Sundials of Scotland (and other places)

Sundial Safaris (1)

A long trip around the county of Angus with some failures but also considerable success amounting to eight sundials seen.

Angus — August 2010

A local trip to the East Neuk of Fife to see three sundials in Kirkcaldy, Leven and Crail.

Fife — August 2010

Borders — September 2010

This trip to the Borders included visits to Galashiels and Melrose as well as a couple of churches in the near area - six new sundials altogether, including a surprise find.

Stirlingshire — October 2010

This was a successful trip to Stirlingshire to look for the special obelisk dial at Gartmore. It is unique in having a collar under the boss and thought by some to contain moon dials.

Glasgow — October 2010

A rare visit to the west of Scotland to look at “Kelvin’s Globe” and a detour to Cumbernauld for the obelisk sundial at Cumbernauld House.

St Andrews — November 2010

A successful trip to St Andrews on a horribly wet day seeing 4 sundials including the “missing” one which was knocked of its pedestal by a German bomb during the 2nd World War. 

St Andrews — March 2011

A visit to Dalkeith in Midlothian to see two vertical sundials on houses in the Lugton area.

Dalkeith — March 2011

Another trip to St Andrews to see the dial at Mount Melville/Craigtoun which unfortunately had been removed for safekeeping.  But I did see the Mass Dial at St Salvators and the old horizontal dial at Rufflets Country House Hotel. 

A trip to the east of Bedford to see a number of dials (including mass dials) on churches and in churchyards, whilst on a visit to my daughter and attendance at the British Sundial Society Conference.

Bedfordshire — April 2011

A journey up to Brechin where two ancient sundials can be seen in the grounds of Brechin Castle.

Brechin Castle — May 2011

A visit to Newbattle Abbey to see the two identical multi-faceted sundials followed by the short detour to Borthwick Church to see the very worn sundial there.

Midlothian — July 2011

A great trip to the west coast to Culzean Castle to see the lectern in the wonderful walled garden and on to Alloway, Prestwick, Kilmaurs and Stewarton—7 dials in total.  I missed another one in Alloway though -need to go back sometime.

Ayrshire — July 2011

A trip to Seton Palace, a private house near Haddington, a garden, a superb collegiate church and Dunbar to see some fascinating sundials.  Another great day out finishing with a superb meal at the Goblin in Gifford.  What more can you ask for!

East Lothian — July 2011   

A walk through the small village of Newstead near Melrose seeing 6 ancient sundials in the space of about 30 minutes (in the pouring rain!)

Newstead, Scottish Borders — August 2011

Another visit to East Lothian to Gosford House (the sundial was missing but the pedestal was still in place) and Greywalls Hotel designed by Edwin Lutyens, one of the most beautiful buildings and gardens that I have seen.

East Lothian — August 2011

A 3 day trip to Inverness which realised 17 sundials in 9 separate locations including stately homes, market crosses and churches including Brodie Castle, Innes House, Cromarty, Elgin, Nairn and Inverness itself.

Inverness  — October 2011   click here to see some photos from this trip

This was a wonderful visit to this school which has 11 original sundials on its walls plus another one ancient and one modern sundial in its grounds

George Heriot’s School, Edinburgh  — February 2012