Ceremonial Markings
of a type found throughout the British Isles and northwest Europe. Their specific meaning and
usage are unclear, although they may be connected with passage rites. The Cross of St Reet (center)
and its variants are often found near the junctions of important trading corridors. Continental
versions of the Triskell figure (left and right) invariably feature arrows pointing anti-clockwise.
Mr Tattie Heid Home The North Atlantic Arc Elsewhere Portfolios Links


Welcome to The North Atlantic Arc. Since 1998, I have been traveling to Scotland annually, with side trips to a number of other places in the North Atlantic. It happens that most of these places lie along the route of the Viking diaspora across the sea, with Norway as the eastern terminus of the Arc and the Atlantic provinces of Canada at the western end. My purpose in creating this site is to share with you the experiences I've had in the Celtic and Nordic realms and their fringes. Below are the pages you can peruse here, each with a summary of highlights. If you want to read all of the pages in more-or-less chronological order, you can follow The North Atlantic Ring, which you will find at the top and bottom of each page. Otherwise, after each page, return to The North Atlantic Arc (this page) and link directly to the next page you want to read.

Your comments, questions, corrections, and suggestions are most welcome; please feel free to contact me at MrTattieHeid@aol.com.

Happy travels!

MR TATTIE HEID
December 2008
Iceland 1999
Five days in the proverbial land of fire and ice. Reykjanes Peninsula, the Blue Lagoon, Reykjavik, Hvítserkur, Borgarvirki, Akureyri, Goðafoss, Dettifoss, the Arctic Circle (almost), back to Reykjavik, Gullfoss, and the geyser Strokkur.

Shetland 2000
A photographic survey of my first trip to Shetland, including Culswick Broch, St Ninian's Isle, Lerwick, Scalloway, and Muckle Flugga.

Faroe Islands 2001
Føroyar is an archipelago lying roughly halfway between Shetland and Iceland. Torshavn, Klaksvik, and points between and around.

Ireland 2002
To be constructed.

October In Orkney 2002
I intended this as a travel article, but never sold it. A week with Win (aka Harry), visiting Urquhart Castle, Ullapool, and points north on the Scottish mainland, then Wideford Hill, Sanday (and the original Mr Tattie Heid!), Kirkwall, the Standing Stones of Stenness, the Ring of Brodgar, Maes Howe, Stromness, Hoy, the Brough of Birsay, Westray, Rousay, and the Italian Chapel.

France 2003
To be constructed.

Norway 2004
Win joins me again for an unscheduled layover in Amsterdam, then Trondheim, the most beautiful ferry trip ever, Bergen, and points south and north.

MF2MoG 2005
From Muckle Flugga to the Mull of Galloway. My first full trip diary, although the trip was cut short because of my father's death. Return trip to Shetland, then Craigellachie, Glenfarclas and Balvenie distilleries; then Ron and Bobby arrive for the Falkirk Wheel, the Antonine Wall, Edinburgh, encounters with Nick and Kenny, Doune Castle, the Clachaig Inn, ferry from Oban to Islay via Colonsay, Caol Ila/Jura/Laphroaig/Ardbeg/Bruichladdich distilleries, the Port Charlotte Hotel bar, Portnahaven, Finlaggan, Kilmartin Glen, Inveraray, and the Mull of Galloway.

GG2BoB 2006
 From Gretna Green to the Brough of Birsay. Isle of Whithorn, Bladnoch distillery, the Mull of Galloway, Carlisle (England), Caerlaverock Castle, Cairnholy, the Machars, St Ninian’s Cave; then Ron joins me for Plockton, Talisker, Dun Beag, Applecross, Loch Ewe distillery, Ullapool, and a trip to Orkney: Orphir, the Tomb of the Eagles, the Italian Chapel, the Brough of Deerness, Kirkwall, St Magnus Cathedral, archeological sites along Rousay's West Westness Walk, the Broch of Gurness, The Bishop's Palace, Maes Howe, Stenness, Brodgar, Skara Brae, the Broch of Borwick, Stromness, Birsay, Yesnaby. Back on the mainland, Duncansby Head, Camster Cairns, Fortrose, Urquhart Castle, Craigellachie, the Speyside Cooperage, Aberlour distillery, Chivas Brothers international brand ambassador Ian Logan, the Highlander Inn, Glenlivet and several other distilleries, Edinburgh, Nick and Kenny at the Bow Bar, Royal Botanic Gardens, the Vaults (Scotch Malt Whisky Society). Ron departs and I visit Arran, the Goat Fell, Arran distillery, and Skipness Castle, before ending the trip with five days in Islay: Bowmore/Bruichladdich/Lagavulin distilleries, Port Charlotte Hotel, the Big Strand.

SP2BoL 2007
 From Salisbury Plain to the Butt of Lewis. England, Wales, Scotland. Stonehenge, Silbury Hill, Avebury, Lacock, Salisbury, Salisbury Cathedral, Bamber in Bristol, Caerphilly Castle, Penderyn distillery, St Davids, Pentre Ifan, Llandudno, Anglesey, Holy Island, Din Lligwy, Caernarfon, Conwy, Chester, Yorkshire Dales, Dent, Castlerigg Stone Circle, Caerlaverock, Cairnholy, Isle of Whithorn, Inveraray, Knoydart, Talisker, Plockton, Kenny and Jill in Crieff, Edinburgh, Kenny and Nick in the Bow Bar. Ron arrives; the Vaults, Dunnottar Castle, Craigellachie, Gordon & MacPhail, Aberlour, distilleries with Ian Logan, Moray coast (including Pennan, Gardenstown, and Crovie), Parker's Whiskies. Bobby arrives; Loanhead of Daviot, Glenlivet with Ian Logan, the Anderson, Ullapool, Stornoway, Callanish, Carloway, Clach An Truiseil, the Butt of Lewis, Dun Eistean, Harris, MacLeod's Stone, Rodel, North Uist, the Westford Inn, Langass, Teampull na Trionaid, Barra, the Cockle Strand, Cille Bharra, Kisimul Castle, Oban, the Clachaig Inn, Bidean Nam Bian, Glasgow, Nick and Ian in the Pot Still.

HW2IoE 2008
 From Hadrian's Wall to the Isle of Ewe. England and Scotland. The Borders, Hexham, Allendale, Hadrian's Wall and associated Roman sites, Corbridge, Durham, Whitby, Robin Hood's Bay, Runswick Bay, Staithes, North York Moors, York, York Minster, Yorkshire Dales, the Battlefield Band in Reeth, the Tan Hill Inn, memories of Fremmie, Isle of Whithorn, Inveraray, Oban, Plockton, a walk in Skye, the brochs in Glenelg, Applecross, Shieldaig, the Loch Ewe Distillery at Drumchork Lodge, Achiltibuie, the Anderson, Glenmorangie distillery, Tarbat Discovery Centre, Craigellachie, Macallan and Glenfiddich distilleries, the Moray coast, Edinburgh, the Danes in the Bow Bar, Dunfermline, Linlithgow Palace, Rebus' Edinburgh, and many, many more abbeys than at which can be shaken a stick.

WoS2GV 2009
 From the Wick of Skaw to the Golden Valleys. South Queensferry, the East Neuk of Fife, St Andrews, Stonehaven. Ron arrives; Huntly, Craigellachie, Glenglassaugh distillery, Portsoy, Rosemarkie, the Anderson, flight to Shetland, Jarlshof, Ness of Burgi, Lerwick, Culswick Broch, Staneydale Temple, Unst, Herma Ness, Muckle Flugga, the Wick of Skaw, Bordastubble Stone, St Olaf's Chapel, Muness Castle, Baltasound bus shelter, Yell, the White Wife, St Ninian's Isle, Quendale Mill, Croft House Museum, not Mousa again, Clickimin Broch, Shetland Museum, Esha Ness, Sullom Voe, Scalloway Castle, Trondra and the Burras, session at the Plockton Inn, the Old Man of Storr, Bodega, the long drive to Edinburgh, the Cambridge Bar, the Oxford Bar, the Bow Bar, the Cumberland Bar, Craigmillar Castle. Ron departs; Two Days of the Zombie, Bladnoch distillery, Isle of Whithorn, Logan Botanic Garden, the Mull of Galloway, Dave Broom, the Lake District, Hardknott Roman Fort, the Old Man of Coniston, the Peak District, Castleton, the Devil's Arse, Edale, Mam Tor, Stratford-upon-Avon, John Kirkpatrick, various Shakespeare sites, the Cotswolds, Chipping Campden, Banbury, the Battlefield Band, Rollright Stones, Moreton-in-Marsh, Stroud and (almost) the Golden Valleys, Cirencester, Uffington White Horse, Oxford, the Unthanks.
The North Atlantic Arc
Iceland 1999
Shetland 2000
Faroe Islands 2001
Ireland 2002
October In Orkney 2002
France 2003
Norway 2004
MF2MoG 2005
GG2BoB 2006
SP2BoL 2007
HW2IoE 2008
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