Curling - Fun Facts For AoS Fans!
Any AoS fans who have suddenly developed a burning interest in curling (yes mylodon I'm looking at you) might be interested in checking out the North West Castle Hotel in Stranraer. The North West Castle is apparently unique in being the only hotel in the world that has its own full sized indoor curling rink.
What's really interesting about the hotel though is that it was originally built in 1820 by Sir John Ross, Royal Navy Captain, polar explorer and uncle of Sir James Clarke Ross ( "The Vainest Man in the Royal Navy"). In order to explain the principals of polar navigation to visitors, Ross build a full scale replica of a ship's cabin in the castle, parts of which are still visible in the hotel bar. I've never actually been to the North West Castle myself but it's on out list of places to visit next time we're down in Galloway.
Sir John Ross
And as if that wasn't enough of a connection, as any fule noes, the curling stones used in the Olympics happen to be quarried from Ailsa Craig, an uninhabited island in the Firth of Clyde, owned by the 8th Marquess of Ailsa, Archibald Kennedy. (That's Ailsa in my icon, taken from the road leading down to Culzean Castle.) In fact Archie put Ailsa Craig up for sale in 2011, so if you've got a spare one and a half million quid you can buy it!
What's really interesting about the hotel though is that it was originally built in 1820 by Sir John Ross, Royal Navy Captain, polar explorer and uncle of Sir James Clarke Ross ( "The Vainest Man in the Royal Navy"). In order to explain the principals of polar navigation to visitors, Ross build a full scale replica of a ship's cabin in the castle, parts of which are still visible in the hotel bar. I've never actually been to the North West Castle myself but it's on out list of places to visit next time we're down in Galloway.
Sir John Ross
And as if that wasn't enough of a connection, as any fule noes, the curling stones used in the Olympics happen to be quarried from Ailsa Craig, an uninhabited island in the Firth of Clyde, owned by the 8th Marquess of Ailsa, Archibald Kennedy. (That's Ailsa in my icon, taken from the road leading down to Culzean Castle.) In fact Archie put Ailsa Craig up for sale in 2011, so if you've got a spare one and a half million quid you can buy it!