Dunnottar Castle | what to see in Scotland

Dunnottar Castle | what to see in Scotland


I have decided to start a series about "what to see in Scotland." I have been to Scotland 3 times in my life, however the first time I was a newborn, so I definitely don't remember any of that trip. My moms side of the family mostly all live in and around Angus, a county on the east side of the country. My Grandma grew up in Montrose, and my Grandpa grew up around Newtyle, so I know a fair few stories about the area. Although I may be biased, I do really love Scotland a lot and I want to share some of that love with the internet! So, i've decided to start this series where I share some of my favorite places in Scotland - recommendations for travel!

In this post I will be discussing Dunnottar Castle, a rugged beauty established in 1392 on the east coast of Scotland - 3km south of Stonehaven.


Its up on a stand alone cliff, several meters above the sea. A sort of tiny peninsula if you will. This means that the hike to the castle is quite something! It isn't all that long: it starts up on the mainland cliff - you then take several stairs down to sea level where you have the option to explore a beautiful rocky beach, after walking to the base of the peninsula you begin to climb up hill on a windy path up the cliff. It doesn't seem all that daunting until you are half way up the cliff and it seems although it is never ending! I visited the castle with my Grandpa along with several other family members, and for a 76 year old, it was definitely a struggle. However if you deem yourself an averagely fit person, it should be no problem. 😊

(Stairs down from mainland to beach)

(Stone beach)

(Entrance to the Castle)

There is a small fee to enter the castle grounds, but let me tell you, it is worth it! The view of the ocean and cliffs from the castle are phenomenal. The castle itself, is beautiful as well. There are several stone buildings surrounding a lovely grass courtyard. There is even a cemetery, if you are into that kind of thing.

(Castle Grounds)

(View from Second Floor)

(Restored Room)

(Corridors)

The castle is fully accessible - you can climb towers, see the dungeon, and enter the cellars. There is a restored room which depicts how the castle would have looked in its prime. Otherwise, most of it is in ruin. In my opinion, this is what makes it so beautiful. I have always had a love for ruins.

(Pathways)

If you are headed to north eastern Scotland, I highly recommend visiting Dunnottar Castle, as it is extremely beautiful, and the location is even better. 

Stay tuned for more of "what to see in Scotland". 

Thanks for reading! xx



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Elizabeth Suzann | Review

Elizabeth Suzann | Review


If you've seen any of Elizabeth Suzann's collections, you know that her pieces are absolutely dreamy. They are made of linen, silk, and various other materials - all with the utmost care and quality.

I had my eye on the "Maxine crop" for a while, but because of the exchange rate between CAD and USD, I was hesitant. It cost 125$ USD (163$ cad) - I know, its a lot for one shirt.

(Image from Elizabeth Suzann)

When I finally decided to go ahead and order it, it was on back-order and told it would take 6-8 weeks to produce. Since Elizabeth Suzann is a small, handmade company based in Nashville, this was totally understandable. Much to my surprise, the package arrived quicker than expected! Win.


Can we take a moment to appreciate this packaging? Wow. I was totally shocked by how beautiful everything was wrapped. The attention to detail was amazing. There was a hand written card enclosed in the package thanking me for my order. Like who does that? It was so nice to receive and made me feel so special - I think this is such a nice element for a business to have. 

The shirt itself was absolutely beautiful - that 160$ price tag went from 'ouch' to 'worth it'!! I opted for the "raw silk" material, it is so comfortable to wear. It is reversible, you can chose to tie in the front and have a deep V neck, or tie it in the back like the image above. I have worn it both ways - they both work. However, when its tied in the back it is much more wearable. 

My only wish is that it could be worn with a bra. Because the tie in the back is so low, any bra clasps in the back are fully visible. I have tried to go bra-less, but it is better to wear 'stickies' so you have at least some coverage and support, if you know what I mean. 😀

It fits true to size,
the material is high quality,
customer service is great,
& the attention to detail is impeccable. 

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'Glamping' at Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site

'Glamping' at Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site

Canvas tents.
Crackling fires.
Tall trees.
& a rushing river.

These are the things you will experience during a stay at the Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site. If you are looking for a cozy forest get-away in central(ish) Alberta, this is it.



This is a picture of one of the several canvas tents available to stay in. Jason and I spent one night here, but we could have stayed a week! The canvas tents are modeled after historic 'trappers tents' which would have been used during the fur trade. There is also the option to stay in authentic tipis!

 The campsite is right along the North Saskatchewan river which has a nice riverbank to walk along. If you've seen the western legs of this river, you know its quite clear in this area - perfect for swimming!



This is what the tents look like on the inside! The bison pelt was originally on the ground but since it was pretty chilly when we stayed we decided to put it on the bed to keep us warm! It was so cozy and worked really well.

There is a large fire-pit which we cooked on, Jason prepared a lovely fish which we had with mashed potatoes, Swiss chard, and a lovely bottle of white.



In the morning, we cooked bacon and eggs in a cast iron skillet over the fire. It worked perfectly and was super delicious!



About a 10 minute walk down the path from the camping site is the historic site of a trading post. There are the remains of part of the building, as well as lots of interpretive activities and information to see! It is a beautiful place to explore.


I would highly recommend the heritage camping at Rocky Mountain National Historic Site!





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Starting Again

Starting Again


Hello and welcome to a new start. I have attempted blogging several times. The first blog I started never actually got published, and it was kind-of like a personal journal. The next blog is still out there on the internet, you can see it HERE (if you dare). It's from my high school days, and full of funny little posts about the life I was living! Fast forward several years and I started this blog, 'midst of madi' which did not last very long. Its been years since I posted on this blog - 2 to be exact! Now that I am nearing the end of my degree, I am hoping to invest more of my creative energy into this blog!

The past two years have been full of learning, and full of adventure - both good and bad.

Here is a list of the top things that have happened:

1. Perhaps the most exciting thing that has happened is that we (Jason and I) got a DOG! His name is Buddy, we rescued him from SCARS in Edmonton in February 2016. He has become a great addition to our household.



2. That brings me into the next exciting thing which has and is still happening! We are renovating a house! It is a beautiful bungalow which we have transformed into a warm welcoming modern home! It is still a work in progress, but it has come a LONG way.



3. Jason and I did quite a bit of travelling these past few years. The summer of 2015 we traveled to Oregon! It was a really fun road trip that I hope to blog about in the future.



4. Faroe Islands. We flew here during the summer of 2016, and it was the most amazing trip I have ever taken. Jason and I hiked around the islands and became fully immersed in the culture. I will most definitely write about it in the future - but for now, you can catch up on my "Faroe Islands Vlogs" which are on youtube!



5. I transferred to University! I am now a student at the University of Calgary where I am finishing up a degree in Biological Anthropology. Its been challenging, but rewarding at the same time.


Now we are up to speed!!

I hope to see you here again,
Madison. xx


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