Inveraray jail

Voted as one of the world's top prison museums, Inveraray Jail dates back to the 1820's. The jail has been refurbished and through the use of actors and models in authentic costume, props and audio playback it gives a real feel of what it was like to have been an inmate.

Front view of the courthouse

Inside the courtroom

A typical cell with several occupants

Children were also imprisoned here

Inside the warder's room

Prisoners washed their own clothes

The kitchen where food was prepared for the prisoners

Warder and matron supervise a prisoner in the airing yards

A black maria used for transporting prisoners

Falkirk wheel

Day 3 of my stay at home summer holidays and a trip to see the Falkirk wheel.

This massive piece of machinery is built into the hillside above Falkirk and enables boats to transfer between the Forth & Clyde canal and the Union canal without having to go through a whole sequence of locks.

A whole tourist industry has been developed beside the wheel with boat trips, childrens play area and souvenir shop and of course the burger vans and ice cream vendors. The site wasn't short of visitors with several foreign accents to he heard.

 

Bothwell Castle re-enactment display

Historic Scotland looks after over seventy buildings and sites throughout Scotland. including Bothwell Castle in Lanarkshire. The courtyard played host to a display by re-enactment group, Carrick 800. They brought along their tents, weapons and armour. Between battle scenes they displayed some of their traditional crafts.

Tents set up in the castle's courtyard

Armour on display along with some pikes

Pikemen gathering for battle

Children getting in on the action

Scottish army entering the battlefield

Swordsmen displaying their skill

Both armies face up to one another

A successful outcome - the English are defeated

A mock charge towards the spectators

A Tale of two princesses

As the saying goes, what a difference a day makes. Yesterday Greenock was host to Dawn Princess on day 59 of her 105 day round the world trip. I'm sure her passengers were quite happy to leave our rain drenched shores yesterday evening on their quest for sunnier places.

Dawn Princess canting off the Esplanade

Container ship India heading in as Dawn Princess leaves Greenock

Dawn Princess sails off towards Dublin, the next stop on her global voyage

Twelve hours later Crown Princess, a regular visitor, arrives on a bright sunny morning.

India, with a new cargo, vacates the berth for Crown Princess arriving

Crown Princess approaching the control tower

Crown Princess canting on arrival

Crown Princess backs slowly towards her berth

Cruise liner Prinsendam

We had an unscheduled visitor today. Prinsendam had been due to visit Oban today, but because of poor weather she came instead to the more sheltered Clyde. I hope the passengers weren't expecting summer weather or they may have ended up disappointed.

Here she is passing the Esplanade and canting before backing into the terminal.

Tall Ships 2011 - Parade of Sail

Time to say goodbye to these wonderful tall ships and wish them a safe passage to Lerwick for the next stage of their race.

It took around 2 hours for all the vessels to get on their way through the host of small boats and craft who came out to bid farewell. The Clyde had a life and vibrancy that I have not seen for a long time.

Tall Ships 2011 - Day 3 - Fireworks display

Well, the final day finished with a bang, or a whole series of bangs, as the sky lit up with a short but spectacular fireworks display. The Russian tall ship Mir's masts provided a wonderful framework through which to view the light show.