Scotland and Dragons? Yes, Please!

 Peebles, Scotland

Peebles, as viewed from the south.

I cannot be the only writer who struggles with finding THE 'perfect' location for my story. I have been searching around the globe to locate that one magical place that spoke to me, where I could see my characters coming alive. It is important to me that my characters and location meld simultaneously, I obviously don't want to put a mermaid in the middle of Manhattan or a Dragon in the middle of Hawaii. 

Neidpath Castle

I think every other writer spends hours trying to figure out the perfect setting for their book. A rich history gives authors something to write about. A basis if you will, allowing us to take stories and manipulate them so that our story is believable. After all, we want our writings to transport our readers somewhere magical. I have an affinity for all things magical, but I also prefer books that fall into a fantasy/paranormal realm. My latest kick has been dragons, and I have been working on a story in my head for about two months now. While researching places (hence the abandoned castles post) I stumbled across Neidpath Castle, located approximately one mile west of Peebles, Scotland. Na Pùballan, in Scottish Gaelic. Peebles, Scotland is the PERFECT location for a book setting. 

Let's take another look at Neidpath Castle, which is absolutely stunning. Yes, it is nothing but ruins. But we are all authors perfectly capable of letting our imagination run absolutely rampant. Believed to have originally been built between 1263 and 1266, it has seen many years. It even has it's own ghost story, that of 'The Maid of Neidpath'! Oh I love haunted places and this castle is turning out to be no different.

The River Tweed

The city of Peebles is just so beautiful! A burgh located in Peeblesshire, the River Tweed runs through it. With a population of approximately 10,000 it is not overly large. So naturally I am thinking that there should be dragons flying above, wreaking havoc. Probably set in the 13th century right after the tower for St. Andrews Church was finished.  What, your mind doesn't work like mine? Ok well let me share some more information about Peebles with you. I believe you will start to see it through my eyes.

That St. Andrews Church I mentioned is still there. Well at least the tower still remains in the graveyard. There is also a church which is mostly ruins there called Cross Kirk, built in 1261. There is so much history residing in a small town, it is unbelievable.The surroundings are just beautiful. It really is a picturesque little town.

Once again, as in my previous post, each image is linked back to it's owners. Thanks!

Abandoned Castles

Castles are a fairy tale trigger in most girls heads. We think ballrooms, horse and carriage, princes and crowns. There is something enchanting about the stone facades, sweeping gardens and the towers that kiss the sky. Imaginations can run wild when we look at the pictures, envisioning a different place and perhaps even a different time. Maybe you are a dreamer that imagines dragons scorching the towers, fairies weaving magic or witches casting spells when you close your eyes. Maybe your a cynic that envisions battles, lost love, and entire kingdoms clashing with war. Either way your imagination is your own, and your creative juices are flowing.

But what happens when people no longer care for these huge architectual monuments? Do they get torn down? Were they burned in battle? Do they just silently sit there waiting for someone to save them? Or do they just wait for someone to imagine life as it once was?

Maybe they are waiting for authors to use them as backdrops for a story so they may come alive again and live again in another generation. Maybe they just need star crossed lovers or mythical creatures woven back into them. Maybe what they truly need is just someone to appreciate the beauty that is lurking in their shadows, reminding us that time can truly ravage anything no matter how magical they might seem.

I, for one, am a dreamer. I can close my eyes and see the dragons circling the sky with their wings stretched wide, the witches casting protection spells with magic swirling around them, the princesses running down the grand staircases leaving behind a glass slipper and elves lurking in the forest. I have an imagination that can run W-I-L-D. I can see the lapse in time where these buildings can be restored and all things mythical and mystical woven back in to them. Just as I believe that people deserve second chances, I think the same can be said about these castles. Even if they are only restored in the pages of a book, flying on the creativity of an author.

When these castles are abandoned and allowed to melt back into their surroundings they take on an entirely different persona. They become one with the magic that exists everyday,  from the little seed that grows the giant redwood tree to the entire islands that disappear beneath our ocean waves.

Here are some of my favorites of both abandoned and restored castles:

Chateau Miranda or Chateau de Noisy, Belgium

Front view of an amazingly beautiful abandoned castle

 

Chillon Castle, Switzerland

Absolutely beautiful

Clifden Castle, Ireland

How can you not see the dragons sweeping across the sky?

Dromore Castle, Ireland

 

Can you see the magic around it?

Neidpath Castle, Scotland

Ardverikie House, Scotland

Lennox Castle, Scotland

This one looks like a prime spot for a nest of dragons!

Swallow's Nest Castle, Ukraine

I can see Naval battles being waged!

Neuschwanstein, Germany

Cinderella anyone?

 

Castle of Presule, Italy

 Ancient Castle, Trzebnica, Poland

 Bojnice Castle, Slovakia

 

Château de la Forêt, Belgium

 Pepoli Castle, Sicily, Italy

Looks perfect for an evil witch!

 Mont Saint Michel, France

The stuff Fairy Tales are made of!

There are so many beautiful castles, chateaus, and manors to pick from. They are littered all around the globe either being lovingly restored or sliding into decay. Which one can let your imagination run wild?

Please note, each image is linked back to it's owners!