00:00I'm Lily Douse and this is Grand Voyager. In this series, I travel the world to discover incredible places filled
00:10with culture, luxury and adventure.
00:13Along the way, I meet the people, taste the flavours and experience the moments that make each destination unforgettable.
00:27Today, I'm travelling to Scotland, where historic cities, proud traditions and stunning landscapes come together.
00:35From sandstone streets and dramatic views, this is a country full of character.
00:41Hello and welcome to Scotland. In this episode, I'll be exploring its wild beauty, timeless heritage and of course,
00:51vibrant culture that makes this country the muse for many storytellers.
00:57My journey begins in Edinburgh, Scotland's capital city, famous for its towering monuments and medieval castle.
01:06I'm meeting Alice, a local history enthusiast, who's going to show me around this historic city.
01:13Edinburgh is built, shaped by fire and ice. The castle sits on top of a volcanic plug and that's a
01:20glacial ridge.
01:21So the city goes up and down, up and down. Edinburgh really is a small city, big personality, a lot
01:29of dramatic scenes, but it's very, very easy to explore.
01:33We begin our walk through the city. With its tall buildings and courtyards, Edinburgh feels like something straight out of
01:40a novel.
01:41When you look at a courtyard like this and you've got all these little architectural details, you can see the
01:46date up there, 1587, and this gorgeous, rich yellow saffron colour.
01:52And they got this colour by mixing iron filings through the mix, just to get this lovely gold colour.
01:57It's the same colour they used on the King's Great Hall at Stirling Castle.
02:01And it's a marvellous little space.
02:03Edinburgh Castle is the city's most iconic landmark and has long been fought over by English and Scottish armies.
02:12Inside the castle walls, we explore the centuries-old defences and inner courtyards where daily life once took place.
02:20So this was a really important part of the castle.
02:22This is the heart of the castle, yes. You've got all the living things like blacksmithing, weapon smithing, food production.
02:27And then up here, this is where the monarchs lived.
02:31Close by is the Great Hall, a medieval space with an original wooden ceiling, historic weapons, and centuries of royal
02:40history.
02:41From here, we head to one of the castle's smallest buildings, St Margaret's Chapel.
02:47This is the oldest building in the whole of Edinburgh Castle. It's the oldest building still standing in Edinburgh.
02:52It was built in the 1100s by King David of Scotland in memory of his mother, St Margaret, Queen of
02:59Scots.
03:00As we explore the castle, it's clear how much history is stored within its walls.
03:06From here, you can just see why Edinburgh Castle is so iconic.
03:10You know, we've come up and down secret staircases, round the battlements.
03:14And you really get a feeling for how this castle is not just one building.
03:19It's a fortress, a whole fortified community living up here on the rock.
03:24And when you look out, just look at that view.
03:29Scotland is a land of castles and grand buildings shaped by centuries of history.
03:36Just outside Edinburgh city centre, Prestonfield House is one of them.
03:41Once a private residence, the hotel dates back more than 300 years and will be my base during my time
03:49in Edinburgh.
03:49Inside, it's packed with antiques, paintings, sculptures and dramatic dining rooms.
03:57Over the years, it has welcomed famous guests from prime ministers and presidents to Hollywood movie stars.
04:04If the walls and furniture could talk, I'm sure they would tell a fascinating story.
04:10The Scottish charm continues at breakfast with fresh salmon, poached eggs and crusty bread.
04:17For anyone who loves heritage, character and a touch of luxury, this hotel really does tick all the boxes.
04:31Nothing says Scotland quite like the sound of bagpipes.
04:35This instrument has been played here for centuries, often during ceremonies and celebrations or simply to welcome guests.
04:46Today, it's my introduction to Loch Cleven Castle.
04:51Hello Mac.
04:52How are you doing?
04:52What an amazing entrance for me.
04:55Oh, you're welcome, you're welcome.
04:56Gosh, that looks a very hard instrument to play.
04:59It's not easy.
05:01With the castle walls behind us, I learn why the ruins have such an important place in Scottish history.
05:08The history goes back to the kind of 13th century.
05:11Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned here for a year until she managed to escape.
05:15And she went on to many years in prison in England, eventually lost her head.
05:22Mary Queen of Scots remains at the heart of Loch Leven Castle's story.
05:27As we explore the grounds, I'm curious to find out more about the ruins and her time here.
05:33So this is the very building where Mary would have lived for a year?
05:37That's it, the tower house.
05:38Not much left, but you can make out, you know, where the floors were.
05:42There was no escape from this island.
05:44It was easy to guard, surrounded by water.
05:47And they could keep an eye on her with very few guards.
05:50Her imprisonment came at a time of deep political tension, when some viewed her as a threat to the country.
05:57So Mary would have been kept in, pretty much at the lap of luxury as far as prisoners go.
06:03And she would have had her attendants, you know, serving her as well.
06:07Today, the ruins remain closely tied to the story of Mary Queen of Scots.
06:13Leaving the island behind, Mac and I continue our journey to St Andrews.
06:18This famous coastal town is home to the oldest golf course in the world.
06:24Scotland is the home of golf and we're here at St Andrews.
06:27It is, that's right.
06:29The oldest golf course in the world.
06:30That's very impressive.
06:31It's like Holy Grail touching it.
06:33Pretty much.
06:33Sacred hallowed turf, as they say.
06:35And why is golf so important to the Scottish people?
06:39It's one of our national sports.
06:40This is the home of golf.
06:41It's very popular.
06:43And now we've been playing it for centuries.
06:46So there is a lot of history where we're standing right now.
06:49Do you feel the history?
06:50Oh, definitely.
06:50It's all around you.
06:52After hearing about the club's special place in golfing history, it's time to try it for myself.
06:59Mac shows me the basics, where even the simplest shots take a lot of practice.
07:04It's a fun way to experience the game.
07:07And of course, there's nowhere better to play golf than the home of golf.
07:13Back in Edinburgh, I'm in the mood for something creative.
07:17So I'm visiting a local workshop to make my own Scottish-inspired handbag.
07:23One of the instructors is helping me get started.
07:27Wow, this is definitely heaven for me, being in a handbag workshop.
07:32I've never heard of this anywhere in the world, so this is very special.
07:35We start by looking at the different sizes and styles of the bag in more detail.
07:40Many of them feature Harris Tweed, a traditional Scottish textile.
07:45They're all so beautiful.
07:47Like, I don't actually know how anyone decides between these different sizes.
07:51They're all incredible.
07:54Next, we look at the different materials, colours and textures.
07:58Over here, we have medium bases, medium Harris Tweed lids, top handles, straps, shoulder straps.
08:05Everything's able to mix and match as long as you try and stick to the right size.
08:10Now it's my turn to look around and pick out the pieces for my own bag.
08:15Once chosen, we start putting everything together.
08:18Why are these patterns so important to people in Scotland?
08:23Well, it's really interesting.
08:24A lot of them are based on the beautiful landscapes on the Outer Hebrides,
08:27which is just on the coast of Scotland, but it's all 100% well.
08:30Harris Tweed is actually the only material in the whole world that has its own act of parliament.
08:35So it is hand-woven in the Outer Hebrides, using no electricity.
08:40And it's a technique that's been used for, like, centuries.
08:43As we add the screws and accessories, our bags start to take shape.
08:47Definitely easier said than done. There's definitely a technique to it.
08:50But you've got to be pretty crafty.
08:53For visitors to Edinburgh, this is a perfect way to spend an afternoon.
08:58Making something personal, learning a Scottish craft and having a lot of fun along the way.
09:03This is looking amazing. I'm very proud.
09:06It looks fantastic. Congratulations. You have officially made your very old Harris Tweed bag.
09:11This is a new obsession now, getting to make handbags.
09:15Everyone's going to be so impressed. Wherever I travel, I have my amazing Islander bag.
09:20You can say, Harris Tweed made in Scotland, satchel made by Bing.
09:28Edinburgh has inspired writers and poets for centuries.
09:32To learn more, I'm meeting a local historian at an old surgical hospital with a surprising story.
09:40Where we're standing now is effectively the birthplace of the two most famous characters in fiction.
09:48I suppose you could say the world's first two superheroes.
09:52Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Lawrence.
09:53Sherlock Holmes, of course. Okay, yeah, yeah.
09:56Because this is where their creator, Arthur Conan Doyle, studied medicine.
10:00This is where he met the man who inspired Sherlock Holmes, his teacher, Dr. Joseph Bell.
10:08But the author's time here inspired more than just Sherlock Holmes.
10:12It also helped inspire his famous companion, Dr. Watson.
10:16It's really interesting to think that for all the times I've watched Sherlock Holmes, this is where the inspiration came
10:24from.
10:24The building also has a connection to poet William Ernest Henley, who was treated here and is best remembered for
10:31one of his famous poems.
10:51So you can see where Mandela was inspired by it.
10:55A short walk away is another stop on Edinburgh's literary trail.
10:59Can you see the Drummond Street sign?
11:02Well, it's behind the window, a table above the sign, above it, that JK Rowling wrote some of the early
11:09chapters of the very first Harry Potter novel.
11:11She said she liked the cafe because she could buy one espresso, probably the cheapest, sit for a couple of
11:19hours and write and write and write and write and they wouldn't throw her out.
11:23And now she can afford way more than an espresso.
11:26Yeah, yeah, way more than an espresso.
11:29Harry Potter and Sherlock Holmes are two of many characters connected to Edinburgh, a city full of history, stories and
11:38royal heritage.
11:39I've had an incredible time exploring the capital and seeing more of what Scotland has to offer.
11:46From ancient castles to breathtaking landscapes, Scotland truly has captured my imagination.
11:53But now, time for my next adventure.
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