The Old Manse of Bourtie

The OId Manse of Bourtie is remarkable and should be a Scottish national treasure...The place is such an accurate step back in time. It was built in the 1890’s and on the remaining 5 acres there is still a complete walled garden, a wild bluebell field, wild pheasants roaming the yard like chickens, ancient trees, beautiful sculptures hidden throughout... and so much old earth magic.

Marion Youngblood and Kiji own and live in the Victorian home which they have preserved. They heat with the multiple fireplaces, cook on a wood stove which also heats water in pipes which lead to both the upstairs and downstairs bathrooms. This piping system is amazingly ingenious as it gives additional warmth to the house while providing warm water where it is needed. The staircases, the stone walls, the windows, the floors, the doors are all authentic and very beautiful.  Read More

Easter Aquhorities, Inverurie, Scotland

Easter Aquhorthies was the second recumbent stone circle we saw in Scotland.  We visited it on our drive from Inverurie to Stirling.  Like every other historical monument it was in a field outside of somewhere. 

Here are the directions I found on line as I wrote this article - I laughed out loud when I read them and was really glad we had our GPS to navigate, as we still needed additional guidance once we got to the “good farm track” :-)


“How to Find Easter Aquhorthies Stone Circle, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.... Easter Aquhorthies stands about 18 miles west of Aberdeen and about two miles west of the town of Inverurie. Coming from Aberdeen, it can be reached by a road which goes off to the left from the main A96 opposite the second entrance to Inverurie and Morrison's supermarket.
 
This narrow unclassified road goes up a gentle hill and ends in a Historic Scotland car park. From here it's an easy 5-10 minute walk through fenced fields to the stone circle, firstly along a narrow tarmac road and then along a good farm track.”   Read More