Crail Harbour, Fife Scotland.

Crail Harbour, looking North in Fife Scotland.

Fife, Crail Harbour

We often pop across to Crail in Fife to buy freshly cooked crab, sometimes lobster and to enjoy the quiet harbour and adjoining beach. The East Neuk of Fife has many interesting and beautiful places in which to dwell.

North Fife Rhubarb Jam.

Try this North Fife Rhubarb Jam, it's a real treat. Approx:-
2 Kilos of preserving sugar ( contains pectin),
1 Kilo of skinned and cut pieces of rhubarb,
1 Kilo of fresh strawberries halved or quartered, depending.
3 or 4 heads of Elderberry flowers, just the flowers.
Put half the sugar and all the ingredients ( not the Elderflowers )in a pan and set aside over night.
bring to a boil and simmer, add the remaining sugar, stir from time to time and test, when a sample sets on a cold plate it's ready to pour hot into sterilised jars. At This point put in the Elderflowers, stir, Enjoy.

Best to avoid aluminium cooking pots.

from North Fife to Castle Campbell

from North Fife to Castle Campbell.

Castle Campbell, Scotland

Castle Campbell has to be one of the most picturesque castles. It is an impressive ruin built where the burns (streams) of Care and Sorrow join, and is overlooked by Gloom Hill. The castle was originally known as Castle Gloom.

The castle was originally a property of the Stewarts, but passed by marrriage to Colin Campbell, 1st Earl of Argyll, and Chancellor of Scotland. He had the name of the castle changed by an act of Parliament to Castle Campbell in 1489. The Marquis of Montrose tried to take the castle in 1645, but failed. Despite his failure, the 8th Earl of Argyll had Montrose hung, drawn, and quartered in 1651 for the attempt.

Cromwell's forces occupied the castle in 1653, and only part of the castle was restored after it was burnt by Monck in 1654. Shortly thereafter, the 9th Earlof Argyll was condemned for treason. He escaped to start a rebellion, but was captured and executed in 1685. Campbell Castle was sold in the early 19th century to the Taits, who then sold it in 1859 to the Orr Family. In 1948, the castle went to the National Trust, although it is administered by Historic Scotland.
Castle Campbell was quite obviously built in three stages. The rectangular tower was the earliest stone building (from the 15th century), and was built on the site of a much earlier motte castle. The tower has four stories, of which three were vaulted. The original tower had two entrances, one of the ground floor and the second on the first story. The north wall has no openings at all in the first two stories, not even windows. In the 16th century, a second, square tower was added next to the original tower, with a spiral staircase allowing access to all floors.

The second period of building was in the late 16th century. The main work was a range of buildings on the southern range. Later, a shorter range of buildings was added to the east and the curtain wall completed the courtyard.

The hall on the first floor of the rectangular tower is vaulted and has a prison in the thickness of one wall, reached through a hatch in the stone floor of the room above. The current roof was added during one of the restorations and is not original, but it has helped keep the tower in good condition.

Castle Campbell Dollar Scotland

Castle Campbell Dollar Scotland. Looking at the tower in front is the very pleasant cafe entrance where one can refresh oneself.

Dollar from Castle Campbell

Dollar from Castle Campbell. Looking out from courtyard level down the Glen over the lower gardens.

North Fife Wasp Bike

North Fife Wasp Bike at Flisk. It continues to grow at an alarming rate, the vine that grew across it came down in a thunder storm and the prospect of re-securing it fills me with trepidation. zzzzzzz

Bumble Bees at rest, Flisk, North Fife

Marguerite Flowers, Flisk, North Fife

Every year we leave this stand of Marguerite Flowers until finished. Along with other plants in this meadow section of the garden they are cut down to reveal the gooseberry plants which they have protected from birds.

Elie, from ruby Bay, East Neuk of Fife

It's here that we met Deirdre Munro, our guide. Deirdre was very welcoming and informative in her capacity as a Fife Ranger and because of, we spent a very educational afternoon to the delight of us all. Along the way we heard the song of Skylarks, Pipits, observed Brown-Lipped Snails, Burnet Moths, Painted Lady Butterflies and out at sea Shelducks with young, Cormorants, Gannets, Arctic Terns, Seals and more. Sadly of the pics below I seem to have captured only a rear view of Deirdre. Maybe a full frontal in the future. Anyway, Deirdre many thanks.