Callander, Scotland

 Callander is a bustling tourist town situated on the River Teith, near Stirling, and is often described as the 'Gateway to the Highlands'. The pretty town of Callander lies South of the Highland Boundary Fault which is historically a meeting point between the Highlands and the Lowlands. The town is a popular holiday destination for tourists exploring the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park or stopping off en route to the Highlands. 

The beautiful town is packed with tearooms and souvenir shops, the ideal holiday destination for the whole family. There are also a number of walks in the area which are popular with tourists and locals alike. Some examples of these are the Bracklinn Falls and the River Keltie which have mesmerised people for generations, as well as the cycle tracks which follow the old Callander to Oban railway.

Orkney Islands & Balfour Castle, Scotland

"Scotland really is a spectacular country with so much history"

Susan Eisenhower

 So far, my blog posts have been about places I have visited personally, however today's post is taking a slightly different angle by exploring the beauty of the Orkney Islands. I am yet to experience this island but hope to this summer. 

One of the prime attractions of Orkney is the rich archaeological heritage. The beautiful beaches, greenery, cliffs and wildlife are equally important too. The Orkney Islands lie just north of Mainland Scotland and is made up of around 70 islands, 18 of which are inhabited by about 21,000 people.

For visitors coming to the Orkney Islands, there are a wealth of visitor attractions ranging from archaeological sites, local museums, the Highland Park Distillery and St Magnus Cathedral.  

Travelling to Orkney is easier than you'd think, from Central Scotland there are flights, ferries, and coaches available weekly. 

Commonwealth Games 2014, Glasgow

The 2014 Commonwealth Games were held in Glasgow, Scotland from 23rd July - 3rd August. It was the largest multi-sport event ever held in Scotland with around 4950 athletes from 71 different nations competing in 18 different sports!

Sports

Athletics 

Badminton

 Boxing

 Cycling

 Hockey 

Judo 

Netball 

Rugby 

Tennis 

Triathlon and more.

Brand Identity

The full games brand identity was developed by Glasgow design studio Tangent Graphic. The official logo was inspired by three factors: time, data, and measurement. The rings are proportioned to represent the 20th Commonwealth Games, across 17 sports, over 11 days in 1 city.

Impact of The Games on Glasgow

Being the host of the Commonwealth Games 2014 did not only bring people to Glasgow but also created jobs for the people of Scotland. Glasgow 2014 is believed to have cost more than £500m to stage and the finances needed to host future events was believed to be one of the issues. 

Was Glasgow Really A Big Success?

There has been speculation over the success of The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow which The Guardian have an article on here.