an old water mill.
Thank you Steve, for a great video. It make me for sure, want to travel to Scottland. It has been on my bucket list. Maybe this video ,was the trigger it needed. So many ,beautiful places. Thanks Steve. Ole Carsten from Norway.
Great stuff Steve really enjoyable especially the coastline, I visited Cullen once with work and always said I must come back. A lovely film to end my Sunday
Cheers David - if only I'd timed it better to have soup in Cullen!
@@steve-marsh Cullen Skink is YUMMY👍👍😋😀
Awesome Steve....thanks SO much for yet another wonderful video!! Thanks for taking us places that we may never see in person....you have a gorgeous country & I'm sure you are proud to show it off. This was a very enjoyable tour.....keep up the good work!!
Thanks so much Bob! Comments like this keep me going and keep the camera rolling :)
Love that old Buck, and well maintained too! The Scottish colours...intended or "retrofitted?" Hmmm
I worked with some of the officers that were in Peterhead in 1987 when I worked-a while later-in the SPS Estate. They had a few stories about that event!
I can only imagine! Some of the photos were shocking!
Simply stunning scenery Steve.... Proving what I say.. Having visited 34 Countries on 4 Continents, the UK has some of the most Beautiful places in the World.....Just not the best weather.... But you had 2 days of unbroken sunshine... That must be a record that needs a wee dram or 2 to celebrate :-))))
Haha so true! Alicja is drinking all my samples though - but I guess she deserves it for letting me drive off and leave her at work!
Fantastic drone shots Steve. Thanks for taking us on your journey.
Thanks for coming along :)
Thanks for the tour! It's whetted my appetite for a bit of exploring in the north-east. Mind, you were blessed with the weather!
Ha it's always sunny in the North East :D Cheers!
It's great to sit back & let you do the driving, I wouldn't see all the places if it wasn't for you Steve, thanks again ! 😀😀
My pleasure
Super childhood memories there, thanks Steve 😊.
Thanks Steve, a breath of fresh air; Love Tomintoul, and the snow roads;
Glad you enjoyed it Andy!
Unquestionably this would be ny favorite part of Scotland. (Sorry Fairlie my ancestral seat). Thanks for sharing this video, Steven
In this video you have shown me places I used to go to when stationed up there with the RAF, so interesting video, not that I am a Whisky drinker but a place to walk about when its dreach outside would be a welcoming challenge. And of course No. 6 Squadron flying overhead, always an interest to me being ex service - so cheers, hope your Drams were tasty.
Hah not much of a whisky drinker either, so they are still at the same level :) could watch those beautiful aircraft all day!
Hi Steve What a tour past a lot of my favourites places Local hero village, Ballater and Dufftown, the birthplace of my late retired Police Inspector Grandfather. A profession my Late Uncle, his son Ex Edinburgh City and myself not Scottish Service. You certainly picked the weather for it again. Ar ra best Crawford
Cheers Crawford!
Solid summary of your mini-adventure. Thank you.
Cheers!
The road over the Lecht's a fantastic run on the motorbike. Super video.
thanks Steve - enjoyed this one very much! You came very close to my home town of Forres, so all places you showed between Lossiemouth and Pennan I've been... its a lovely part of Sco'land here in the Middle-East... :)
Another great video, another road trip to plan for is there enough time to see all your wonderful places. As always fantastic content and information.
Cheers Brian! Really enjoyed this last-minute little drive :)
@@steve-marsh It is so nice to see all the great responses you get for your videos, all so justified and the fact you take time to make contact. You should be proud of what you have achieved. One of if not the best out there. Keep showing of Scotland to the world. Well done Steve.
This looks like a great trip Steve. I drove most of what is now called the NC500 20 years ago, back then, before it had a ‘name’ you could book B&Bs each morning for that nights stay - which is virtually impossible to do now. I hope the NE250 benefits from the marketing, but hopefully doesnt price itself out of the market the same way that its bigger counterpart does.
Thanks a lot for an excellent vid, loved every minute - especially Slains Castle, so glad it has not been "developed" as proposed a few years ago. It brought back huge memories for me as I covered the coastal bit a few years ago when I spent 6 months touring the coast of Britain and Ireland living in my Ford Transit, and even ended up writing a book about it - The Road Next The Coast", Thanks again.
Thanks Chris! Loved Slaines too - what a place!
That was wonderful! Thanks Steve.
Glad you enjoyed it David!
@@steve-marsh Balmoral would be great to see when you can next get there
I live in this area but didn't know about Rattray Head. Will go there next week.
Thankyou, enjoyed the road trip, the views were great.
Cheers Jacqui!
Brilliant video as always Steve. So many places to see and like you say it would probably take a week to do it justice. Wasn't the weather absolutely glorious as well. Fantastic!
Cheers Will - I swear that part of the country gets the best weather in Scotland - another reason to MOVE there one day :)
I was going to try & get to Penam but I had a rotten cold caused by what the locals called a mild day in Aberdeen . Me with with every layer of clothing I had , local high school girls in summer uniforms & no jumpers . Anyway I drove from Edinburgh to Inverness in one day via Aberdeen. What a great drive that was.
Glad to know I wasn't the only one that had never heard of this route ! Good to see the Buccaneer again (think it's up for sale !) Thoroughly enjoyed this video - very watchable !
Folks I follow on twitter confirm the Buccaneer is for sale. It looks to be in good condition.
@@FrankC321 There is a film of its construction - its built for carrier landings so its very strong !
Thanks so much! I hope it goes to a good home :(
Great tour. I sometimes visit Royal Deeside when I am in Scotland and this make me determined to resume my visits next year, covid permitting.
Very glad to play my part in nudging you towards that wonderful place :)
Great seeing all these places again - many years since I visited them from the days I lived in Aberdeen up until '75.
Cheers for coming along for a trip down memory lane Collin!
Enjoyable video mate. Cheers!
I’ve never been bothered about the west coast - that is until I saw this episode. We’ll be sure to checkout some of these wonderful locations. Thank you for your time and sharing your experiences. 🙏🏻🏴🥃
Thanks so much for watching!
We moved away from Stonehaven 3 years ago to move to Inverness. Now living in the Highlands made me forget the scenery of NE Scotland. Funny seeing my old school at the end (Mackie Academy) it doesn't look like it's changed. Next time your up Deeside go and have a look at the Burn O Vat near Dinnet a beautiful area.
Thanks so much for the tip Walter! Nice that we went to the same school :)
Lovely route - did the NC500 in May in our new camper and had a lovely time. Might add this to the list. The sign on the bridge... referring to the foundry that cast the very strong metal framework. I lived on Plas kynaston Lane in a little place called Cefn Mawr, Went Cefn Mawr primary and then to Ruabon secondary school....
I wish you many Happy adventures in the camper :)
Another great video!
The guy in the barber's chair really looks a bit like Prince Andrew! 😷🤔🤨🤣🤣🤣
Haha love it! :D
Steve, your videos are an absolute delight. I have never enjoyed travel videos so much. Come to Canada! More Scots here than anywhere but Scotland.
That was a lovely tour, I would love to retrace your path at some point. Gorgeous wee villages, towns and roads
thanks for showing me Rattray Head, I've heard that name so many times on shipping forecasts
Love listening to the shipping forecast :)
Another great video. From a Fraserburgh born lad this brought back lots of childhood memories. Glad you enjoyed this part of Scotland.
Cheers Gordan! Wonderful part of the world, I'm now wanting to move there :)
That was brilliant, thanks Steve
Cheers Tricia! :)
Until I saw this video I wasnt even aware of the NE 250 but | am very familiar with all the parts of it. The video commentary is nicely understated allowing the pictures to do their job. Its t's a magical part of the country and you dont have to be worried about crowds of tourists if you dont like them. Getting away from them can be as easy as taking the next turn. Steve is doing the job of the Scottish Tourist Board here and I think he deserves a medal
Thanks so much John! Yeah, it’s a lovely route without all the crowds of the north coast! :)
Another great discovery video from you Steve! Those seagulls look hungry and ready to snatch some fishes!
haha yes! I'd be no match for them, especially when they pair up like that :)
Luckily visited lots of places in this video, brought back so many memories back when i was live in Aberdeen! Thanks for sharing, Steve！
You are so welcome, thanks so much for coming along to some familiar places :)
We must take this route, maybe next spring
Thanks for bringing me along on this fabulous trip Steve. Best wishes to you and Alicja.
Cheers Derek! Such a shame Alicja couldn't make this one!
That was very interesting to me, Steve, & so well filmed under Blue Skies & Sun, which I have come to associate with you. I enjoyed very much looking at all the villages & towns which you went to. Beautiful trees en route! In the 1960's I used to go on holiday with my family to the village of Garmouth, which is mainly uphill from the village of Kingston just east of Lossiemouth. We once walked by the sea to Lossiemouth. I never tired of holidaying in Garmouth, next to the river Spey, where my maternal grandmother came from.
All those names are so familiar from my childhood visiting my uncle in Lhanbryde!
Discovered you’re excellent videos in Scotland this week.
Watched a few now and as got me thinking of doing some of these trips in 2023/24.
Thanks so much Graham! Wishing you happy trip planning :)
Looks like an interesting drive .. but a bit touristy ?? I laughed my giggle button off when you mentioned the owner of the golf course and the windmills. Not wanting to get into any orange jokes or was it origin .. but a shame you didn't have a shot of a dead seagull. Cheers mate .. love your stuff. ;)
Hello again Steve. My thanks to you for appreciating my idea about Craigmillar Castle. As you seemed to like it so much with winter coming I thought I'd recommend 2 other places which I think you would like ie 1)Linlithgow Palace which is also a wonderful ruin & not far from you (but I don't know if it closes for winter). I remember climbing up to a small room which was about 6/7 stories high; maybe it was used for looking for the enemy in ancient times. 2)Rosslyn Chapel which is even nearer to you - the stone carving in that gem of a religious building is fantastic. I remember feeling as though I was entering a little part of France in Scotland when I visited the Chapel
Robert, please feel free to keep coming up with these gems! Great ideas and both places are steeped in history! I'd hoped to make a wee video of Craigmillar last week, butunfortxnately you need to book at the moment, and the last booking was 20 minutes before I finished work! It was such a cracking day as well...
@@steve-marsh That was a shame, Steve, about Craigmillar, for you. The first time I went there I got there rather late & so I didn't go in either on that day. But I did walk down to the quaint village of Duddingston on the south side of Arthur's Seat. I thought I'd suggest this place to you as you wouldn't have to book. I believe there is an old haunted pub there. Maybe you & Alicja could book in & do an EeeeeK! video for Halloween!!! Haha. I did go to Dr Neil's Garden when I was there; it's a National Trust property but it was free to get in when I went on 20/4/13. The Garden is on the banks of Duddingston Loch. I could see Craigmillar Castle to the south from there, on its hill.
Another hidden gem is the village of Swanston, on the outskirts of Edinburgh, & you wouldn't have to book for that either. I don't think I've ever seen so many houses with thatched roofs in a Scottish village. When I went I think I took a bus to Hillend. I got my bus pass in 2012 when I turned 60 so that was when I really started to explore Edinburgh. I walked up past the Ski Centre & followed a rough path over the hill going west & I eventually arrived at Swanston downhill. I think Robert Louis Stevenson came from there. As you & Alicja enjoy hill walking I think you would like that walk. From Swanston I followed a road which took me over a bridge which went over the City of Edinburgh Bypass in order to get back into the city.
I enjoyed going to the Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh. Would they be of interest to you for making a video? I like to visit such places once a month so that I can see what blooms when. I once studied trees in Ayr, where I live. I started off by looking for the flowers of trees or the equivalent eg catkins, or the beginning of cones on Pine trees which are often a deep pink. Once I'd noticed them I wondered how I could ever have missed them. But I did! until I was over 40. Maple trees are amongst the best for Autumn colour. It is the time for Ivy flowers. Have you ever noticed them? I never noticed them until I was about 55. I think that the first time I noticed them was when I was walking past a large Ivy plant & I heard a hum & it was because of all the insects rising off the flowers when I walked past. Bees & wasps & Red Admiral butterflies are very attracted by those flowers particularly when the sun is shining on them. Maybe you could make a video of this natural phenomenon. The Ivy flowers are a creamy yellow colour & form pompoms of very small flowers which many people probably wouldn't recognise as flowers. But they seem to be heavenly for insects.
Well Steve, I'll stop now. Thank you again for your appreciation of my suggestions. It was kind of you to say so.
Really enjoyable trip Steve thanks for taking us.
If I ever get back to Scotland, I lived there for two and a half years, Fraserburgh and Dufftown are on my list. My wife is second generation in the US. She is both Duff and Fraser. Her grandparents were from Greenkock.
Brilliant video! That circular staircase at Slains Castle gave me a bit of a pucker with those drop-offs! Cheers!
Oh Bill, I was so focussed on recording I could easily have gone a step too far...Cheers, glad you enjoyed it :)
Thanks for sharing some of the scenery in our beautiful N.E., it needs to be shared more, pity you could not have shown some of our lovely town of Macduff and the Tarlair swimming pool, but I know you were on a tight schedule.
Like these programmes , Stevie is good at Narrating as he goes around the different places
And the fishing villages and towns around in which were cool , and also liked the " Bow Fiddle Rock " have heard of it and so natural sitting there perched in the sea > Well filmed 👍
Firstly can I say please don't change anything about your videos as kean has had a crappie day at school and your video has cheered him up loads so can I personally thank you Steve for continuing to be a inspiration to my boy and myself and kean asked me if the bridge you walked over was the fourth road bridge that had shrunk in the storm lol your very lucky to live in such a stunning place as Scotland and me and kean love visiting especially for the hospitality and keans favourite drink iron bru thank you again for another fantastic video and entertaining my boy stay safe out there from joff and kean 😀
Thanks so much, all the motivation I need to continue :)
@@steve-marsh honestly Steve your videos are the world to my boy his love and passion for exploring Scotland are humbling to me and he has so many plans to visit the places he has soon you visit a big thank you from me and a even bigger one from kean 🙂