I prance up the pirate steps, and I dance down the other side.
Pirate Steps
Folklore tells us that pirates and smugglers were not permitted to pass through the gates of a kirkyard, but they were allowed to attend church, hence the special stairway.
These particular steps are located in the surrounding wall of St. Mary’s Chapel in Rattray, Aberdeenshire. The chapel is one of the oldest structures still standing in the area, and it’s rather beautiful.
I ran up and down similar steps at Kildaton on Islay but, sadly, I do not have any photos of them.
Rattray steps and gate:
TikTok Fun
In other news, my current medication is keeping me up at night. It’s rather like living in several different time zones at once. I’ve been amusing myself by playing on TikTok and YouTube.
Naughty Contemporary Fiction
Scotland’s all misty lochs and magical forests and perfect boyfriends, right?
When dance student Amalphia Treadwell embarks on a secret relationship with her charismatic new teacher, she has no idea of the danger that lurks in his school in Scotland…
My dance background and love of history and spicy stories are what inspired this dark mix of contemporary romance and ballet set in a castle. Readers of my historical fiction will recognise the castle and stone circle that feature in these books.
A Dancer’s Journey is available in paperback, Kindle and on Kindle Unlimited.
There are no cliffhanger endings in this series; each book completes a story, but then there is more. So much more. Read all the blurbs here
Historical Fiction
These novels combine little-known dark events with love stories and a hint of magic.
- SISTERS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD: ancient battle, neurodiversity and forbidden romance.
- THE MERMAID AND THE BEAR: witchcraft, a stone circle, a castle and six chapters of medieval Christmas.
- FIREFLIES AND CHOCOLATE: kidnapping, romance, friendship and chocolate.
“Ethereal and spellbinding….” Historical Novel Society
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About Page
Read all about little old me here!
A nice colourful bit of folklore! Do you know what the real purpose of those ‘stepping’ stones was?
This is the only explanation I’ve heard.
Sometimes I do my best writing in the wee hours of the morning. Hopefully if you can’t find sleep, you can find inspiration!
Yes, I also sometimes write through the night 🙂
Enjoying the photos, the shapes, steps, stones, angles, and colors within them looking like music. That 1st photo’s center shape reminds me of a bass clef and song hook, those stones are like notes, the steps are like a scale/sequence of notes, and the gate also looks like it could be an instrument. Like a band, this post rocks!
What a wonderful way of looking at it! I love this musical interpretation 🙂
Thank you. 🙂
Fantastic, Ailish! <3
Thank you, Tim 🙂
Gorgeous shots! And that is fascinating!
I’m glad you liked it 🙂
An exciting read…and Scotland seems like a wonderful place!!!
I’m glad you like it 🙂