Destinations

Travel to Discover
June/July 2014
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Explore the
Historic Castles of
Scotland Page 4
Hike the windy
Highlands of
Ireland Page 7
Dive into the
big1cities
Destinationsof
April 2014
England Page 9

Preview
Scotland the Brave 4
by Eleanor Carney, Photos by Andrew Bark
Scotland the Beautiful 7
by Scott McCrey, Photos by Chris Clarke
The Magnificent England 9
by Sarah Nolan, Photos by Robert Oliva

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The History of Scotland

Scotland
The Brave
by Eleanor Carney

cotland has lively and friendly cities, often of great architectural significance, and a
rich history and heritage dating back thousands of years with many ancient and historic sites. Other characteristics that attract droves of visitors include golf (the game
was created in Scotland and it has some of the worlds best and most famous courses), whisky
(many distilleries can be visited), family history (millions worldwide are descended from those
who emigrated from Scotland when times were tough in the 18th and 19thcenturies), hiking,
wildlife and winter sports. Around Loch Ness in the north of the Highlands, you can also
hunt for the Monster... or at least try.
While the sun may not always shine, the warm welcome and wonderful diversity of places,
landscapes and experiences mean that Scotland has much to offer any traveller. Sometimes
awe-inspiring and majestic, sometimes ramshackle and faded, proud yet also modest, modern
yet also ancient, eccentric yet also charming, few travellers leave Scotland unaffected by their
encounter.
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Scotland was believed to have been

founded in 843AD, and eventually expanded its borders to the area
of modern day Scotland. The early
history of the new nation was marked
with many conflicts with the English,
and also the Vikings who invaded the
north of Scotland. Today the Shetland Islands retain a strong Viking
cultural identity. Another powerful
impact on Scotlands story has been
religion. Events leading up to the
Scottish Reformation of 1560, including the destruction of the cathedral
at St. Andrews the year before, had a
strong impact on life in the country,
and led to the Presbyterian Church of
Scotland taking over from the Roman
Catholic Church as the established
state religion. It was a more strict
form of Protestantism than the Anglicanism that developed in England,
and was influenced by the teaching of
Jean Calvin which had been brought
back by John Knox. Religion would
lead to many later political and military clashes, such as the Bishops Wars
that were part of the wider civil wars
in England, Ireland and Scotland in
the 17th century.

The small village of Langbank in Scotland

The Scottish Highlands

The Government

Scotland operates a devolved government as part of the UK. Matters

internal to Scotland are controlled by
the Scottish Government, at whose
heart is the Scottish Parliament, a
unicameral legislature of 129 elected
members (known as MSPs - Members of the Scottish Parliament). The
Scottish Parliament has the power
to pass any law, except in those areas
reserved to the UK Parliament at
Westminster.

A small Cabin in the Scottish Highlands

A castle on the coast of the North Sea

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Scotland has a rich culture which is

distinct from the other nations in the
Scotland (Scots Gaelic: Alba) is a
UK, though has similarities (as is typination in north-western Europe, curcal for countries which are located close
rently one of the constituent nations of
together). Scottish people are often
the United Kingdom. It has a 60 mile
fiercely proud of their culture, which
(96km) land border with England
in the past was the target of attempts
to the south, and is separated from
to suppress it to create a sinNorthern Ireland by the
gle British culture - based on
North Channel of the
Scotland has lively
English culture. Today, in more
Irish Sea. The capital is
and friendly cities,
enlightened times, Scotlands
Edinburgh and the largest
often of great archicultural achievements are evicity is Glasgow.
tectural significance,
dent in numerous areas and are
Scotland is surrounded
and a rich history and flourishing.
by the bracing waters of
heritage dating back
The country has a great tradithe North Sea to the east,
thousands of years
tion of festivals (e.g. the Edinand the North Atlantic
burgh Festivals), literature and
with many ancient
Ocean to the west and
achievement in the arts. Since
and historic sites.
north. There are over 700
the Scottish Enlightenment that
islands, most in groups to
followed the Act of Union, it has
the west (the Inner Hebproduced some of the greatest literary
rides and Outer Hebrides) and north
personalities, thinkers and writers of
(Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands).
the world. Many ideas now seen as key
Scotland is a beautiful country
to the modern world derive from the
well-known for its dramatic scenery
work of Scottish scholars, scientists and
of mountains and valleys, rolling hills,
authors, such as Adam Smith. Scotgreen fields and forests, and rugged
tish novelists have also enjoyed success
coastline. While everyone knows
in recent times, such as Irvine Welsh.
Highlands for this, Scotland is beauScotlands great tradition of science has
tiful in the Lowlands, islands and the
produced some of the greatest scientists
flat lands of the North-East as well.
and inventors of the world, including
James Watt (pioneer of the Industrial Revolution),
John Logie Baird
(inventors of the
television) and
Alexander Fleming (discoverer of
penicillin).

Stirling Castle

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Ireland
the Beautiful
by Scott McCrey

he island of Ireland historically consists of 32 counties, of

which six, collectively known as Northern Ireland, have remained as part of the United Kingdom since the rest of Ireland
gained independence in 1922. The name Ireland applies to the
island as a whole, but in English is also the official name of the independent state (i.e., the 26 counties which are not part of the United
Kingdom), since 1921. Dublin (Baile tha Cliath) the capital and
the countrys largest city. With excellent pubs, fine architecture and
good shopping, Dublin is a very popular tourist destination and is
one of Europes most visited capitals.
Cork (Corcaigh) second largest city in the Republic of Ireland located on the banks of the River Lee. Founded c.600 by St. Finbarre
and known for good food, pubs, shopping and festivals.
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Continued on page 8

By Car

This photo was taken in Southern Ireland

By Plane

This photo was taken in Allihies, County

Cork, Ireland

Weather

There are many car hire companies in

Overall, Ireland has a mild but
Ireland and you can pick up in the cities or changeable oceanic climate with few
at the airports, though it may cost more to extremes. In Ireland you may indeed
pick up at an airport. Note that most Irish experience four seasons in one day,
car hire agencies will not accept third party so pack accordingly and keep up-tocollision damage insurance coverage when date with the latest weather forecast.
you rent a car.
No matter the weather, expect it to be
Conventional wisdom suggests renting a topic of conversation amongst the
a car that is an automatic transmission
locals.
model. This is beYou may notice
No matter the weather, expect
cause many roads in
slight differences in
Ireland are narrow,
temperature between
it to be a topic of conversation
requiring the drivthe north and south
amongst the locals.
ers full attention,
of the country, and
so an automatic
more rain in the west
transmission allows the driver to focus on compared with the east.
the road instead of the machine. However,
Regardless of when you visit Ireland,
selecting a manual transmission model will even in middle of the summer, you will
allow the driver to select a smaller vehicle more than likely experience rain, so if
which better fits the small roads and saves you intend being outdoors, a watergas without a noticeable loss of power. In proof coat is recommended.
addition, roundabouts are more common Food
in Ireland than in many other countries.
Food is expensive in Ireland, alholiday, there is always the option of hiring though quality has improved enora chauffeur driven vehicle for the duramously in the last ten years. Most small
tion with a number of companies offering towns will have a supermarket and
chauffeur tours including Kennedy & Carr many have a weekly farmers market.
Custom Travel, TSI, CIE Tours and Lynott The cheapest option for eating out is
Tours
either fast food or pubs. Many pubs
The Republic of Ireland is served by
4 international airports, Dublin, ShanxCounty Clare, Cork and Ireland West,
Knock in County Mayo. Dublin, the 8th
largest airport in Europe, is by far the
largest and most connected airport, with
flights to many cities in the US, Canada,
the UK, continental Europe and the Middle East. Shannon, close to the city of Limerick, also has flights to the US, Canada,
Middle East, the UK and Europe.

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offer a carvery lunch consisting of roasted meat, vegetables and the ubiquitous
potatoes, which is usually good value.
Selection for vegetarians is limited
outside the main cities. The small town
of Kinsale near Cork has become internationally famous for its many excellent
restaurants, especially fish restaurants.

ENGLAND
by Sarah Nolan

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ngland is the largest of the four home nations that

make up the United Kingdom. It is also the most populous of the four with almost 52 million inhabitants (roughly 84% of the total population of the UK). On the island
of Great Britain, Scotland sits to the north of England and
Wales is to the west. Northern Ireland (also part of the UK)
and the Republic of Ireland lie across the Irish Sea to west
of England (and Wales). France and the Channel Islands are
across the English Channel to the south, and to the east is
the North Sea.
Contents.
England has many outstanding landmarks and sites of
interest including: Hadrians Wall the Romans built
this 87 mile wall to protect their English outpost from
northern raiders, Isles of Scilly magical archipelago of
tiny islands off the south western coast of Cornwall, Lake
District National Park glorious mountains, lakes and
woodlands; the land of Wordsworth, and many more.
Continued on page 10

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This photo above is the British Parilemnt in

London, England

country certainly gets rain, its really

ritain is full of historic churches,
not as wet as rumour has it. London
abbeys and cathedrals, many of
alone has lower annual rainfall than
which have seen more than 1000
Paris, New York and Sydney,
years of history. Its no wonder
Its no wonder that
and its not uncommon for parts
that a rich variety of colourful
a rich variety of
of the country to go without
myths and legends have sprung
colourful myths and
rain for weeks. Parts of southern
up around some of them, ranging
England often have summer
legends have sprung
from supernatural knights testing
water restrictions due to a lack
the living to mischievous.
up around some of
of adequate rainfall during the
them, ranging from
Weather
previous winter. There is some
supernatural knights
England has been stereotyped
scope for leaving your raincoat
testing the living to
as being cold, grey and rainy since
at home, but make sure youve
mischievous.
the ancient Romans wrote home,
got one.
but this is not an entirely accurate
Traveling
picture. Temperatures rarely get
London is the start and finish point
very cold or very hot, and while the
for most international tourists. It offers

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countless museums and historical attractions. To truly experience England,

however, you must venture out of the
hustle and bustle of the capital and see
what the rest of England has to offer.
You will find the rest of England very
different to its capital city; indeed, if
you only visit London, you havent
seen England - youve seen one city
that bears few similarities with the rest
of the country.
If short on time, you may find it
more convenient to base yourself in
a regional city and take day trips to
the National Parks, coast and smaller
towns. If you have plenty of time, then
you could base yourself in a B&B (Bed
and Breakfast) in any of the above. You

will find that public transport to and

within cities and large towns is acceptable, but that in smaller places off the
beaten track then you
should research your
journey carefully, or
consider hiring a car.
Popular places to
visit include the counties of Yorkshire and
Cornwall, the National
Parks listed above, and
the historic cities such as York, Bath and
Lincoln.

The photo to the left is The London

Bridge in London, England

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