Well to complete our long running series of, "North of the Border" I decided to give you a brief but guided tour of the areas in Scotland that I personally have stayed.
A Fortunate career with British Rail means I have travelled this Country(UK) Extensively, and visited a great many locations. I was also compelled to move home several times to ensure progress within my career.
I will start off by a quick explanation of my Name ... FYVIE (Five- E) A Strange name to say the least :)
Fyvie is actually a small village and Castle/estate in Aberdeenshire Scotland.
Most Fyvie's living today are descended from one of two ancestors:
Alexander Fyvie (?-1678) of Methlick, Aberdeen referred to as the Fyvie's of Methlick William Fyvie (1668-?) of Peterhead and later Old Deer, Aberdeen referred to as the Fyvie's of Deer.
So How did FYVIE become a Scottish Surname? Well no one can be truly sure, However rumour has it that these two men fought and excelled themselves in the defence of FYVIE castle and were subsequently rewarded by being allowed to adopt the Castle/Estate name as their own.
How true this is, remains to be seen, But FYVIE Castle was a main fortification in Scotland around this time, and the battle called "The Skirmish of Fyvie" was fought in 1644.
The fact remains that the Surname of FYVIE was unheard of until Alexander Fyvie and William Fyvie suddenly appeared, and all Fyvies to this day should be able to trace their ancestry back to one of them.
Fyvie was once a royal stronghold, one of a chain of fortresses throughout medieval Scotland. From 1390, following the Battle of Otterburn, five successive families created probably the finest example of Scottish Baronial architecture.
An old tradition claims that these families - Preston, Meldrum, Seton, Gordon and Leith - each built one of Fyvie's five towers. An air of mystery is created by the ghosts and legends associated with this castle.
The oldest part dates from the 13th century, and within its ancient walls is a great wheel-stair, the finest in Scotland.
Contemporary panelling and plaster ceilings survive in the 17th- century Morning Room and the opulence of the Edwardian era is reflected in the interiors created by the first Lord Leith of Fyvie.
A rich portrait collection includes works by Batoni, Raeburn, Romney, Gainsborough, Opie and Hoppner, and there is a fine collection of arms and armour, and 17th-century tapestries.
The grounds and loch were designed as a landscaped parkland in the early 19th-century. The old walled garden is being re-created to show traditional Scottish fruits and vegetables.
Visitors can also enjoy the restored racquets court, ice house, bird hide, restored earth closet and beautiful lochside walks.
Well I was born in Aberdeen, Both my mother and father coming originally from the Buchan area. However soon after birth we Moved Northwards to the beautiful city of Inverness.
Inverness - The Capital of the Highlands
Cruden Bay - Small costal village close to Peterhead
Cumbernauld - an Old "New Town" created for the Glasgow overspill
