Blair Castle Part Two - The Ducks!

Yes, we are still at Blair Castle, this is the stately pile itself, home to the 11th Duke of Atholl, who actually lives in South Africa. The 10th Duke had no children so the estate passed to his cousin.

One of the highlights of our visit to Blair Castle was the Hercules Garden, I showed you the swans in the previous post and there are more birds to see this this post, but first a little of the garden itself.

 This is Hercules looking down on his garden

 and here is what he can see!

The bridge and lily pond

Brian on the bridge

Mama Duck was in the grass with her little ducklings

"Look at me, I'm so cute!"

Mr Drake & his reflection

Mrs Duck & her wake

Scruffy Duck heads for a bath

Meanwhile over in the bull rushes....

the water was bubbling like a cauldron - eek!  A closer look and we realised that the bubbling water was actually TADPOLES!!!  It's a long time since I've seen tadpoles and never in such quantities.

Mmmmm tadpoles for lunch...

Don't worry there were plenty left when she had finished.

We sat down on a bench for me to change the lenses on my camera and were spotted by this little lady.

Well hello...sorry no food for you.

Hrrumph, I don't know what things are coming to, can't get quality tourists nowadays.

These two weren't very impressed either!

Blair Castle Part 1

On Wednesday last week we visited Blair Castle.  We started with a walk on the Estate which took us past the farm and through the forest.  The views were nothing spectacular, so I'll not share them with you.

Three times each day, a piper plays outside Blair Castle, always good for  a photo opporunity!

There was also a peacock wandering around also posing for photographs. However, no photographs could be taken inside the castle.

This huge tree is in 'Diana's Grove' 

"Diana’s Grove, a tranquil wooded area adjacent to the castle affords a unique opportunity to enjoy some of the county’s finest and tallest trees in a space of just two acres. It is also the home of a Grand Fir, the UK’s second tallest tree at 62.70 metres."

We passed the ruins of St Bride’s Kirk " which has its ancient origins in Celtic times. After the nearby Battle of Killiecrankie in 1689, the Kirk became the resting place for the remains of Viscount Dundee, (John Graham of Claverhouse, known as Bonnie Dundee)."

"Hercules Garden is a stunning 9 acre walled garden recently restored to its original Georgian design. Named after the life-sized statue of Hercules which overlooks the garden, it incorporates landscaped ponds, a folly, a Chinese bridge and an impressive orchard of more than 100 fruit trees. The glory of this garden in summer are the herbaceous borders which run along the 275m south-facing wall."

The Hercules Garden was full of ducks and a pair of swans with a signet.  They were all very tame so it was possible to get up close for photographs.

More photos coming soon.