Buchanan Castle

This enormous stone fireplace is in the sprawling, crumbling ruins of Buchanan Castle. It's nearly big enough to walk into. On my only previous visit I was struck by how it was defying the ravages of time but looked like it deserved better treatment. I've been planning some subtle light sculpting at this magic location for about 2yrs and have been wanting to go back and tonight was the night. I finally managed to drag my butt away from the house and yet another riveting Independence debate on the telly. 
Buchanan Castle is a Category 'B' listed building that is in a ruinous state and is on the Buildings At Risk Register. This Stirlingshire estate was in the hands of the Buchanan family from the early 1200's but the line failed in the C17th and the estate was bought by John Graham 3rd Marquess of Montrose. The old house burnt down in 1850 and this new one was designed by William Burn. It is big with a 4 storey square tower, turrets and bartizans. The Dukes sold the house in 1925 and it served as a hospital in WW2. It is another of those places in that long list that housed Rudolf Hess after his flight to Scotland in 1941*. The roof was removed in 1954 and it has been getting steadily swallowed up by nature since with mature trees growing in several of the rooms and passageways. It must have been some place in its heyday.
*I will need to see if those other two well-travelled stalwarts of Scottish culture Bonnie Prince

Charlie and Mary Queen of Scots ever spent the night here.

Photos for Mum: RSPB Lochwinnoch, Burn's Memorial & Museum Alloway, LONDON

whilst on a family day out visiting the RSPB reserve at lochwinnoch the kids enjoyed the rough & ready play area. here big sister ishbel(7.5yrs) gives wee sister harriet (1yr) a ride on a swing made from an old tyre and suspended from a tree. they were spinning around and i tried to capture the fun with a rotary pan from above. it's far from perfect but i liked the energy and fun in the scene.



Alastair took this one. We were looking around the Burns Memorial down at Alloway and I was securing 1yr old Harriet into the stroller so I hung the SLR round his neck to stop it swaying round mine and bashing the pram. He opportunistically fired off in quick succession about half a dozen shots as is his wont and this was one of them. I'd left the camera in manual mode so inadvertently his shots were all high key. I really like this one. I just increased the contrast & saturation and... voila!