You know something, Hopetoun Monument is everywhere you drive in East Lothian. It feels no matter…read morewhere you look, it's there. I didn't even know the name of the place until 2 weeks ago, but it is ever-present. What was it for? An ornate lookout post, a fancy dovecote? Well, I've climbed up Byres Hill, as well as the rickety stairs up to the top of Hopetoun and I can tell you now. It's a monument erected to the 4th Earl of Hopetoun. That 4th Earl, he must have been some dude, especially if you think about lugging up the bricks up that hill. To get to the monument, you have to find the blooming thing first - I eventually got there via Athelstaneford (if you are coming from Haddington), then having found it on my horizon, just kept following the roads until I stumbled across the car park. Let it be known, this place is not well signposted. Nor maintained. At least one path is too overgrown to try to navigate, so it's the steep up and down option for all. A soggy muddy path semi-overgrown up a steep incline means that for some, this will be an unsuccessful trip. The last few hundred metres are over rugged, rocky ground. By then, if you are like unhealthy me, you will be wheezing like a woman twice your age and wondering why you didn't go to the gym more often. But, once you get to the top, you are faced with the enormity of the monument (now now, no smutty puns), and the views that stretch from Fife over to the Lammermuir hills. It is a view like no other. If you are feeling brave, climb the 132 stairs (of varying quality) up to the top. There is a warning at the car park that you need a torch - in fairness, that instead of the sunglasses i was wearing would have been more useful, as small incisions into the wall left pockets of like for your eyes to grab hold of, but ultimately there were gaps of darkness where you just had to trust in yourself. Just as well, as my sunnies were prescription and unfortunately being blind as a bat still is only a metaphor in my case. But again, you are definitely rewarded for the burning thighs and the pressure in your chest because what you get when you are arrive is the final flourish. No trees, no nothing stand in your way and with realtively clear blue skies, there was almost no limit to what can be seen. There are placards at the top to give you an idea of what you are looking at, but for me, watching the shadows of clouds trail by on the fields below, staring out to Fife and to the Lomond Hills beyond, listening to the occasional noisy car far far far away, here is somewhere where you can find peace, both inner and outer.

Wow...just wow...Carberry Tower is absolutely stunning and I was lucky enough to attend a wedding…read morereception here last night. When you turn into Carberry you are met by a long, tree lined drive with cute wee bunnies hopping around the grounds, I couldn't help but let out a huge "awwwwwwe" at the beauty in front of me. Round the side is no less beautiful with well groomed gardens and knee-height maze-like plants (yip I had a wee run round!). Then there's the hotel; full of olde-worldy grandeur (you know, the kind with knights armoury and shields dotted about the place), you can't fail to be impressed by its appearance, and inside is no different. It's a rabbit warren of snugs, stairwells, nooks and crannies and so much fun to explore. The library is utterly charming while the drawing room has a piano tucked away in one corner (cue chopsticks by a slightly inebriated me!). There is a very small bar, which for a wedding wasn't ideal due to the large number of guests (probably fine for regular stays however), and a word of warning, it isn't cheap...2 (single) Hendricks and tonic waters...£14! And sadly not even served with cucumber! Bar prices aside it was a really lovely venue for a wedding, I'm told there is even a Chapel in the grounds - you can't get more romantic really. As an evening guest I haven't tried the food so don't feel I can award the full 5 stars but it's definitely now on my radar to go back for a meal.

I feel that my experience of this gorgeous hotel was tainted slightly by the fact that I was…read morestaying here prior to having Major surgery the next day. The hotel is set in stunning grounds and we found it quite easy to find. We had booked through booking.com and experienced no issues with the booking process. We were allocated room 315 which was right at the top of the hotel with a window that unfortunately was painted shut. It was an unbelievably hot night when we stayed and the room was stiffling hot. It would have been nice to be able to open the window for fresh air. Although our room was compact there was a great use if space and we were very grateful if the free water! Due to my appt we didnt sample breakfast the next morning but I did manage to make great use of the amazing white company toiletries on offer and the shower was brilliant! I would really like to return here and stay when i dont have the stress of such a major life event looming where i can truely relax.

A beautiful old country house with historic charm. This gigantic mansion is home to one of the…read moreworlds finest art collections. The whole place can be rented for events and is truly worth it. Think Wayne Manor just for your group. We had a bbq reception there and it was just breathtaking to stand on the terrace and watch the sunset, and then going inside to listen to the jazz band playing their tunes.

OUTLANDER fans! Have you seen the scene were Jamie took a…read moredip in the mills pond on Lallybroch land to hide detection by the English? Well, now you can see this place live! The Mill is one of the oldest surviving mills in the country and I never have had such an interesting Mill tour in my life. Must confess, half of the explanations went over my head. LOL. Some of the words used were technical, but I learned a lot. Our guide was very knowledgeable and I loved listening. On the outside wall you will see water level marks, which tell you about the water levels from all over the years. AND very high they got. Quite a few floodings actually that flooded the mill. Milling with a windmill is harder than you might think! Anyway, it's a very peaceful place. The windmill is old, covered in spiderwebs, smells of grain and wood everywhere, the wheel is spinning and pushing through the water from the nearby river. Quite romantic actually, but maybe not so for the millers that actually had to work there, considering their health issues from all the dusty particles. Well, ladies, I also crossed path with a stranger who kept smiling at me. Not sure what this was all about, but you might also cross path with this flirtatious person Enjoy!

There are not many ruins or castles left for which you do not need to pay any entry fee. Having…read moresaid this, Hailes castle was the first castle I encountered that is part of some sort of Trust called Historic Scotland and for which I did not have to pay any entry fee at all! Good start :-) Whilst driving along some country roads the other day, I saw a sign post near North Berwick, indicating a way to Hailes Castle. So I could not resist to drive back and check out this place. I made my way and followed my guide that is called "Sat Nav". After having left behind some suitable country roads and being asked to follow down a one way road with hardly any space to maneuver in case another car came the opposite way, I felt a bit too much exposed to the wilderness :-). Not sure what I would have done if there would have been a car approaching from the other side?!? Finally my Navigation system said that I had reached the destination, but all I could see was a bit of space for two cards to park on the side of the road. Thought the Sat Nav fooled me! Fortunately, I was not lost and after some looking around, I found the entrance to the castle grounds. No entrance fee! Whoop. Firstly a tablet tells you a bit about the history. The original tower was founded by a Northumbrian Gourlay family in the 13th century and was taken over by the Hepburn family in the 1400's. I believe Mary Stuart also stayed there once. Henry "Hotspur" tried to besiege this castle, but failed. Nowadays it's only a ruin, but if you have imagination you can appreciate its idyllic setting and past purpose. The castle is not a large one compared to other castles nearby, however, it has something special : untouched from the modern world! I walked around the ruins and even explored (from the top) a dungeon, which looked a bit scary from the outside. Am I glad we have hygiene in prisons today :-) A tor opened up to the back of the castle and it was soooo romantic. Nobody there either. Thinking back, some solitude could be a frighting thought, but because the scenery was so nice, it was easy to relax sitting down in the grass and watch the world go by - including the white swan that made its way down the banks of the river Tyne. Another reviewer mentioned a wedding party. Oh yes, I can definitely imagine that too. This place offers the perfect setting for an outdoor wedding. The only drawback is that there would not be enough parking spaces! I noticed that there were a few walkers passing by. So maybe an idea to plan a day of hiking and walking.

I'm in! I'm in! Hailes Castle, in kid-speak, is COOL. Its' partial remains still holds 2 pit…read moreprisons, and overlooks the river Tyne, where you can play spot the fish. On a summers day, it's clear that it made a perfect picnic spot for a few families, and later in the day, a wedding party as well. I could think of few spots that would be less picturesque to hold nuptials in. It is still free, and still in a stunning location - but beware - there are few passing places, so if you get stuck with a wedding car going the other way, one of you will have to switch to reverse.

I'm literally speechless how awesome this place is and not to mention its remote location makes it…read moreone jewel of its kind. Crichton castle is kept and maintained by Historic Scotland and only open to visitors from April to September. Entry for non members is about £4.50. There is a small car park not far from the castle and a 10 min walk to get to the main castle entrance. The scenery surrounding the castle is awe inspiring. No need to hurry, just walk slowly, take in the amazing scenery and breath the fresh air. I believe the tower was build in the 14th century by John Crichton. His son became a very powerful magnate in Scottish history and started the castle's extension. During the 1600's the castle changed hands and later was neglected and became a ruin. The inside is not large and you can get around very quickly. You can see the italian style inpired inner wall, the old ruined tower, a well, wonderful views surrounding the castle and various chambers. It was a windy day and the walls offered me shelter.I could also listen to the sounds of pigeons giving the place a mystic background. There is a keeper who watches the place and ensures that the entrance is paid. He is a lovely soul. Outside I walked down to the stables that sheltered the horses. Needless to say, the horses were spoilt :-) Above the entrance you can still see a horseshoe imprint. Behind the stable starts a hiking path. Best you wear ideal shoes for the adventure. I defo will be back and a picnic will definitiely be on the cards as well as a wee wonder around.

This place is totally forgotten... this makes it perfect for very private, romantic picnic ;-)read more

This is a not very wel known castle ruin on top of a hill near norham castle its on a side road off…read morethe a698 and you stop at the bridge where there is room for two or three cars Its a walk up the hill and be careful with little ones and a climb over a still but well worth it when you get up there and if you are adventorous you can explore the ruin It was a 15th century tower house with had a mansion built onto it in the 18th century which was never finished and which went to ruin so it ended up as kind of a folly but an unfinished one Dont think many people go here as its not that well known but worth a look

Twizel has become very close to my heart, as my other half's brother had his ashes scattered here…read more Twizel castle is, as sharnad pointed out, one of Northumberland's sadly lesser known ruined castles. I say sadly, because it is really a beautiful spot, with a great position next to the Till. As well as an explore of the ruins themselves, there is also a large circular walk (running through the Tillmouth Estate?) but be careful, it becomes VERY muddy when wet!

I have a great fondness for this ram statue! Often when driving to or from Scotland we stop in…read moreMoffat for a meal and usually park near to this wonderful ram (it is surrounded by parking spaces in the middle of the main street). This statue was sculpted by William Brodie (1815-1881) and presented to the town by the local businessman William Colvin in 1875 to commemorate the town's thriving wool trade. Other notable works by Brodie which can still be seen today include his marvellous 'Hercules', a bronze statue in Portmeirion, North Wales. The Moffat Ram sits on top of the Colvin Fountain whose water was used by men and animals for drinking. There were once iron cups for men to fill from the water spouts whilst the animals drank from the filled bases the lower ones for dogs and the higher ones for horses! The ram was constructed without ears and a myth (apparently without any foundation) circulated for long afterwards that Brodie committed suicide when he realised his mistake!

Loch Leven Castle lies tucked away from the world. A hidden jewel!…read moreHowever, I would guess that Mary, Queen of Scots would have thought differently during her imprisonment there for a year and loosing her twins in the progress of events outside her reach. The view towards the castle from the restaurant and coffee shop as well as Historic Scotland membership cottage is breath taking. There is no walkway to the castle and you need to book a boat/ferry trip in advance. A small ferry goes every hour and if you miss a time slot you can use the time to either eat in the restaurant or go for a walk. Presumably the castle was build during the 13th century and played its part during the Wars of Independence. It changed hands between the Bruce and the Douglas families. Nowadays it is a ruin and you can walk around the island to your own merit. I will definitely be back.