Historic ruins

A chance to compare the same scene taken almost 35 years apart. The left photo is my original slide conversion as seen on our dear old Panoramio, posted in 2008 but taken c 1986. The right hand side was taken last week, ie October 2021. Looking at the composition and viewpoint of these, it looks to me that my skills have waned over the years :) but the scene has not. See next photo for a more modern look and historic description. This is especially for our Ipernity friend Andy Rodker who knows this Cornish St Agnes Head coast and mine intimately. It is my wish that he will one day soon, walk these paths again after his recent illness. Essential full screen.

We will miss you here in Ipernity Andy, and the Cornish coastline has also lost a dear friend. RIP ******************************************************************************************************** The earth below Cornwall is full of natural metals, especially near the coast. Here we see my favourite old Tin Mine, revisited after 35 years. The paths you see here are part of the ‘South West Coast Path’ and are a delight to follow through natural and man-made history. “Earliest records indicate a mine at the site since 1692.The present mine opened in 1802 and was closed in 1889 when the price of tin fell. It came into full production in 1815. Flooding and bringing ore to the surface were the main problems of the mine until steam-driven equipment was available, as the mine's underground operations extended for some distance under the sea. The mine was sold in 1844 and thereafter allowed to flood. A new owner reopened the mine in 1872 but work was sporadic until its 1889 closure. For some years, the yield was 20lb of tin per ton of ore. In 1906, new ownership hoped to work the mine for both tin and copper. Wheal Coates had produced a small amount of copper ore, more than a century earlier.At the height of its production, 140 people were employed at the site to mine a seam of tin just below sea level but this and a subsequent period of operation from 1911-1913 were not very successful because tin production was sporadic. The mine was closed for good in 1914. Wheal Coates is now part of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site.” (WiKi) See adjacent photo for alternative and historical views. Enjoy full screen.

Standing on a small rocky promontory jutting out into Loch Assynt. We were to see this again in stunning weather but from a different viewpoint on our journey back home. Ardvreck is famous as the place where the royalist James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose was handed over in 1650 to the Covenanter forces by MacLeod, Laird of Assynt after the Battle of Carbisdale. Clan Mackenzie attacked and captured Ardvreck Castle in 1672, and then took control of the Assynt lands. The castle was a simple rectangular keep with a round staircase tower at the south-east angle. It was corbelled out on the upper floors to form square rooms. The small stair turret to these upper rooms being carried on corbelling. There were three compartments on the ground floor which were all vaulted. There appears to have been four floors and the first of these is also vaulted with the other floors being simply joisted. The castle also had several gunports. The mountain on the side is a Scottish Corbett named Gas Bheinn at 766m (2545ft). Enjoy full size.

St Agnes in Cornwall is the home to many old mines and here is a small collection of their engine houses. These mined mostly copper and/or tin often from the early Bronze age up to the beginning of the 20th century when these metals either ran low or were mined much cheaper elsewhere. This is ‘Poldark’ country and it seemed on our brief visit around here that there were mines around every corner. Other minerals were also mined including gold, zinc, silver, lithium and arsenic. Cornwall’s neighbour; Devon, also has many such mines. Top row from left is the top of Wheal Coates and one of the Polberro Mines. Bottom from left is Wheal Kitty and then Wheal Charlotte which sits just south of St Agnes Head. Only Wheal Kitty now survives of these, as a visitors centre with workshops and a café. The PiP shows a view of the bottom engine house of Wheal Coates. Enjoy full screen.

Another view of Ardvreck Castle on a day when the weather was just a bit murky. We have just completed another ‘Little Assynt’ walk and are on our way to the ‘Bone Caves’ which I hope to show your shortly. The water is Loch Assynt. pip Enjoy full size.

Nestled in a valley between Cemaes and Almwich we come across this on our headland walk. I thought at first it had to be an old mine building but no: this old works produced porcelain from deposits of china clay found on Dinas Gynfor and Llanlleiana Head nearby. The works consist of a main building and a remote chimney, this was to direct the noxious fumes away from the working areas. Llanlleiana means “church of the nuns” and the works were built on the site of a convent. They closed the works in 1920 after it was badly damaged by fire. In the fields behind the ruins are the remains of St Ana’s Church and on the headland above the works are the remains of the Dinas Gynfor Iron Age settlement. The curved walls to our left spills onto a shingle bay with a picnic table. No guesses then where we had our picnic. PiP Enjoy full screen. HWW, have a great day.

Having come to the end of our Anglesey Weeks holiday in August 21, we divert to the Welsh town of Caernarfon so see its great medieval castle. This is one build by King Edward I of England in 1330 as part of his iron ring around Wales, mainly to subdue the Welsh princes against the English. It took 47 years to build and is recognised as one of the greatest buildings of the Middle Ages. This fortress has a great deal of history but perhaps its most modern claim is as the place where Prince Charles was invested as the Prince of Wales in 1969. See PiP Enjoy full screen.

Another chance to see this iconic Cornish tin mine. We are on our way down the twisty coastal path to the lower part you can see here where we will walk further along the ‘South West Coastal Path’ towards Chapel Porth. Its windy and the waves are quite choppy as can be seen. See PiP for one of my earlier photos and descriptions of this mine. Best viewed full screen

We are on the way back south after our visit to Handa Island and a detour takes us along a very scenic road near the hamlets of Drumbeg and Nedd with views north towards Loch Dhrombaig and Eddrachillis Bay. This is wild country and it takes a lot of will power, work and luck to survive for any length of time here. An old dwelling, long since abandoned testifies to this and makes us wonder. Enjoy full screen

A moment to savour this old 16th century castle at Ayr, Scotland. This tower was actually the scene of some unsavoury events but I hope my photo shows only its beauty. ‘The lands of Greenan were forfeited by John, Earl of Ross and Lord of the Isles in 1476 for treason against James III. In 1493 James IV granted the Lands of Greenan to William Douglas, son of Archibald, Earl of Angus. The first known defensive structure on the site was a promontory fort, probably a fortified farmstead, enclosing around 1 acre. Four concentric curved ditches, each around 3 metres wide, cut off the headland with the exception of a single causeway to provide access. It is not known how long this settlement was occupied, but the site was re-used in the twelfth century. Beside the tower are traces of a walled courtyard and outbuildings—probably stables and a kitchen block, as the small tower has no kitchen within its walls. The castle passed through various members of the clan before ending up in the hands of Thomas Kennedy, Earl of Cassillis in 1766. Around this time the residential use of the castle seems to have stopped; today the structure is a ruin.’ WiKi Enjoy full screen.

Another castle within easy reach of the Scottish town of Ayr and only about five miles south of Greenan Castle. Captured in the golden hour on a late October day in 2010. "The site dates from the late 13th century; the earliest charter for the lands dating from 1256, but the remains of the building are of 15th- and 16th-century origin. One tradition says that the castle was built by the Danes. Another claims that the Mackinnons held the castle from Alexander III as a reward for their valour at the Battle of Largs. The castle is the point of origin of the Kennedys of Carrick (not to be confused with the American Kennedy family), who once ruled over much of south western Scotland and were granted the lands in 1357. Sir James Balfour described Dunure as "a grate and pleasand stronge housse, the most ancient habitation of the surname of Kennedy, Lairds of Dunure, now Earles of Cassiles." In August 1563, Mary, Queen of Scots, visited the castle for three days during her third progress round the west of the country. The Celtic name Dunure or Dunoure is said to derive from the "hill" or "fort of the yew tree". Wiki

A view towards the old ruined castle of Ardreck as we pass this spot for the last time on this holiday. As is often our luck, the weather decides to be at its best for the last few hours travelling south. A full description is on the PiP page, simply click in the PiP to go there. Enjoy full size and contrast the freedom of this sight compared with what our friends in Ukraine have today.

Another castle with some history, near the village of Skipness, standing about 20 miles north of our base here on Kintyre, “The main structure of the castle was built in the early 13th century by the Clan MacSween, with later fortifications and other additions made to the castle through the 13th, 14th and 16th centuries. The castle was garrisoned with royal troops in 1494, during King James IV of Scotland's suppression of the Isles. Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Argyll, granted Skipness to his younger son, Archibald Campbell, in 1511. During the Wars of the Three Kingdoms in 1646, the castle was besieged by forces under the command of Alasdair Mac Colla. During the siege, Alasdair's brother, Gilleasbuig Mac Colla, was killed in August 1646. The castle was abandoned in the 17th century The Green Lady of Skipness Castle is said to haunt the location.” WiKi See Pip’s for alternative views. Enjoy full screen.

Not far from the Giant's Causeway we find this ancient ruined castle. 'Perched on the Causeway coastline, Dunseverick Castle is an ancient royal site of the Dál Riada, a Gaelic kingdom from at least the 5th century AD. Located near the small County Antrim village of Dunseverick, this impressive coastal promontory fort was said to have been blessed by Saint Patrick.' www.nationaltrust.org.uk/features/dunseverick-castle Enjoy full size

Today we find ourselves at another ruined castle. This is Dunluce, one of the most picturesque and romantic of Irish Castles. With evidence of settlement from the first millennium, the present castle ruins date mainly from the 16th and 17th centuries. It was inhabited by both the feuding McQuillan and MacDonnell clans. It is located on the edge of a basalt outcropping in County Antrim, and is accessible via a bridge connecting it to the mainland. The Pip shows the view from the west (adjacent photo). Essential full screen

This is Dunluce, one of the most picturesque and romantic of Irish Castles. With evidence of settlement from the first millennium, the present castle ruins date mainly from the 16th and 17th centuries. It was inhabited by both the feuding McQuillan and MacDonnell clans. It is located on the edge of a basalt outcropping in County Antrim, and is accessible via a bridge connecting it to the mainland.

A quick visit to Kendal for the night gives me a rare chance to see stars. This hill and castle was not very far from my digs and so a steep run to the top of the hill gave me this reward. Unfortunately I had left my special ‘Clear Night Filter’ at home some 80+ miles away and so we get more of the town light glow than I would have liked. As can be seen the castle is flood-lit at this time of the year which posed the additional problem of what to expose for. Of course a compromise photo resulted which some might still find pleasing. ‘Kendal Castle is a medieval fortification to the east of the town of Kendal, Cumbria, in northern England. The castle, which is atop a glacial drumlin, was built in the 13th century as the Caput baroniae for the Barony of Kendal. By the 15th century, the Parr family owned the castle.’ Wikipedia The first PiP (adjacent photo) shows a shot from a little further away before I took this and if your monitor permits - you can see part of the Milky Way going up the screen from the top of the rightmost trees. The second Pip shows quite a different view taken a year or so back. Essential full screen

A real treat for those that can do the hike along the coast to get as close as this. In fact on our walk from the little port of Craster there was a constant line of many visitors making their way to the castle itself. We went as far as the large gateway entrance here but swung left to the back of the castle and the sea for different views. This was the best overall view though in my opinion. A strange haze seems to cover the whole scene here and made it quite soft but for me it worked nicely. As can be seen. I resisted the temptation to push the contrast slider to the right. “Dunstanburgh Castle is a 14th-century fortification on the coast of Northumberland in northern England, between the villages of Craster and Embleton. The castle was built by Earl Thomas of Lancaster between 1313 and 1322, taking advantage of the site's natural defences and the existing earthworks of an Iron Age fort.” WiKi Enjoy full screen.