The border abbeys: Dryburgh

The border abbeys: Dryburgh, originally uploaded by British Traveller.

And Dryburgh, which contains the graves of none other than Sir Walter Scott and Field Marshal Haig (if you've ever watched Blackadder this will mean something to you).

The border abbeys: Melrose

The border abbeys: Melrose, originally uploaded by British Traveller.

Last week you saw a complete, operating abbey on Iona. Today I'm in the Borders, a region ravaged historically by wars with the English. The famous border abbeys show the signs of it, although their ruined state lends them a certain romantic quality. This is Melrose Abbey, where the heart of Robert the Bruce is said to lie.

New Lanark

New Lanark, originally uploaded by British Traveller.

Scotland is the proud location for four World Heritage sites. On this trip I've seen three of them: prehistoric Orkney, the centre of Edinburgh, and now this, the mill town of New Lanark (the other one is a tiny island in the middle of the Atlantic). And why is this mill so important? Good question. Aside from the fact that it's quite a big mill, which doesn't earn it world heritage status in my book, the reason seems to be that it's owner, Robert Owen, was quite nice. Owen provided his workers with good homes and wages, free health care and the world's first nursery school. As he rather frighteningly put it, 'society may be formed so as to exist without crime, witiout poverty, with health greatly improved, with little, if any misery, and with intelligence and happiness increased a hundredfold.'

Craigallian Loch

Craigallian Loch, originally uploaded by British Traveller.

Almost as soon as I left the town I got treated to this view. This is still officially the Lowlands; the Highlands begin at a geological faultline a few miles ahead.

West Highland Way

West Highland Way, originally uploaded by British Traveller.

I know you are all bored with towns now (well I am) and are desperate for some more pictures of the wild Scottish countryside. Hence I embark today northwards on foot, on the 95 mile West Highland Way, back towards the mountains, lochs and glens. Pending decent weather, you can look forward to the highlights of this next wee adventure. This is the start of the Way, Britain's most popular long distance walk, in the pleasant town of Milngavie (pronounced mull-guy), on the outskirts of Glasgow. Here we go...

Glasgow

Glasgow, originally uploaded by British Traveller.

Scotland's biggest city. Not much exceptional to see here, but it's a decent enough place. There was a half-hearted festival going on last, and this picture shows a netball game raising publicity for Glasgow's bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in the central George Square.

Wallace memorial

Wallace memorial, originally uploaded by British Traveller.

Ok, this is a pretty boring picture, but I had to show you something from Stirling. It's a fairly historic place, being the site of the battles of Stirling Bridge (1297 - the Braveheart one), and Bannockburn (1314 - when Scotland secured independence), and where James VI, the first king of both England and Scotland, was crowned. This is the national Wallace monument, where among other attractions you can hear an animated Wallace bawling about how you'll never take his freedom, etc.

Edinburgh city

Edinburgh city, originally uploaded by British Traveller.

Thought you could do with a panoramic shot to finish Edinburgh off. This is taken from the castle. Tomorrow it's on to Stirling.

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle, originally uploaded by British Traveller.

This is pretty impressive too. You could spend a whole day in Edinburgh Castle (if you really wanted). There's a lot of stuff - museums, restaurants, monuments, the lot. I spent about an hour there. My highlight is the Stone of Destiny. It's a rock that Scottish kings got enthroned on until the English nicked it in 1296. They got it back in 1950 but now there's no Scottish kings to crown.

Holyrood Park

Holyrood Park, originally uploaded by British Traveller.

Edinburgh really does have it all - it makes you sick, doesn't it? This looks like the countryside, but no, it's a park in the middle of the city. I'm rather a fan of city parks (they let a city breathe), and this one tops the lot.

The big city

The big city, originally uploaded by British Traveller.

See if you can guess which city this is. I thought this spanking new parliament looked beautiful. What about you?

St Andrews

St Andrews, originally uploaded by British Traveller.

What a great town. History and golf are the centres of attention. This is the rather sad remains of the cathedral, once the biggest in Scotland - sad because most other city cathedrals in Britain survived the Reformation. The hostel is full of golfers from Australia and South Africa who all seem to want to become caddies. Oh, and there's also an ancient university. I just walked past the departments of 'Logic and Metaphysics' and 'Moral Philosophy'.

First name Scott

First name Scott, originally uploaded by British Traveller.

If you think I've come a long way, think again. This is HMS Discovery, the ship that took Captain Scott to the Antarctic (Scott is his first name actually; his surname is 'of the Antarctic'). Scott isn't from Dundee, but the ship is, so it's kind of a claim to fame. In the background you can see the Tay road bridge.

Dundee

Dundee, originally uploaded by British Traveller.

City's aren't half hard work. I've only been in Dundee five minutes and I'm ready to move on. Who put all these people here, anyway?