Scotland is full of castles, each with its own
myths
and
legends
. One such
castle is Dunnottar Castle on Scotland
’
s east coast, 15 miles from the city of
Aberdeen. Located on a huge
outcrop
of flat rock with
sheer cliffs
on three
sides, it is the perfect place for a
fortress
, and there has been one here since
the 13th century.
Dunnottar has a long and
exciting past
. William Wallace, Mary Queen of
Scots, King Charles II and the Marquis of Montrose have all played a part in
its rich history. The Scottish Crown Jewels, the
“
Honours of Scotland
”
, were hidden
here in the 17th century so that Oliver Cromwell couldn
’
t destroy them.
Dunnottar used to be one of the strongest fortresses in Scotland. However,
the castle was abandoned in the 18th century and it fell into
decay
until 1925,
when Viscountess Cowdray began repairs. Visitors can see the 14th century
keep, which was built by Sir William Keith in 1392 and is still
intact
. There
are also
barracks
,
lodgings
, stables and storehouses.
The castle has become a lot more popular in recent years since the site
was used as one of the locations for the film
“
Hamlet
”
starring Mel Gibson. It
is also popular with
birdwatchers
because of its location. Whatever the reason
for your visit, it will certainly be memorable.
4
Collect information, then write a short article for
your school magazine about a famous historic building
in your country. In the first paragraph, write its
name
and
location
. In the second paragraph, write its
historical details
. In the third paragraph, write a
description of its exterior/interior
. End your article with a
recommendation
. (140-190 words)
ICT
3
a.
Which of the two buildings would
you most like to visit? Why?
b.
Are there any buildings like these in your
country? Talk about them. Think about:
location
historical details
exterior/interior
Think!
ICT
1
Writing
5
10
15
17
B
