The Melville Room Regular readers of this blog will know I’ve visited a number of the many sites that were featured in the filming of the Outlanders series and this week has been no exception. I was in Glasgow twice, my first trip for a cyber conference and the second taking advantage of an invite … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 118
Hill of Tarvit I shouldn’t be surprised at the number of hidden treasures located around Scotland, but again I was surprised. The estate known as Hill of Tarvit, near Cupar is a fascinating place, for both the interior collection in the mansion house and the surrounding countryside. What we see today is the product of … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 117
Jacobite Express I visited the Glenfinnan viaduct a couple of years ago. This was made famous by the Harry Potter films, with the iconic scene of the steam train making the crossing. The one hundred and twenty-three year old bridge spans a thousand feet, a hundred feet in the air. Built between 1897 to 1901, … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 116
Silver Badge I donated blood again this week and reached the milestone of twenty-five donations. To mark the occasion I was awarded my silver badge. I should have received a certificate, but they didn’t have any, so it’s just the image of the badge I’ve used to accompany this blog post. Funnily enough it is … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 115
Japanese Garden It was probably a well-kept secret for a long time, but judging by how full the carpark became soon after opening on the day I arrived, that’s no longer the case. It seems everyone knows now and that’s a good thing. Situated outside Dollar, the Japanese Garden at Cowden is a real treat. … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 114
Dunblane Cathedral Whenever I’m abroad I like to visit churches and cathedrals. Travelling around Scotland, it’s no different. Generally speaking, they are not as grand and ornate as some I’ve visited across Europe, but they have their own distinct character and presence. Visiting churches is not a religious thing on my part. I love history … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 113
Callander It was on a trip back from Callander when I managed to stop off at the David Stirling Memorial mentioned in part 111, so thought I’d give this a mention. It’s a small town, with not much to see, but given its location it is very busy with tourists and acts very much as … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 112
David Stirling This is one of those memorials I had caught a glimpse of as I was driving by and had always made a mental note to stop off and view it properly. I finally did just that, taking time out to park up and take the short walk up to the memorial to inspect … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 111
Auchinbaird Windmill This structure is located just off a modern housing estate, so it’s good to see that it hasn’t fallen foul of misguided planning decisions. I take a lot of photographs, usually every day. I’m so pleased with the image I took that day which accompanies this blog post. There were two good ones … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 110
Sauchie Tower I’m always astonished how such buildings can survive for so long, often tucked away in odd corners, in many instances hidden off road, away from the main thoroughfares. Decades pass, centuries even, and despite politics, battles, climate change and misguided planning decisions, such structures weather everything life throws at them. According to the … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 109
The Fiction Factory 