The majestic and amazingly complete remains of the abbey church at Jedburgh Abbey in the Scottish Borders. It was founded in 1138 and developed over several centuries, despite repeatedly falling victim to cross-border conflict. More pics and info: https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/jedburgh/jedburghabbey/index.html
The striking ruins of Kilwinning Abbey in Ayrshire, founded by Tironensian monks from Kelso Abbey in the late 1100s on the site of a church dating back to the early 600s and once one of Scotland's grandest abbeys. More pics and info: https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/kilwinning/kilwinningabbey/index.html
The slightly puzzling ruins of Culross Abbey, standing on a hillside above Culross in Fife. The abbey was founded in 1217 on a site that was believed to have been used for a monastery associated with St Serf and St Theneva in the 500s. More pics and info: https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/culross/culrossabbey/index.html
The remains of Crossraguel Abbey near Maybole in Ayrshire, whose story began in about 1215 and effectively ended soon after the Reformation in 1560. It is one of the best preserved and most interesting of Scotland's many abbey ruins. More pics and info: https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/maybole/crossraguel/index.html
An ideal post for Valentine's Day? Sweetheart Abbey south of Dumfries, whose founding by Lady Devorgilla in 1273 in memory of her husband, John Balliol, is held to be a testament to the enduring power of love. In a rather gruesome twist, she even carried his embalmed heart around with her in an ivory box. More: https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/newabbey/sweetheartabbey/index.html
Sometimes a beer nerd does crazy things. I obtained this lineup of very old Maredsous beers. Half of them are older than me.
Left to right: 1977, 1979, 1981, 1984, 1988, 2003. Most are of the "6" variant (blonde, if you will), that is not supposed to age well at all. The others, I reckon, should not age very well either.
The stunning Whitby Abbey, North Yorkshire.
On the site of the original Abbey built by the Incredible Hilda, a Northumbrian Princess c657. She called the famous Synod of Whitby here in 664.
Been a while since I posted anything from the #travel archives. This is San Fruttuoso along the Ligurian coastline of Italy, reachable only by hiking trails and from the water. The abbey on the right is dedicated to Saint Fructuosus, the most fruity and sugary of all the saints.
The beautiful, and surprisingly extensive, remains of Arbroath Abbey in the heart of Arbroath in Angus. The abbey was founded in 1178 by King William I for a group of Tironensian monks previously resident at Kelso Abbey. More pics and info: https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/arbroath/arbroathabbey/index.html