History…I watch and read a LOT of historical content. It’s hard to read about the Middle Ages without coming across something having to do with plague, the sweat, or some sort of massive famine. I am constantly so grateful for modern medicine, hygiene, antibiotics and vaccines!! The Black Death was the most fatal pandemic in human history. It had its peak in Europe from 1347 to 1351. Depending on your which sources you read, it is estimated it killed 30-60% of the European population. Let that sink in for a moment. That means the Black Death touched everyone, everything, and completely altered life for YEARS. Tintern Abbey was also one of the places massively effected by The Black Death. In 1349 there were NO new recruits at all to the Abbey. And the numbers of those that were there dwindled significantly. There was an such an extreme labour shortage everywhere that Tintern Abbey had to tenant out the granges (or farmland) that surrounded the area. 💚⛪️ 🏴 . . . . . #yourbritain #yourwales #scenicbritain #england #visitwales #tinternabbey #southwales #unlimitedwales #ruins #abbey #explorewales #wales #walesonline #photosofbritain #imagesofwales #capturingbritain #gothicarchitecture #cathedral #churcharchitecture #historylovers #historicbuildings #medievalarchitecture #middleages #churchesofinstagram #historicchurch #medievalworld #architecturephotography #historicarchitecture #cymru #discovercymru
There is a legend that in 1127 King David I of Scotland was hunting near Edinburgh in September during The Feast of the Cross. While he was hunting, he became separated from his men and lost his way in the forest. It is said that as King David was trying to find his way back to the path and his men a giant white stag appeared and startled his horse- throwing him to the ground. The horse bolted, frightened of the stag, and there lie the King on the ground waiting to be trampled upon or run through by the antlers of the angry stag. The story then continues that a bright light in the form of a crucifix appeared in between the antlers of the stag and as David began to reach for it the stag became frightened and ran away. Or was it light that shone through the trees in the shape of the cross that blinded the stag? Or it there is even one version of the legend that says a physical cross appeared in David’s hand and he used it to banish the stag away from him… it all depends on which source your read or what guide you happen to get at Holyrood palace. The result of this experience led King David to build a church in the very spot the stag appeared to him. The Abbey was named after the feast day – Holy Rood, or Cross. 💚🙏🏻🏰🦌🏴✨ . . . . . #monk #priory #abandoned #britishhistory #abandonedplaces #history #religiousarchitecture #historicbuilding #ruins #medieval #medievalarchitecture #historylovers #medievalhistory #abbey #castlephotography #scotland #churcharchitecture #medievalcastle #medievalart #medievaltimes #scotlandphotography #edinburgh #scottishhistory #holyrood #visitscotland #scotlandexplore #scotspirit #scotland_greatshots #scotlandlover #scotlandshots
***NEW EPISODE LINK IN BIO*** It took 3 trips, a pandemic and the loss of a very expensive drone but the new episode is HERE! Kilchurn Castle is one of Scotland’s most popular and photographed castles. Originally built in the 15th century… in this episode I tell you all about the Campbell Clan who built this castle, some fun legends and ghost stories, and even tell you about when it was struck by lightening in 1760. AND gorgeous 4K footage!! . . . . . #scottishhighlands #beautifulscotland #castles #travel #scotlandisnow #uk #lovescotland #scotlandphotography #adventure #travelgram #dronephotography #visitscotland #hiddenscotland #explorescotland #ruins #middleages #instacastles #scotlandexplore #scotland #medievalarchitecture #scotlandtravel #medievaleurope #europeancastles #castlesofeurope #historylovers #scotlandshots #scotlandlover #scotlandscenery
Isabel de Clare was 17 years old when she was betrothed to the very well known, then 43 year old, tournament knight and soldier William Marshal. William Marshal’s life is the stuff of novels (many) plays (he’s mentioned by name in Shakespeare’s King John), ballads (yes really…the ballad is called “Queen Elanor’s Confession”), and Hollywood Blockbuster films are made of. But Isabel is who I think about. Isabel’s brother died when he was 11 or 12 and she then became one of the wealthiest heiresses in Wales and Ireland. She also became the legal ward to Henry II. Henry II promised William he could marry Isabel. William had long served Henry II, and this marriage was absolutely a reward for all he that had done. Henry II soon died after this promise was made and Richard the Lionhearted, the next king, fulfilled it. They had an apparently lavish wedding in London. William Marshall’s marriage to Isabel made him go from a knight with no titles or land to one of the wealthiest men in the land. Chepstow Castle is one of the castles he inherited through Isabel. They had 10 children together. 🏰 🏴 . . . . . . . #cymru #wales #visitwales #discovercymru #discoverwales #middleages #southwales #cymraeg #ruins #igerswales #history #historyfacts #historylovers #medieval #medievalarchitecture #medievalhistory #medievalart #medievalcastle #castlesofeurope #europecastles #medievalcastle #chateau #schloss #burg #castlephotography #castello #castelli #castillo #monarchy #burgen #chepstow
Words cannot express my joy of being able to castle hunt again. Scotland, as always, you have captured my heart completely. 💚🏰🏴 . . . . . #scottishhighlands #edinburgh #scotlandisnow #lovescotland #unlimitedscotland #seacliffbeach #seascape #thisisscotland #keepitwild #scotlandhighlands #visitscotland #exploreuk #northberwick #tantalloncastle #scotlandphotography #scotland #travelphotography #hiddenscotland #castle #gameofthrones #historicbuildings #historicarchitecture #medievalarchitecture #medieval #medievaltimes #medievalworld #tantalloncastle #замок #naturephotography #naturelovers
Scarborough castle… oh how glorious it is to behold on the North Yorkshire coastline. This castle has been a major strategic fortress for quite literally centuries. It’s position helped guard the against invaders from both Scotland and Europe and protected ports and trade. It has been a prison and was even bombed in World War I. And in WWII it was used as a listening post. Talk about longevity! 💚🏰🏴 . . . . . #yorkshirecoast #castle #castles #history #northyorkshire #castlephotography #oldarchitecture #britishroyalty #medievalhistory #beautifularchitecture #medievalarchitecture #historicalbuildings #scenicbritain #history #architecture #medievalworld #historichouses #historicplace #medievalstyle #historiamedieval #medievaltimes #medievalcastle #medieval #historyfacts #ruins #yorkshire #anglosaxon #historygeek #visitengland #explorebritain
Glastonbury Tor… where myths, legends, and spirituality meet on the top of a hill. It’s considered to be one of the spiritual sites in England. Deep in the hill, it was once believed, there was a cave that you could go in to and enter the realm of fairies. It was also believed that Jesus’ uncle brought the Holy Grail here. Christ was also thought to have visited here with Joseph of Arimathea as a boy. Even the great King Arthur is thought to have visited here after his last battle and monks in Glastonbury have said they found his grave all the way back in 1191. And if you come at just the right time… you might just believe in all the magic that so many for the last 1000 years have come here to find. . . . . . #glastonbury #glastonburytor #avalon #somerset #visitsomerset #loveforsomerset #ilovesomerset #igerssomersetuk #igersuk #bbcwest #ukpotd #gloriousbritain #photosofbritain #landscapephotography #worldtravelbook #ukscenery #priestess #kingarthur #knightsoftheroundtable #pagan #paganism #holygrail #knightstemplar #visitengland #history #travelphotography #wondersoftheworld #arthur #magick
La la la…. don’t mind me. Just photographing mountains in Scotland! 💚⛰ . . . . . #getoutside #ig_scotland #ilovescotland #yourscotland #lovescotland #scotland #igscotland #thisisscotland #explorescotland #scotlandisnow #landscapephotography #scotlandexplore #beautifulscotland #landscape #scotlandtravel #unlimitedscotland #scotlandshots #scotlandsbeauty #highlands #scottishlandscapesphoto #hiddenscotland #scotlandphotography #naturephotography #instascotland #scottishhighlands #scotlandscenery #scotlandhighlands #scotlandlover #scotspirit #scotland_greatshots
This is how much care they took to build THE BASEMENT of Battle Abbey. I constantly marvel at the incredible time, craftsmanship and effort that went in to building these magnificent structures. The people who built some of these abbeys literally gave their lives to do so. Generations of labour are in these stones. You can tell that truly wanted every inch of their place of worship to be something special… because friends, my basement doesn’t look this good… and it definitely doesn’t inspire me to think about the mysteries of the universe. But this sure does! 💚⛪️🏴 . . . . . #yourbritain #scenicbritain #england #ruins #abbey #photosofbritain #capturingbritain #gothicarchitecture #cathedral #churcharchitecture #historylovers #historicbuildings #medievalarchitecture #middleages #churchesofinstagram #historicchurch #medievalworld #architecturephotography #historicarchitecture #battleabbey #sussex #architectureporn #religiousarchitecture #churchesoftheworld #oldchurch #history #historicbuildings #historybuff
See guys. I can still take a landscape photo. And guess what. I did this on my iPhone. Why? Because I forgot I took my SD card out of my camera. So I hiked all the way to Wistman’s Wood with a tripod and then… I. Couldn’t. Take. A. Photo. With. My. DSLR. There was no freaking way I was going to miss this awesomeness. So, I pulled out my phone and here you go. Also…. If 2020 could have an image it might be this. 💚 🌳 🏴 . . . . . #hiking #explorebritain #countryside #dartmoorphotos #countryfile #walkswithnature #godartmoor #lovedartmoor #uknature #iglandscape #ilovelandscapes #landscapelover #landscapephotography #dartmoornationalpark #naturelovers #devonlife #ukhikers #intothewoods #instaengland #livefortheadventure #visitdartmoor #naturephotography #visitdevon #landscape_perfection #devon #devonscenery #getoutside #dramaticdevon #50shadesofnature #forestphotography
*****LINK IN BIO TO WATCH NEW EPISODE*****This is my absolutely most favorite ruin in England. Spectacular is an understatement. I love it so much I made a whole episode about it. I’m so proud of this episode. Dare I say it’s my favorite episode yet? It would mean beyond the world to me if you give it a wee watch. Happiest Holidays to you my amazing friends! 💚 ⛪️ 🏴 . . . . . #churchesofinstagram #historicchurchesofinstagram #architecture #architecturephotography #kirche #oldchurch #churchmypassion #churchesoftheworld #churcharchitecture #abandonedchurchesofinstagram #churchphotography #medieval #medievalarchitecture #medievalhistory #ruins #ancientruins #history #hisotrylover #historylovers #middleages #catholicchurch #churchofengland #churchphotography #fiftyshades_of_nature #abandonedplaces #urbexphotography #urbexuk #amazingplaces #traveldeeper #historygeek
Finally a Friday that gets the right the adjective in front of it! Happiest Good Friday my amazing friends…. see I can take pictures of castles and they can look happy! With flowers even! The glorious castle is now a college… can you imagine going to school every day here?! Sign me up!! . . . . . #eastsussex #herstmonceuxcastle #historiansofinstagram #travelphotography #bestcastles #castlegram #placesoftheworld #visitbritain #landscapelovers #historicalplaces #travelengland #castlephoto #medievalcastle #castlephotography #castles #history #architecture #castles_oftheworld #castlesofengland #schloss #castello #natgeotravel #castle #castlemypassion #burg #naturephotography #placestovisit #historicalbuildings #beautiful_destinations #castleview
What do you think they were wearing when they walked down these stairs? 🏰💚 . . . . . #medievalarchitecture #main_vision #medievalfantasy #awesome_earthpix #natureaddict #rsa_rural #awesomeearth #nature_wizards #gottalove_a_ #allnatureshots #instanaturelover #earth_deluxe #instapassport #aroundtheworldpix #ig_masterpiece #campinassp #flashesofdelight #travelog #mytinyatlas #visualmobs #theglobewanderer #forahappymoment #exploringtheglobe #lovegreatbritain #visitengland #photosofengland #englandtrip #photosofbritain #englandtourism #castle
I couldn’t help but post a fantastic abbey ruin on the first day of Lent. I didn’t grow up Catholic… but I did go to an all girls private Catholic college for a year before I transferred to UCLA. It was then that I began “giving up something for lent” – usually diet soda or something akin to that. But the Medieval Monk would have gone through a season of fasting and penance that the modern person would shudder at today. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday were “black fasts” with no food consumed at all on those days. On all the other days of Lent food was not consumed until 3pm which was considered “the hour of our Lord’s death.” Water, watered down beer as well as watered down wine were allowed for beverages during the 40 (really 46 days if you count the Sundays) day fasting period. The Monks would not be allowed eggs, dairy, meat, cheese, cream, or animal fats of any kind. Lent would then culminate with the Triduum: the 40-hour fast lasting from sundown on Maundy ‘commandment’ Thursday all through to the middle of the day on Holy Saturday. That makes intermittent fasting seem like Mardi Gras if you ask me! . . . . . #monk #priory #landmarks #abandoned #britishhistory #rievaulxabbey #abandonedplaces #history #religiousarchitecture #historicbuilding #ruins #lent #yorkshire #visitengland #medieval #medievalarchitecture #historylovers #england #medievalhistory #abbey #catholiclife #englishhistory #churchphotography #churcharchitecture #medievalcastle #medievalart #medievaltimes
Remember that one time I randomly found an abandoned ruined church on the side of the road? And remember that I didn’t have my camera with me?!? Yep. That was an awesome day. Thank heaven for cellphones. Because there was no way I wasn’t going to document this somehow. It took some digging but I ultimately found out this is All Saints church in Billockby, Norfolk. The crack you see here is from a bolt of lightening from 1762!! . . . . . . . #norfolk #churcharchitecture #ruins #churchphotography #medievalarchitecture #medievaltimes #castles #aband0n_all_h0pe #grime_lords #glitz_n_grime #forgotten #ig_abandoned #urbanexploring #ig_captures_decay #ig_urbex #beautyindecay #urbex_supreme #urbex_utopia #urbexworld #urbexphotography #grime_nation #abandonedbuilding #kings_abandoned #the_relics #abandoned_junkies #rurex #urbex_rebels #abandonedhouse #abandon_seekers #abandonedworld
Start the year as you mean to begin! Happy New Year dearest friends. Thank you for accompanying me on my many many adventures this past year! May 2021 be bright, full of joy, and a perhaps even an adventure or two that reignites the magic inside of you! 💚🏰⭐️ . . . . . #historylesson #medievalarchitecture #abandonedplace #medievalfortress #castles #castleruins #historicplaces #aband0n_all_h0pe #grime_lords #glitz_n_grime #ig_abandoned #urbanexploring #ig_captures_decay #ig_urbex #beautyindecay #urbex_supreme #urbex_utopia #urbexworld #urbexphotography #naturephoto #main_vision #landscape_captures #awesome_earthpix #natureaddict #rsa_rural #awesomeearth #nature_wizards #gottalove_a_ #allnatureshots #instanaturelover
There is a legend that says: When Saint Baldred died there was a dispute between three different parishes as to where he should be buried. A holy man gave the advice that they should all pray about it and then come to a decision. The next morning 3 bodies were found – all exactly the same, and wrapped in its funeral sheets – leaving each parish to claim that Saint Baldred had been laid to rest there. It is rumored that one of the Saint Baldred bodies was buried at Auldhame Castle. Me. I just thing this doorway standing in the middle of a forest is miracle enough. 💚🏴🏰 . . . . . #scottishhighlands #beautifulscotland #castles #travel #scotlandisnow #uk #lovescotland #scotlandphotography #adventure #travelgram #dronephotography #visitscotland #hiddenscotland #explorescotland #ruins #middleages #instacastles #scotlandexplore #scotland #medievalarchitecture #scotlandtravel #medievaleurope #europeancastles #castlesofeurope #urbex #scotlandshots #scotlandlover #scotlandscenery
I love Tioram Castle so much. For me history comes alive when I learn about the people involved with the buildings I capture. There are quite a few women with amazing stories associated with Tioram as well as Lairds with a bit of a temper. In 1996 the castle was put for sale on the market for £100,000 and ended up being purchased for £300,000 by a private owner in 1997. The owners want to make it a private residence and a legal and planning permission battle has been going back and forth for the last 23 years with Historic Scotland. For more information on this beauty go to: www.queenofthecastles.com . . . . . #loves_scotland #scotlandshots #scotlandhighlands #insta_scotland #brilliantscotland #ilovescotland #castlesofscotland #wonderlustscotland #historicscotland #scotlandexplore #scotland_ig #simplyscotland #explorescotland #yourscotland #scotland #discoverscotland #beautifulscotland #scotlandphotographer #middleages #loch #castle #castleruins #medieval #medievalarchitecture #history #medievalworld #medievalhistory #urbexphotography #dronephotography #dronestagram
Buchanan Castle has to be one of my absolute favorite finds in the history of my castle hunting. In 1954 the roof was removed off of this building as to avoid taxes being paid on the already heavily deteriorating relic. Look out for a reel on this where I tell you the absolutely most amazing part of this history of Buchanan Castle. 💚🏰🏴 . . . . . #aband0n_all_h0pe #grime_lords #glitz_n_grime #forgotten #ig_abandoned #urbanexploring #ig_captures_decay #ig_urbex #beautyindecay #urbex_supreme #urbex_utopia #urbexworld #urbexphotography #naturephoto #main_vision #landscape_captures #awesome_earthpix #natureaddict #rsa_rural #awesomeearth #nature_wizards #gottalove_a_ #allnatureshots #instanaturelover #scotspirit #ig_scot #visitscotland #loves_scotland #insta_scotland #castle
I have a running joke that any ruin I really love has probably been painted or sketched by Turner. And what makes this hike even more amusing is I NEVER know that Turner had been to these properties until well after I have been there. You’d think I’d just look up all the ruins Turner painted and go there. But that wouldn’t be as fun would it? Smailholm Tower has another incredibly famous person associated with it as well: Sir Walter Scott. Scott apparently spent quite a bit of time here as a boy with his grandfather. Two of his works have Smailholm as the background setting. Because of Walter’s poetry of the Tower, his Uncle ended up restoring the tower in the 1800s to make it safe. William Turner actually visited Smailholm WITH Sir Walter Scott, and sketched the tower for Scott’s book “Poetical Works.” . . . . . #aband0n_all_h0pe #grime_lords #glitz_n_grime #forgotten #ig_abandoned #urbanexploring #ig_captures_decay #ig_urbex #beautyindecay #urbex_supreme #urbex_utopia #urbexworld #urbexphotography #naturephoto #main_vision #landscape_captures #awesome_earthpix #natureaddict #rsa_rural #awesomeearth #nature_wizards #gottalove_a_ #allnatureshots #instanaturelover #scotspirit #ig_scot #visitscotland #loves_scotland #insta_scotland #focalmarked
Castles on coasts make me swoon. This is actually two castles in one and is considered to be the early ancient seat of the Sinclair Clan. This castle had some colorful owners one of which was George the 4th Earl of Caithness. It is alleged that George concocted a plan to have the Aunt of the 11th Earl of Sunderland, Isobel Sinclair, poison her nephew, his wife and his family. The all would allow Isobel’s son to inherit the Earldom of Sunderland so then the lands could be seized by the Sinclair’s. Poisoning, however, can be tricky business… Isobel accidentally poisoned her own son along with the rest of the guests at the banquet EXCEPT the true heir to the Sunderland Earldom who was able to escape. Oops. Isobel Sinclair was convicted of murder and sentenced to execution. She ended up committing suicide the night before her execution was to take place. 🏰🏴 . . . . . #aband0n_all_h0pe #grime_lords #glitz_n_grime #historylovers #ig_abandoned #urbanexploring #ig_captures_decay #ig_urbex #beautyindecay #urbex_supreme #urbex_utopia #urbexworld #urbexphotography #castleruins #main_vision #landscape_captures #awesome_earthpix #natureaddict #rsa_rural #awesomeearth #nature_wizards #gottalove_a_ #allnatureshots #instanaturelover #scotspirit #ig_scot #visitscotland #loves_scotland #insta_scotland #medievalhistory
Castle Varrich is the long ago seat of Clan Mackay. The Castle history has lots possibles, maybes and might-have-beens. It might be on a Norse site from the 11th century. Castle Varrich lies in the Kyle of Tongue and the name “Tounge” is believed to come from the Norse word “Tunga” which means tongue of land at the nesting of two rivers. It’s also said that there are possibly caves beneath the Castle that the Mackays lived in. It might been owned by the Bishop of Caithness before it belonged to the Mackays as a stoping point that he stayed in between his two properties. It might have been a tower, maybe a look out? What it definitely is is a 16th century tower that was a reconstruction of an earlier structure and was abandoned before the 18th century. And it’s definitely stunning. Especially when the clouds cooperate. 🏰 🏴 💚 . . . . . #scotlandtrip #highlands #scotlandshots #visitscotland #scottishhighlands #scotlandexplore #yourscotland #vanlife #immerseyoursenses #scotspirit #drivescotland #lovescotland #northcoast500 #nc500route #beautifulscotland #hiddenscotland #homeiswhereyouparkit #scotland #simplyscotland #thisisscotland #loch #scottishhills #scottishtourism #castle #medievalarchitecture #ruins #naturephotography #historymemes #medievaltimes #castel
************LINK IN BIO************** Hooray!!!! 🎉 A new episode of Queen of the Castles finally is out!! It only took us 4 months to make!!! This episode is jam packed with a gorgeous castle and some SERIOUS Drama!! I tell you all about how a family went from having EVERYTHING to having nothing. Complete with murder, intrigue, ghosts, some of the most famous people in English history! . . . . . #bathsomerset #somersetlife #somerset #lovesomerset #igerssomersetuk #castlephotography #oldarchitecture #britishroyalty #medievalhistory #beautifularchitecture #medievalarchitecture #historicalbuildings #scenicbritain #history #architecture #medievalworld #historichouses #castle #historicplace #droneshots #medievalstyle #historiamedieval #medievaltimes #medievalcastle #medieval #historyfacts #ruins #englishcountryside
In my stories today I posted some photos that I had never posted of church interiors in some of the great Cathedrals of the U.K. (PS if you’re not a big story watcher .. I post tons of live video from hikes I do and also when I go to historical sites. I usually talk about the history and say WOW look at this a lot 😉) In that spirit of posting something a little different … This is the ruin of the old water mill at Stourhead near Alfred’s Tower in Wiltshire. I took this photo the same day I shot the episode on King’s Alfred Tower for Queen of the Castles. It’s still ruin so I didn’t go toooo crazy! . . . . . #coloursofbritain #wearederbyshire #nationaltrust #landscapephotography #itsprimupnorth #canonphotography #naturephotography #countrywalking #loveforwiltshire #beautifulbritain #everyoneneedsnature #visitcotswolds #visitwiltshire #timeforwiltshire #nature #prettylittleengland #nationaltrustmember #englishgarden #stourhead #gloucestershiregems #nationaltrustgardens #countrysidewalk #garden #igerswiltshire #bbcengland #naturelovers #wiltshire #nationaltrustsouthwest #daysoutuk #countrysidewalks
