THE NATIONAL COLLEGE MIHAI VITEAZUL PLOIESTI

PROJECT WORK

COORDINATING TEACHER:

STUDENT:

CRISTIANA ROTARU

CRISTINA IONITA 9M3 2009

Foreword

Scotland's turbulent history has left an enduring mark on the landscape in shape of the many castles, fortresses and tower houses that pepper the countryside.

Table of contents Blair Castlepage 1 Location and History..page 2 Like many Scottish Castles..page 3 Horse riding in Scotland...page 4 Open timespage 4 The trekking experiencepage 5 Blair Castle Tullibardine Restaurant.page 6 The Gardens..page 7

BLAIR CASTLE

Page 1

Location and History

Blair Castle stands in its grounds near the village of Blair Atholl in Perthshire, Scotland. The Castle was built in 1269 by John I. Comyn, Lord of Badenoch, a northern neighbour of the Earl of Atholl. With its roots in the 13th century, Blair Castles history extends over 740 years, during which time it was welcomed countless generations of visitors. Today people can enjoy the wild beauty of the surrounding landscape, but centuries ago it was a threatening and dangerous place. One of the first private homes to open to the public in Scotland, Blair welcomes more visitors than any other. Situated in Highland Perthshire, Blair Castle is just an hour and a halfs drive from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness. The Castle enjoys good rail connections to the South of England, and Blair Atholl railway station is serviced regularly by the Caledonian sleeper train service from London Euston.

Page 2

Like many Scottish Castles

Like many Scottish Castles, Blair Castle has a long and illustrious history, throughout which it has accumulated many fascinating historical artefacts, including antique furniture, art, period dress. Also, its many rooms feature important collections of weapons, hunting trophies, souvenirs of Murray clan and paintings collected by the Murray family over many generations. Its unique heritage makes it an unforgettable venue for all kinds of functions, from corporate events to weddings and other family celebrations. Blair Castle is one of the most accessible Scottish castles, with a variety of tours available for individuals, families and groups, including special themed castle and its history. Blair Castle makes an ideal destination for anyone looking for an interesting and fun day out in one of Scotlands most popular attractions.

Page 3

Horse riding in Scotland

Horse riding is a wonderful way to enjoy the spectacular scenery of the Highlands and as Atholl Estates prides itself on having some of the best views in the region , what better way to see them than from the back of one of their safe, steady Highland ponies? The Atholl Estates Trekking Centre is one of the oldest in the UK, having opened its doors to the public in the 1950s. Even Queen Victoria enjoyed a hack during a visit to Blair Castle, so much so she wrote about her experience of horse riding in Scotland in her diary.

Open times
The Atholl Estates Trekking Centre opens at Easter each year and continues until mid-September giving guests the oportunity to ride throughout spring, summer and early autumn, when scenery is the most impressive.

Page 4

The trekking experience

Whether you are an experienced rider, or have never been on a horse before, Atholl Estates offers challenging treks. There is a new sight and a new story around every corner and horse riding with they will give people an enhanced understanding about this wild yet fascinating country.

Page 5

Blair Castle Tullibardine Restaurant

Blair Castle Tullibardine Restaurant is located within Blair Castle, adjacent to the Banvie Hall. With space for 100, this modern restaurant serves a choice of refreshments between 10.00am and 5.00pm daily April-October. Lunch includes hot meals , many of which are typically Scottish dishes. Menu options for children are also available, including small portions of the hot meals on offer that day.

Page 6

The Gardens

Blair Castle is at a hub of designed landscape which encompasses some 2.500 acres. Most of the landscape features were established during the 18th century. Close to the castle is Dianas Grove, named for the Roman Goddess of hunting, a magnificent stand of trees originally laid out by the 2nd Duke of Atholl in 1737.Today it affords a special opportunity to enjoy some of the countrys finest and tallest trees in a space of a just 2 acres. Hercules Garden is a walled enclosure of about 9 acres developed by the 2nd Duke of Atholl in the mid 18th century. Named after the life-sized statue of Hercules which overlooks it ; the garden incorporates landscaped ponds and plantings. Other features include statues, urns, a Chinese bridge and a folly, as well as productive fruit trees, vegetable beds and herbaceous borders.

Page 7

Conclusion

Blair Castle is one of the most beautiful castles in UK that you should certainly visit.

Bibliography
http://www.athollestatessport.co.uk http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BlairCastle http://www.visitscotland.com/guide/see-and-do/visitor-attractions2/greatscottish-castles/ http://findmeacure.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/horse-riding.jpg