Welcome to Lost in Landmarks! I’m Kirsty and I’ve been a travel blogger for 10 years. I love to help people plan their trips, find quirky places to explore and basically share the love of travel.
I write primarily about the UK, and Scotland holds a dear place in my heart since I grew up there. I also share about sites beyond Britain and I have a definite penchant for historical sites. You can click through below to head direct to my pages with the content that fits what you’re looking for.
Happy travelling!
Destinations I write about…
Route 66…
History I love…
My latest posts:
- What Is VE Day – and How Did Scotland Mark It Then and Now?80 years ago today, celebrations erupted across Europe as Nazi Germany surrendered, ending World War II on the continent. Victory in Europe – or VE Day – is still marked each year on May 8th, and Scotland played a unique role in both the original celebrations and how the day is remembered today. If you’re curious about Scottish history – or you have ancestors who might have been there when the war ended – the story of VE Day offers a powerful look at resilience, community, and hope. What was VE Day like in Scotland in 1945? Scotland’s role in World War II was crucial. From the shipyards of the Clyde to the remote airfields of the Highlands, the country’s contribution was significant. And when the war in Europe officially ended on May 8th, 1945, the sense of relief was overwhelming. In cities like Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Aberdeen, street parties broke out almost instantly. Bunting was hung from tenement windows, and people spilled onto the streets to sing, dance, and share in the joy. In rural villages, too, celebrations were heartfelt – even if quieter. Yet it was also a bittersweet day. Almost every Scottish community had lost someone. Churches were full of people giving thanks, but also remembering loved ones who never came home. How is VE Day marked in Scotland today? Today, VE Day in Scotland is more reflective. You won’t find massive street parties, but you will see memorial services, poppy wreaths laid at war memorials, and events in schools and communities to mark the date. Because 2025 is the 80th anniversary, some locations are going further with re-enactments, special exhibitions, and talks from historians or surviving veterans. Places like the National War Museum at Edinburgh Castle, or the Imperial War Museum North (just south in Manchester) often mark anniversaries with exhibitions that include Scottish perspectives. Local councils often publish their own remembrance events – and if you have Scottish ancestry, it’s worth checking to see if the region your family came from is holding anything special. … Read more
- Did a Giant Build the Path to Staffa? The Legend of Finn McCool and Scotland’s Mysterious Columns
The Isle of Staffa, with its haunting sea cave and geometric rock formations, seems like a place pulled from myth, and in a way, it is. While science tells us the dramatic basalt columns were formed by volcanic activity millions of years ago, legend offers a different, far more enchanting explanation. In the ancient folklore shared by both Ireland and Scotland, a giant named Finn McCool (or Fionn mac Cumhaill) may have been responsible! Fionn mac Cumhaill is one of the great figures in Irish mythology, a warrior, hunter, and leader of the legendary Fianna. But he’s not just part of Irish stories—his tales ripple across the Irish Sea, washing up on the shores of Scotland, where the strange geology of places like Staffa gave rise to local legends. According to the most famous version of the story, Finn was challenged by a rival giant, Benandonner, who lived in Scotland. Rather than swim across the treacherous sea, Finn did what any self-respecting giant might do—he began building a stone pathway across the water, using massive chunks of rock hurled into the sea. That path, as the story goes, became what we know today as the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland. But if you’ve ever seen Staffa, you’ll have noticed something striking—the same type of hexagonal basalt columns appear here, rising from the sea in tall, neat formations, as if laid by hand. In the legend, this is where the path ended—the other side of the giant’s road. Of course, the tale doesn’t stop with the building of the causeway. In one version of the story, when Finn saw just how large Benandonner really was, he turned and fled back to Ireland. His clever wife disguised him as a baby, tucking him into a cradle. When Benandonner saw the “baby,” he imagined how enormous the father must be and fled back to Scotland, tearing up the causeway behind him. The result? Two sites—one in Ireland, one in Scotland—linked by myth, broken by fear, and shaped by the footprints of giants. Today, you can still see the legacy of that tale. On Staffa, the most famous feature is Fingal’s Cave, named after the giant himself (Fingal being the poetic version of Finn). The cave’s cathedral-like acoustics once inspired composer Felix Mendelssohn to write his Hebrides Overture after visiting in 1829. Artists, writers, and royals have followed ever since, drawn by the cave’s mystery and the wild, rugged beauty of the island. If you’re planning a trip to the Isle of Staffa, the legend makes every step feel more magical. It’s not just a visit to a beautiful, remote Scottish island—it’s a journey into one of the great Celtic stories. Look closely at those rock formations. Could they really be the remains of a giant’s road? - Scapa Flow: The Secret Sea That Changed HistoryYou might not have heard of Scapa Flow before your trip to Orkney. It doesn’t always make the top ten … Read more
- What Are the Three Sisters of Glencoe? Walks, Legends, and a Dark HistoryThey’re dramatic, beautiful, and a little bit mysterious… Nestled in the heart of the Scottish Highlands, the Three Sisters of Glencoe are … Read more
- There’s a secret at Edinburgh Castle… and it’s not what you’d expect.
While most visitors come to visit Edinburgh castle for the crown jewels or the sweeping views over Scotland’s capital city, … Read more - Want to trace your Scottish ancestry? Here’s the first thing to do.
If you’ve ever wondered whether your roots trace back to the Highlands or the Hebrides, you’re not alone. Thousands of … Read more