Place of interest Archive

Kisimul Castle – the Last Castle of the Western Isles

For 600 years it has stood out in the sea, defying the waves – only time managed to bring its walls down. That Kisimul Castle can still be admired today is thanks to a clan chief from the USA. Robert Lister MacNeil built models of castles even as a child. One of them fascinated him […]

Our Highland Wedding in Pictures

A dream came true for us: our wedding took place in the Highlands, on the Isle of Skye at the beautiful Loch Coruisk. I was a little nervous – not just because Katrin and I were about to tie the knot, but also because the logistics were still hanging by a thread … But one […]

Edradour Distillery – a Distillery Steeped in Tradition

Edradour Distillery is Scotland’s smallest traditional distillery. Its old, whitewashed farm buildings climb picturesquely up a hillside. Inside these buildings you’ll find more than a few real treasures. Unfortunately, the distillery – including the bar and shop – remains closed in 2025 as well. It seems staff are still lacking. The tour guide never tires […]

The Secret of the Park Bench in Edinburgh

“Are these already the Highlands?” I ask Stephan as we get off the bus in Edinburgh. “Not quite,” he grins. A few hills don’t make the Highlands. Those are further to the northwest. And soon I’ll get to know them. But first things first. Today it’s Edinburgh on the agenda. Bus route 26 has taken […]

Barra Airport – Planes on the Big Beach

Barra Airport is something you really have to see. At this small airport on the Outer Hebrides, technology and nature meet in the most enchanting way. The plane from Glasgow arrives at 1pm, so the beach has to be clear by then. A red SUV marked “OPS 2” races across the sand towards a small […]

Loch nan Uamh – the Jacobites’ Last Stand

The sea loch has a rather austere beauty. But Loch nan Uamh has one advantage: it’s deep, and offers a sheltered harbour. Even so, it was here that the Jacobites’ last stand was fought. After the thunder came the splintering. As the cannonballs tore through the hull, they released thousands upon thousands of tiny wooden […]

Ormacleit Castle – Only Seven Happy Years

Houses are an expression of their builder’s soul. Fittingly, Ormacleit Castle today is a bare ruin, threatened with final collapse. But it wasn’t always this way. Ormacleit Castle was once home to a colourful figure, worldly and devoted to culture. This person was the head of Clanranald, the powerful branch of the MacDonalds. Allan Dearg […]

Barpa Langais – Cairn with a View of North Uist

It’s the best-preserved chambered cairn in the Outer Hebrides. It survived 5,000 years – but now time has begun to take its toll. We’re standing on the mound of Barpa Langais, looking out over the moor. Heather and grass cover the peat and shape the plain, while a mountain range crouches behind a loch in […]

Our Lady of the Isles – Protector from Rockets

Why the Blessed Virgin Mary watches over the island of South Uist as the Lady of the Isles, and how “Father Rocket” got his nickname. For Mary, the Blessed Mother of God, they have their own name here: Moire, in Scottish Gaelic – a name used for her alone (“Mary” is otherwise “Màiri” in Gaelic). […]

Kyle of Durness – Sand as Far as the Eye Can See

When the sea retreats, it leaves behind a desert of sand. The Kyle of Durness, right at the northern tip of Scotland, is one of the most beautiful bays in the Highlands. Unlike its neighbour Loch Eriboll, the Kyle of Durness is extremely shallow, and once the tide starts to go out, the water drains […]