Commercial Real Estate

Looking at Castles in Scotland

There are many, many castles in Scotland. There are so many, the most difficult thing is picking out which ones you have the time to see in one trip.

There are over 250 castles and fortified houses in Scotland. So which ones should you visit? One way to go about this is to pick one region of Scotland and visit just the castles that are located in that specific region.

There are 16 regions in Scotland, including Aberdeen, Lothians, Ayrshire, Wigtown, Kirkcudbright and Dumfries, and the Inverness Sea area.

Many of these castles are hundreds of years old. And some are even over a thousand years old. Therefore, there will be different styles to look at and learn about.

Some of these castles even have accommodations within or around the castle grounds, making your historical castle experience even richer.

Or you could even pick a couple of regions to visit, if you want to explore a little further.

In the region of Wigtown, Kirkcudbright and Dumfries you could visit Abbott’s Tower, Threave, Wreath’s Castle, or Feather.

Or in the Inverness Sea region you can stay at the Dalcross Castle while exploring Glengarry Castle, Urquhart, Daviot, and Cluny.

No matter which way you decide to see the castles of Scotland, you’re sure to have a fun and educational time.

Spring in Glasgow: March

The month of March in Glasgow is known for one thing and one thing only: the Glasgow International Comedy Festival. For one month, from the sixth through the twenty-third, laughter is heard all throughout the city.

The festival began in 2002 and has been growing every since. The festival showcases comedic talent from all around the world. There are 350 shows at 40 venues. Barely under 100,000 tickets will be sold (right at 99,000) for this year’s festival.

There is plenty of good and bad talent there, as well as well-known and hardly known talent there, as well. You can enjoy plenty of stand-up comedy, children’s shows, or even some comedy-on-the-move.

Comedy-on-the-move sets include different kinds of comedy sets but are essentially comedy tours. These tours tend to start out at one location, or tavern, and lead the entire crowd from location to location. There is much to enjoy at the Glasgow International Comedy Festival.

What to do in Glasgow: February

There are two major events to be entertained by while in Glasgow, Scotland during the month of February. There’s the Glasgow Film Fest and the Scotland International Festival of Live Arts.

This year, the Glasgow Film Festival will last from Feb. 14 through Feb. 24, and the Scotland International Festival of Live Arts (better known as the New Territories Festival) will be held from Feb. 6 until March 8.

The Glasgow Film Festival shows all sorts of films, from silent films to Hollywood blockbusters. They show small upcoming stars of the independent scene to well-known, internationally-known celebrities. There’s a little something for everyone at the Glasgow Film Festival.

The New Territories Festival is held in the Tramway Building and showcases a fresh array of new talent featuring experimental performances, video and art installations, and music from around the world.

This year’s performances feature Rui Horta, Compagnie Thor, Goat Island, Tedd Robinson and the 10 Gates Dancing, Inc, Kurt Hentschlager, and the Societas Raffeallo Sanzio. All of the performances are sure to expand the mind and open up a whole new world of art to anyone who experiences it.

Seeing Wales on a Barge

There are many different things to do and see when you’re visiting Wales. But there is one unique thing that you can do that creates a very different experience than the kind most people will have while in Wales.

Try out riding through the Wales’ canal, Llangollen, on a barge. Barges are typically used to carry large bulk items from one place to another over water. Barges usually are not self-propelling. They have a tugboat that carries them.

Yet, in Wales there are Llangollen canal barge tours. Visitors can hop on a barge and see much of rural Wales this way.

Llangollen flows through northeast Wales and takes you into two tunnels and under two aqueducts – the Chirk Aqueduct and the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.

You can also stop off at one of the many old Celtic pubs alongside the canal and take in some of the rustic culture and beer.

Also along this canal is Castle Dinas Bran, which legend has says was the hiding place of the Holy Grail during the middle ages. Despite this, many locals still believe that the Holy Grail is still hidden there beneath the castle itself.

The wildlife in Wales is also very beautiful and is worth taking the barge canal. Of the 62 butterfly species in the United Kingdom, Wales has 32 of them.

So when thinking about seeing Wales, think about seeing it on a canal barge.

Having Fun in Glasgow: January

Lasting for nearly a month is the Celtic Connections festival, which takes place all throughout Glasgow in the month of January. The dates for this year’s festival are Jan. 16 to Feb. 3.

This music festival began in 1994. The focus of the festival is bringing people the pleasure and education of listening to their Scottish roots. For almost a month the best of the best of Scotland’s traditional music scene flock to Glasgow to perform, listen and learn.

The first year the festival began, it brought in 32,000 visitors. Now, the festival brings in more than 100,000 eager visitors to the multiple venues in the city.

This year, the festival will have 12 venues open. While traditional Scottish music is the focus of the festival, other popular roots and world musicians are also invited to perform.

Along with all of the highly-anticipated performances, the festival also puts on classes and workshops. An important part of the festival is the component of education and carrying traditions down throughout generations and families.

This festival is fun for all ages and types – no matter if you’re a practiced and performing artist or just a great admirer of the arts and music.

Winter in Glasgow: December

December in Glasgow is almost too much to handle in one month. Glasgow’s Winterfest activities start on November 23rd and lasts through the rest of the year, with their Hogmanay ending the season’s great events.

The Christmas lights are turned on in George Square on November 24th. Along with the lights turning, fireworks are set while bands play music throughout the night.

On the same night the George Square ice rink fills up with everyone dancing on ice. Glasgow in Ice Rink stays open until the beginning of January (only closed on Christmas Day) and is open from 10 in the morning to 10 at night, so that everyone gets a chance to have fun on the ice while the lights twinkle all around.

Beginning on Nov. 23rd, Radiance begins. This International Festival of Light transforms buildings throughout the city into a path of lights that are scattered all around in the city. There are also free standing light sculptures that are on display during Radiance, which lasts until the 25th of November.

On November 30th, St. Andrew’s Day, Shindig on the Square is held. This day is a free music festival that lasts all day long, which is held for fun and to celebrate the patron saint of Scotland. Also happening during the extent of Winterfest, is Santa’s Grotto and the Festive Market, which is a shopper’s paradise for the holidays.

The ultimate event of Winterfest is Hogmanay, where everyone gathers in George Square to listen to the best and latest bands of Scotland while thinking about the past year’s events and making New Year’s resolutions.

Walking Down the Streets of Glasgow: November

When walking down the streets of Glasgow in November, two events that you will without a doubt want to attend are the Annual Pantomime performances and the Whiskey Live celebration.

Pantomime has always held a special place in the hearts of the Scottish, especially in Glasgow where there has been a long tradition of classy performers. The first recorded pantomime dates to 1751. In the 1930’s the art began to gain popularity. Pantomime is aimed at children – as it is often children’s first experience of the theatre. Yet, everyone from one year old to 100 years can enjoy any of the many performances during the Glasgow Pantomime season.

Whiskey Live is held every year at the beginning of November. This festival is the whiskey tasting event of year and is held everywhere around the world. Experts are always on hand with advice and help for the enthusiasts and novices that attend the event.

Along with those just there to taste whiskey, there are also producers, distillers, and marketers of whiskey. There are also workshops being held during the festival for those who want to learn more about whiskey and how to incorporate whiskey properly with food. This is a memorable festival for whoever attends.

Fall in Glasgow: October

The main event happening in October, other than little kids running around in costumes and murder mystery tours and dinners being held during Halloween, is the Glasgay Festival. This event is a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) festival that begins around early October and lasts until around early November. To date the festival is the United Kingdom’s largest festival for the LGBT community.

The festival began in 1993 and now attracts more than 25,000 visitors each year. Events at the festival include top acts and new artists from the world in the mediums of comedy, music, film, visual, performance and community art, theatre, education, literature and the club scene. In the past year, the festival has commissioned new writing, adaptations and revivals of major works.

This is one festival, you should not miss. It is full of the top artists from the world as well as emerging artists from the United Kingdom. Although the festival’s events are not free, there are many opportunities to see any of the amazing acts.

Taking a Look at London

There is plenty to see in London - that is for sure. But just what you do see is up to you. Here is just a little sprinkling of what there is to see and do while in London.

Tower of London: Officially known as Her Majesty’s Palace and Fortress the Tower of London, the Tower’s main function was as a fortress, palace and prison when it was still in use. Created in 1078 by William the Conqueror, the Tower is a must-see while in London.

Buckingham Palace: This is the official London residence of the British monarchy. It was built in 1703, originally for the Duke of Buckingham. But it was taken by George III as his official place of residency.

Westminster Abbey: This Gothic Cathedral was originally constructed between the years 1045 and 1050. It is the traditional place where the English monarchs have their coronation and burial.

Tower Bridge: Named after its closeness to the Tower of London, the Tower Bridge was finally opened in 1894 after many years of planning and construction.

Palace of Westminster (Parliament): One of the largest Parliaments in the world, the palace has 1,200 rooms and 100 staircases. It was built around 1016 has been the center of many major historical events.

British Museum: Established in 1753, it is a history of culture and history. It holds over 13 million objects, so there is much to pick from.

St. Paul’s Cathedral: Designed by Christopher Wren, the contemporary cathedral was created in 1697. The cathedral has long been a part of the London skyline and is often a landmark for visitors.

Real Estate Investing in Cardiff, Wales

When you choose to invest in property in Cardiff or in other parts of Wales you will be making a very important decision, and when wisely done will get you a number of benefits such as creating long term wealth. Also, investing in Cardiff real estate need not mean that you have to buy the property and live in it, because there are many options available to you such as buying small apartment that can be rented out further.

Also, when you invest your money in real estate in Wales, you get to see your capital grow and there are also a number of tax advantages to take advantage of. You can be sure that your money is going to grow and Cardiff and Wales has seen a lot of escalation in property values unlike cities such as New York or those in California that see occasional boom periods.

Also, when you invest in property in Cardiff or in other parts of Wales, you will have a protection against inflation since the value of your property will appreciate and coupled with good rents will act as a buffer against inflation. And, after having owned property in Cardiff and Wales for more than two years, you can even stand to gain half a million pounds in profit from capital gains.