There and Back Again

We've been traveling through the highlands over a week but to us it seems like we've been gone a month. Finally it was time to say goodbye to the fresh air, glorious sights, delicious food, and the friendly folk of Scotland. We have already decided to return to celebrate our fifth anniversary.

The journey over the pond and back took us 28 hours total round trip, although on the way home we flew during the day so we had a better view.

Greenland from 37,000+ ft -

Deek was a little sad to come home, but there will be other trips and many more happy adventures. 

Bidh mi 'gad fhaicinn Scottish highlands! We'll be seeing you again!

The Dunstane House

On our last night in Edinburgh we stayed at the Dunstane House. The road construction made it difficult to find but it was well worth it. This was an absolutely lovely manor house that resembles a castle. It had a very old world flair, with a large paintings of Up Helly Aa and the Callanish Standing Stones. The house also features a restaurant and a bar called the Skerries. The restaurant features the food of the Orkney region which was settled by Vikings. We've already agreed that this is our place to stay whenever we are in Edinburgh again.

Looking for a Connection

Dietrich was aware that he had a family connection to Scotland through the Prestons, a small clan based around Edinburgh. At the castle we had visited the military memorial and they had books which listed the names of all the men who died in various wars. We were able to locate about a dozen Prestons. At one time there had also been a Deputy Governor George Preston stationed at the Castle. 

Based on the advice of a kilt maker we spoke to on the Royal Mile, we took a 20 minute drive out to Prestonpans. Today it is a small town but the site is well known to the Scots as the Battle of Prestonpans aka the Battle of Gladsmuir took place there in 1745. It was the first major win of the Jacobites against the English. There isn't much there to commemorate the battle but we did locate a PrestonGrange Museum dedicated to Scottish accomplishments in engineering and industry. 

This is the Preston tartan - 

Falkirk and Edinburgh

On our last day of the trip we went to the Falkirk Wheel. The wheel is a rotating boat lift that connects the Forth and the Clyde Canal. It is the only one of it's kind in the world. A boat goes in one end, and the giant contraption raises it like a ferris wheel, depositing it at the upper lock. We stopped to watch a boat go through. 

Then it was off to visit the city of Edinburgh. All the travel journals I'd read advised against driving in the city, and we discovered how true that was. The narrow roads were congested and it was made worse by road construction mid-city. There was also a lack of signs for tourists on how to get to the castle.

Fortunately I had my Tardis key and was able to transport us to center city. We walked the Royal Mile, and had a few pints at the Scotsman and the White Horse (est 1742). We also saw the bar at the World's End. It got this name because in the medieval times it was the last bar within the old city walls, hence the end of the world as far as the city inhabitants were concerned as beyond lie dragons.

The Royal Mile literally has shops for a mile. There are quite a few selling luxury items like cashmeres and tweeds, and an equal number selling tourist souvenirs. Prices really vary for the same items all over Scotland. I picked up a red Wallace blanket at the William Wallace Memorial for 35 pounds, while on the Royal Mile the same item might have gone for 99.

The Royal Mile leads you up to to Castle Rock, upon which sits Edinburgh Castle. The castle has besieged on numerous occasions, none of them successful. An active military garrison is stationed here, and it also contains the governors house. Inside there is something very special! The STONE OF DESTINY!!! Or in The Gaelic as they say, An Lia Fàil. 

In ancient pagan times the people raised megaliths for a number of reasons, and incorporated stones into their religious practices. One stone earned the name the Stone of Destiny, and every royal who took the throne had to stand on the stone. In the 13th century Edward Longshanks (he will sound familiar to those who saw the film Braveheart) sought to suppress the native Scots, and due to the prophecy that whoever owned the stone ruled Scotland, he confiscated it and removed it to England where it sat for hundreds of years under the throne in Westminster Abbey. Only in 1996 was the stone returned. The stone is on display in the castle and is still used for coronations. When the next in line of the British royals becomes king, he will be standing next to the stone. Unfortunately, we were not allowed to photograph it. I was however singing Steve McDonald's tune 'Stone of Destiny' to myself as we viewed it.

Stirling and Airth Castles

After the Wallace Memorial we drove over to Stirling Castle. This is one of the most important castles in Scotland. A number of Kings and Queens were crowned here, including Mary Queen of Scots. Bonnie Prince Charlie tried to take the castle in 1745 but was unsuccessful. Many of the rooms inside the castle have been restored, and many parts are still original. 

This is a statue of Robert The Bruce - 

The William Wallace Memorial can be seen in the distance - 

Thursday was our night to spend in a castle. We stayed in Airth Castle in the town of Airth. This castle was built in the 1400s and owned by Robert The Bruce's family. We arrived to find two bottles of chilled champagne in the room and a large box of chocolates! The Castle is said to be haunted but we were so tired that if there was a ghost in the room we didn't notice! 

FREEDOM!!!

Then it was off to Stirling where we visited the William Wallace Memorial. I came here in 2006 and at the time there was a statue resembling Mel Gibson as Braveheart at the site. It is no longer there, but they still sold replicas of the statue in the gift shop. Dietrich has Wallace blood, which is why he wore the Clan Wallace hunting tartan at our wedding. The memorial stands well over the treeline and can be seen from Stirling Castle. It is a 15 minute walk up to the site. 

This is Wallace's actual claymore. It is HUGE!

The view from the Memorial. 

Fore!

We started off the day yesterday by going to St Andrews. They let you walk around the course but beware, because people are playing and golf balls are flying. We also noted that it was extremely windy there.

Here we are on the really famous stone bridge on the 18th hole on The Old Course -