Scotland.com

The village of Withorn, located on the southern end of the Machars peninsula on the Irish Sea in Galloway, is accepted as one of the oldest continuously occupied settlements in Scotland. With the first Christian church being built in Whithorn by St Ninian in around 390 AD, the village is also considered to be the cradle of Christianity in Scotland. The original church has undergone a number of changes and additions over the years, with distinct eras of Christianity leaving their mark on the historic buildings. Visitors to the Parish Church and Priory of Whithorn will find a very picturesque setting with the ancient stone buildings and the crypt standing as a testimony to quality craftsmanship. The fascinating history of Withorn, and the role played by religion in shaping the area are displayed in the nearby visitor centre.

In today's modern world of endless communication options, it's difficult to imagine a time when a basic landline telephone was considered to be futuristic. When Alexander Graham Bell was awarded the first US patent for the telephone in 1876, he considered the instrument to be an unwelcome intrusion when he was working, and reportedly refused to have one in his study. One wonders what he may have thought of the 21st century where being separated from their cellular phones for even just a short while is unthinkable for many people, and experiences and opinions are communicated in 140 characters or less.