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Tag: historic scotland

Posted on30 June 20249 November 2024Travels, Adventures & Explorations

Scotland with American friends

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Scotland with American friends

It’s been a busy month of entertaining American guests here at Castle Ryan. My first overnight guest, Jo, showed up the first week of June.…

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Posted on22 August 20203 May 2023Fitness & Exercise, Travels, Adventures & Explorations

Bathans, brochs, and beyond

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Bathans, brochs, and beyond

Another day, another adventure! This time it was a visit to Abbey St Bathans and Edin’s Hall Broch in the Scottish Borders. I had never…

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Posted on8 August 20204 July 2021Everyday Life, Travels, Adventures & Explorations

All hail Hailes Castle

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on All hail Hailes Castle

Today’s adventure to Hailes Castle took a week to complete, but as the focus of the adventure took more than 300 years to build, a…

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Posted on16 July 20204 July 2021Fitness & Exercise, Travels, Adventures & Explorations

The Castlelaw caper

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on The Castlelaw caper

Last night I enjoyed a climb to the top of my favourite “easy” hill in The Pentlands, Castlelaw. It marks the first time I’ve been…

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Posted on26 December 201824 March 2023Fitness & Exercise, Travels, Adventures & Explorations

Climbing Castlelaw

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Climbing Castlelaw

For my Boxing Day adventure, I decided to revisit one of my favourite “quick” walks: Castlelaw Hill, in the Pentland Hills by way of the Castlelaw hill fort and souterrain. The…

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Posted on12 January 201830 July 2021Everyday Life, Travels, Adventures & Explorations

The travelling girls

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on The travelling girls

My lovely nieces, Virginia and Krystyne, returned to America last Friday after their first-ever international adventure, and I think I am just about recovered from the…

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Posted on22 July 201729 July 2021Travels, Adventures & Explorations

Back to Blackness

by Just Frances2 Comments on Back to Blackness

I was invited out for a mini-adventure with a friend and her kids. And as you know, I can rarely turn down an offer for…

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Posted on20 February 20173 May 2023Travels, Adventures & Explorations

Bordering on 43

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Bordering on 43

This past weekend was my birthday weekend, so I enjoyed a wee road trip to the Scottish Borders to explore in and around Kelso. It was a great…

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Posted on11 February 201729 July 2021Travels, Adventures & Explorations

A visit to Crookston Castle

by Just Frances2 Comments on A visit to Crookston Castle

I’ve been away in Glasgow house and cat sitting for the past week. And as the ruined Crookston Castle is only a mile away, I decided it…

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Posted on24 January 201729 July 2021Travels, Adventures & Explorations

A Dunfermline day

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on A Dunfermline day

I spent a day in Dunfermline over the weekend and am now wondering what took me so long to make the journey*. After all, it’s only a…

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Posted on8 October 201628 July 2021Fitness & Exercise, Health & Wellness, Travels, Adventures & Explorations

Banishing the gloom at Castle Campbell

by Just Frances2 Comments on Banishing the gloom at Castle Campbell

I spent today doing vital ankle rehabilitation work, in the form of walking to and from Castle Campbell in the hills above Dollar. It was a much-needed outing…

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Posted on16 July 201628 July 2021Travels, Adventures & Explorations

A Dunblane day

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on A Dunblane day

A couple of weeks ago, I visited The Kelpies with my friend Caroline, and we decided that we’d try to get together for some more summer…

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Posted on20 February 201628 July 2021Fitness & Exercise, Health & Wellness, Travels, Adventures & Explorations

Tantallon to end

by Just Frances4 Comments on Tantallon to end

Today is the start of my birthday weekend, and my last day as a 41-year-old woman. So to celebrate, I’ve taken myself away for the weekend.…

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Posted on15 November 201513 May 2024Everyday Life

A historic half and half

by Just Frances2 Comments on A historic half and half

I spent yesterday at the Holyrood Park Education Centre, getting educated on whisky and beer pairings as part of Historic Scotland’s inaugural “Half and Half” event. The…

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Posted on18 October 201527 July 2021Travels, Adventures & Explorations

A haunted tower?

by Just Frances4 Comments on A haunted tower?

I was invited to be someone’s guest for a wedding yesterday evening, and he suggested that I pick a castle (or something) for us to…

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Posted on4 October 201527 July 2021Travels, Adventures & Explorations

A day at Dirleton Castle

by Just Frances2 Comments on A day at Dirleton Castle

I spent yesterday exploring Dirleton Castle with a friend. It’s one of the nearby castles I’ve wanted to see for quite some time and I was so…

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Posted on5 September 201527 July 2021Fitness & Exercise, Travels, Adventures & Explorations

A very a-peel-ing day

by Just Frances4 Comments on A very a-peel-ing day

I was chatting with my friend Iris yesterday and learned that she’d never been to, or heard of, Linlithgow. And as it’s one of my…

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Posted on4 July 201526 July 2021Everyday Life

An American flag in Scotland

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on An American flag in Scotland

Today is Independence Day in America; the day we stood up against The Crown to demand self-rule. As a proud American, this is a very important day for me.…

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Posted on17 May 201525 July 2021Health & Wellness, Travels, Adventures & Explorations

A religious day in Glasgow

by Just Frances2 Comments on A religious day in Glasgow

I went to Glasgow for a bit of museum-ing yesterday as part of my efforts to get out of the house a bit more. I didn’t have…

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Posted on4 January 201524 July 2021Fitness & Exercise, Travels, Adventures & Explorations

Castles and hillforts

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Castles and hillforts

Between yesterday and today, I’ve managed to get a bit of walking and sightseeing in. It’s been a great way to spend my first weekend…

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About Just Frances

Just Frances is a personal website maintained by me, Frances Ryan. I am a quirky runner, writer, thinker, drinker, crafter, adventurer, and researcher. I am also a daughter, sister, aunty, friend, and widow. But mostly, I am just Frances. (She/Her)

I blog about my life, including my travels and adventures, my experiences with PKD and ITP, my life as a young(ish) widow, and my life in general, really. Learn more about the topics I write about here.

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