Gwyn Brodie Shares Her Pictures of Scotland

Welcome guest author, Gwyn Brodie to History Undressed! Today she's written a post along with pictures from her travels to Scotland -- in particular Dunnottar Castle. Enjoy!

Long before becoming an author of Highland Scottish Romance, I fell in love with the Scottish Highlands. One of my favorite castles in the Highlands is Dunnottar, a medieval fortress located on a stony outcropping of land, in Stonehaven. In fact, it was Dunnottar I used as the template for Ravenskull castle, where Kade MacLachlan, the hero in "Beneath a Highland Moon," was laird. William Wallace burned down the abbey to remove an English garrison, and the castle was visited by Mary Queen of Scots and many other well known people. But its most famous place in Scotland's history was when a Scottish garrison of 70 men stood their ground against Cromwell’s army for eight months and saved the Scottish Crown Jewels.

Dunnottar is mostly ruins, with extensive restoration having been done on the drawing room.  The medieval architecture is amazing and the view of its surroundings, breathtaking. There is something about this ancient place which gives one the impression they have just taken a step back in time.  It seemed even more so when we ended up seeking shelter inside the castle during a sudden gale. While waiting out the storm pressed against the ancient stone wall, listening to the howl of the wind, feeling its strength and power as it slammed against the stones behind me—I closed my eyes and imagined myself as a resident of centuries past.

 There are so many things I love about the Scottish Highlands—the pink and lavender heather, the black-faced sheep, the wooly Highland cattle, the cascading waterfalls spouting from out of nowhere, the wisps of mist hovering around its majestic mountain peaks, the herds of red deer, the lush green grass of the glens and meadows, the mist rising from a still loch, the breathtaking view from a mountaintop—I could go on and on.  But I think Robert Burns may have said it best:

My heart's in the Highlands, my heart is not here;

My heart's in the Highlands a-chasing the deer;

Chasing the wild deer, and following the roe:

My heart's in the Highlands, wherever I go.

Dunnottar Castle 

Sea View from Dunnottar

View of the sea from inside the Dunnottar Castle

Black faced sheep.

Waterfall at Glencoe

View from Blair

Oban

Mist on the Mountain

Mist on the Loch

Glencoe

Gwyn Brodie is the author of Scottish historical romance. Visit her blog--A Little Piece of Scotland or friend her on Facebook.

After her clan's castle falls under siege, the fair-haired Lady Jillian MacRae finds a way to escape with her four-year-old brother, seeking help from the handsome Kade MacLachlan, laird and master of Ravenskull Castle. Four years past their love had been strong—until her father betrothed her to another man who was later killed. Now, it is Kade she turns to for help in regaining control of her own castle from the wicked man who has taken over and intends to marry her. Once she is again face-to-face with Kade, she realizes the love she thought she'd put aside is alive and thriving.

Kade is speechless when the beautiful Jillian offers herself to him in exchange for protecting her young brother and banishing the intruders from her castle—an offer he is more than willing to accept. He has no intention of allowing her to slip through his fingers again. And when her life hangs in the balance, he will not let anything—or anyone—stop him from saving her, even as his own life dangles by a thread.

Read it! 

Amazon: 

Beneath a Highland Moon (The Highland Moon Series 1)

Barnes and Noble:
Beneath a Highland Moon (The Highland Moon Series 1)