Scotland- Edinburgh to Gretna Green

We're just about to wrap up our time in Scotland.  I routed us to the Southwest corner of Scotland, Gretna Green as it was close to the water.  We had decided to do the Edinburgh to Heathrow section by rental car and criss cross our way across England.  The top left corner of Britain seemed like a good place to start!   In our discussions with people about where we were going next, they all, asked if we were going to get married - every one of them!  We finally learned that Gretna Green is about 200 yards on the Scotland side of the border.  Years ago the age to get married in England was 18, but  only 16 in Scotland, and you didn't need your parents permission.

Many, many couples got on trains and headed to Gretna Green to elope.  The hotel that we stayed in has several 'hide-holes' around the buildings to hide the couples for the week they had to wait while becoming a 'resident'!

We had a good laugh and enjoyed our stay in this really old, but recently refurbished hotel.  This is a big birding area, so we set out for a day of exploring.

Everyone enjoyed the falconry show so when we learned of a Red Kite feeding at a nearby farm we headed off.

A grinding wheel outside a farmhouse.

A very large bird reserve was spotted along the way, so of course, we made stop to go for a walk.

Tom walking down a tunnel of trees to a bird hide.

We then meandered our way around the shoreline to the Bellymac Farm and the kite feeding station.

If you'e ever seen the Hitchcock movie the Birds, this experience might just creep you out!  I've selected a few images of individual birds.  There were over a hundred that came down out of trees to get a piece or two of chicken that is put out once a day.

The feeder puts a bucket full of chicken parts on the table.  The birds fly in, grab a piece on the fly, and eat it on the way out.

The RSPB, Royal Scotland Protection of Birds has many reserves and sites all around the country.  They also take part in helping with breeding programs and other survival programs.  The Red Kite one was one of them.  They released 40 kites in this area.  A local resident called to ask them what was up with all the kites that they were seeing.  The RSPB said it was done on the hush hush and would the caller be interested in sitting up a 'feeding station'.  Well, many years later and $5.00 a head to watch them everyone is happy!

They are incredibly fast and can turn super quickly, doing amazing aerial maneuvers.  Getting a few shots with sharp images was pretty tricky.  Perhaps I'll do a post of my outtakes - parts of a tail, a wing tip or no bird!

We headed back to the hotel and back past some interesting beach warnings...

and we ended up going through the town of Dumfries and past the River Nith Bridge....

Just another cool bridge!

Our next leg will take us to the eastern side of England.