"Welcome To My Views on Earth - Starting Scotland" scotlandscotour's Profile

Hello! Welcome to my honest, heart-felt views of our world! The one and only Planet Earth. Please share it and love life.

A bit about me: I'm 40, and married to Rachel - we met summer '03 on the Isle of Skye. (See Bluewoad for her story!).

We live in beautiful, Orkney, North Scotland . Rachel has developed superb websites for the local Government. I teach ancient crafts like fire making, outdoor skills and work to improve tourism, in the UK. Now I'll pass this experience on to you, through captivating photographs, and truthful tips, laced with humour and local insight.

I started by writing helpful, local advice, in my tips of Scotland, Edinburgh, Highland, Isle of Skye, Glasgow and Perth pages. Most have very telling pictures, revealing a country and a perspective rarely seen in tourist literature - the honest truth, good and bad. Explore with me!

See bottom of page for Latest News

Man Harrassed by Sheep

Wild, open space, cleared of villages during the "Highland Clearances" of the 18th & 19th centuries, to make way for sheep grazing by landowners, deer stalking and pheasant or grouse shooting.

This is the real me, avoiding the crowds but still hassled by sheep. I am a qualified mountain leader, an expert on mountain navigation, "wild" camping and survival skills, specialising in a unique approach to experiencing and living the history, culture and environment of Scotland. I love exploring and helping others discover the magic and mystery, through moonlit walks, camp fires, tree climbing, playing in stone circles, ceilidhs, sunsets, tasting special foods and rediscovering prehistoric crafts.

Nowaday the mountains and hills are a paradise for walking, cycling and relaxing. See my Scotland pages for web addresses and useful mountaineering information, or write to me for advice.

West Coast, Scotland, Autumn 2003 Midge Free Days

Midges can make life hell. "*"*"*"*"*

Tip: Avoid low lying and wet areas during the summer months of June, July and August. On days with no wind, keep walking to create moving air, head uphill and if that doesn't work, keep to the Eastern side of Scotland.

The West Coast suffers the most, so try to visit there outwith those 3 months. Conveniently, you'll then also avoid most tourists, who can clog the roads and attractions. More details on the Midge on my Scotland tips.

This picture was taken in September, one of the best times of year to explore the West Coast.

See my Scotland Warning Tips for the truth about midges, how to avoid them and how to deal with them.

Crannog, Loch Tay, Perthshire, Scotland

This is a can of worms!

Sigh, until I can distill the complex and violent past to give you the fact and the legend, here is a beautiful photo of a Crannog.

The Crannog Centre on Loch Tay in Perthshire is well worth spending a whole day at. Seriously. It is a four star visitor attraction, and as well as explaining about life here in the bronze / iron ages, you will learn skills like fire lighting, wool spinning and they have lots of festivals. A very dynamic place, and unique.

I love to show people the abandoned villages and shielings, of a way of life now lost. I delight in showing visitors to Scotland the history of ordinary people, those who never wrote the selective history of the powerful and victorious. So I focus on the lives of the poor, women, the oppressed and the non-literate (including those with a vocal tradition, like the Picts and Celts). Its fun!

Who are the Scottish People, then and now???

Who are the people of Scotland?

A country that so much identifies itself by "not being English" has some difficulty knowing its geneology. Nowadays, Scotland needs more people. It needs you!

I'm from Wales, just like the Clan Wallace, who are now famous thanks to William Wallace, who at the end of the 13th century got very pissed off with the English occupiers and rebelled.

While Robert d'Bruce hung about in the shadows waiting his time, the warrier Wallace got hung, drawn and quartered in London for treason.

Scotland now has this expensive and ugly Parliament in Edinburgh, but is like the little arm on a big body - England has the money, people and power still. Can we live together?

Abandoned Farmhouse - One Of So Many - Any Buyers?

After the delight of discovering open spaces and fresh air, 'wilderness' and countryside, reality dawns:

This is a man-made landscape of exploited soil, evacuated townships, privately owned estates with little productivity except deer and pheasant being bred for sport shooting. The tennant farmers are leaving, and no-one is replacing them. Perfectly wonderful stone cottages, farmhouses and mills litter the landscape - abandoned, and left to decay in the harsh winter winds.

The less wealthy live in city 'schemes', whilst the land owners happily see the countryside become a museum, depopulated and neglected.

This farm still had photos of football and popstars in the childrens bedroom, but the door was left open (deliberately?) so the wind, rain and frost soon destroyed it.

Rachel and Castle - Isle of Skye - June 2003

My wife, Rachel, the morning before we met. Whilst she was looking out to sea, beside the ruins of this castle, I was oblivious to her existence.

A few hours later, she would book into Portree Hostel, which I was then Managing, for the "owners". (I now have nothing to do with that place). (See Hostel Accommodation for information, web links).

That night, we started talking, and within hours we were falling in love. It was the most amazing night of our lives! Within weeks we were engaged.

Our wonderful wedding, and Rachel's own story of her holiday that turned into marriage and moving from USA to Scotland, is told on Bluewoad

We are so lucky and happy. That is what happens in Scotland. Yes, the weather can be wet, cloudy and windy - but there is more to life than sunshine - things like clean air, healthy communities, good government, peace and love.

Anyone else fancy joining us?!

Spring Flowers - Spain May 2004

All are now getting the "Malcolm Treatment" - my candid, honest and insightful tips, with the best pictures I can manage - to convey a "feeling".

Something a little different - and refreshing - come and look!

I have explored the United Kingdom like few others on earth - obsessed with seeing every town, footpath and beach. It is a lifetimes work. Sadly, I never took my camera for most of this - but if you want to know "my story" about places - ask me! If there isn't a tip yet, write and I'll post ideas, "on request", if I know.

This VT site started because I felt the "true" Scotland wasn't being seen - and now I realise I can help you discover the real UK, the real world too. I have to put a Geography degree to some use ;-)

This is a picture (May 2004) taken in Spain, near Ronda in Andalucia.