The entrance to the Elgin Cathedral site (which is in the care of Historic Scotland) is through a building to the right of the photo of the mediæval entrance doorway:-

View from other side of doorway:-

Looking back to doorway from the nave:-

The nave information board:-

Details of nave ruins:-

We travelled on from Comrie by way of a misty Loch Earn:-

On the way back via Innerpeffray Chapel we then sought out Tullibardine Chapel, a property in Perth and Kinross in the care of Historic Scotland. It’s located slightly northwest of Auchterarder:-

North gable  end:-

View from east:-

From south(ish.) Stitch of two photos:-

At first we thought the chapel wasn’t open but the door in the photo below was slightly ajar:-

Information board:-

We had meant to visit Edzell Castle, which lies just north-west of Brechin in Angus, for some time now. It is famous for its walled garden with box hedging arrangement. Last August we managed to book a visiting slot. The castle is now in the care of Historic Scotland. The present castle is on a site somewhat removed from the old motte and bailey castle.

Edzell Castle from motte and bailey site:-

From the castle grounds:-

A corner tower:-

Entrance and square tower:-

Doorway:-

Castle entrance from east:-

Castle tower from southwest:-

Part of castle with walled garden to left:-

The mound of the old motte and bailey Castle is easily seen from the south wall:-

Dumfries and Galloway is littered with historical remains. Orchardton Tower is a free-standing round tower, the only one of its kind in Scotland, probably because it was built about two hundred years after the fashion for such towers was at its peak. The tower is now in the care of Historic Scotland.

Information board:-

Interior:-

Interior from tower summit:-

There’s a peculiar small ‘house’ at the top of the staircase:-

External ruins from tower summit:-

Threave Castle sits on an island in the River Dee near the town of Castle Douglas (see here and here) in Dumfries and Galloway.

There’s a fairly long walk from the car park and visitor centre to the landing area to get the boat across the river to the castle.

The walk is circular and this photo was taken on the way back to the car park:-

Castle across River Dee:-

The river apparently isn’t very deep but Historic Scotland (in whose care the castle is) is careful about how you cross. You can see the island’s jetty to the right here:-

Threave Castle closer View:-

Exterior of Tower:-

Arrowslits in exterior wall:-

Inside the tower:-

A model of the castle is in the case in the centre:-

Castle model:-

Caerlaverock Castle was moved about two nundred yards from its original location as that was deemed unhealthy.

Nothing remains of the original Caerlaverock Castle but its foundations.

This is Historic Scotland’s Information Board at the original site:-

Foundations:-

Just below the wooden bridge you can see in the first foundations photo I noticed a butterfly with yellow tips to its wings. Its at the top edge of the blue flower:-

The Brough of Birsay is an island just off the north-east coast of mainland Orkney. I blogged here about the causeway you have to cross to access the island.

It is also home to some archæological remains (as well as a Stevenson lighthouse which we didn’t visit.) The weather was fine when we walked across the causeway to the island but while we were there it started to rain and the wind was so strong the rain was coming in horizontally, so discretion prevailed over perseverance. Even so by the time we got back to the car we were thoroughly drookit.

There was some nice geology just where the path from the causeway meets the brough proper.

The archæology on the brough comes from three distinct eras. First there was some Pictish occupancy. However this Pictish symbol stone is a replica, unfortunately. (Though there was such a stone found on the brough.)

There is a better photograph of the symbol stone on Historic Scotland’s Birsay webpage if you click through the pictures.

As the information board says there was later Norse – in two phases – and ecclesiastical building on the island.

Remains of Norse houses:-

A later Norse house:-

Another later Norse house:-

Birsay may have been the home of Thorfinn the Mighty.

The Broch of Gurness, by the shores of Eynhallow Sound, near the village of Evie, Orkney, is quite remote, up a narrow winding road leading off the A 966. It is quite well preserved though and is in the care of Historic Scotland.

The day we were there it was driving rain. The attendant said he was on the point of giving up for the day although it was not long after lunchtime. Even so, as we were leaving another car rolled up to the car park. We had the broch to ourselves while we were there though.

Broch from site entrance:-

The first building you meet just inside the boundary, though, is called the Shamrock due to its shape. It’s the remains of a Pictish farm dating from much later than the broch and was moved to allow better exploration of the broch itself.

Broch of Gurness from west, showing outer rampart wall:-

Broch of Gurness from south, Eynhallow Sound in background and Isle of Rousay somewhere in the mists beyond:-

Broch of Gurness, plus part of rampart wall, Eynhallow Sound behind.

Broch of Gurness from southeast:-

Broch of Gurness, rampart wall and ditch:-

Broch of Gurness information board:-

The main reason to visit Inchcolm Island is to take a look at the Abbey there. This is apparently the finest surviving Augustinian Abbey in Scotland and is one of Historic Scotland’s properties. Apparently it can be hired for weddings.

This is the Abbey from the pier.

This is the well preserved west side. A stitch of two photos. Note the stone roofing material. I’ve only seen this before in Yorkshire, two years ago when we visited Haworth.

It’s possible to walk round the island a bit up towards where the abandoned WW1 and WW2 gun emplacements are. I got this nice shot of the Abbey through trees from the hill there.

The boat trip allows 1½ hours on the island.

Choose a nice day, though. Barring the roofed bits of the Abbey and the shop there’s precious little cover.