Day 18-Nth Scotland-3 Jun

Scotland's north west coast to Appin to see Castle Stalker and Glencoe. Through Fort William and past Ben Nevis which still has 2m of snow on the top!

Through the Great Glen Drumnadrochit pass and to Eilean Donan Castle which has been partially restored and appropriately furnished. 

Day 17 - Staffa - 2 June

Left Oban early to catch a ferry to Mull - over an hour. Drove from one end of the Island to the other then caught a tiny boat to Staffa Island - about an hour to get to the island.

The water was pretty wild but despite that the captain managed to get us on the island to see Fingal's cave. This is where Mendelssohn got his inspiration for his Hebridean Overture. The basalt columns are the other half of Ireland's Giant Staircase.

Pretty impressive cave! Saw some puffins. They are tiny little birds - smaller than a pigeon. The captain was more impressed by the skuas but none of us were interested in anything but the Puffins. Very impressive trip. The Captain dropped us onto Iona to see the Iona Abbey. Caught the ferry back to Mull and then from Mull to Oban. Dinner at Coast. 

Day 16 - Oban - 1 June

Our 30th wedding anniversary today! 

Because I've been sick we decided to do a small bus tour of the Scottish highlands, the Hebredies and the Orkneys. We usually drive ourselves.

There are 16 people on the bus and most of the driving is on single track roads. This means one lane wide road with a passing bay every so often. Ronnie's pleased not to do the driving and we're entertained by the stories and history the driver, Doug, tells us. 

Today we saw Sterling Castle and the Kelpie Sculptures by Andy Scott (Andrew might be interested) dedicated to people who work on the waterways. They are HUGE - 30m high.

Loch Lomond again but from the other side of the Loch. Lots more snow had fallen on Ben Lomond just since we were there the other day.

Doune Castle

Where Monty Python & the Holy Grail and the Game of Thrones were shot.

Over the River Teith where the expression "armed to the teeth" comes from. 

The Scotish history is one of incredible violence and loss of hundreds of thousands of lives not just to the British but also between themselves in Clan wars. 

"Liquid sunshine" today but luckily not for long because the weather is so changeable here. 

Inveraray Castle on Loch Fyne.

Kilchurn (pronounced Kilorne) Castle on Loch Ore.

Even more windy back road to see some Highland Cows.

Then HawthornebanK Guest House in Oban. Dinner at the Cuan Mor restaurant where they also brew their own beer.

Day 15 - Edinburgh - 31 May

Visited Edinburgh Castle. There has been a castle on the top of the volcanic plug where the current castle stands for 3,000 years.

In 1314 the castle was completely destroyed except for St Margaret's Chapel that Cromwell ordered be saved.  In the 1500's the castle was rebuilt and the great hall built at that time still stands and is used today. 

The war memorial:

The Great Hall with the original 16th Century ceiling:

The Royal Dragoon Guards Regimental Museum with the best Piper on the trip!=:

St Margaret's Chapel was built in the 12th Century around 1130 and is the oldest building in Scotland. It is still used for weddings and baptisms.

 St Margaret's Chapel was really lovely inside:

 St Margaret's Chapel interior roof and leadlight window:

 THe Royal Mile.  I don't know how we took a photo without people!

Day 14 - Edinburgh - 30 May

Edinburgh's civic buildings and houses are beautiful sandstone. The old town has narrow streets and cobbles. The new town, established in the 1770's has wider, straight streets with lots of parks.

 Sir Walter Scott Monument:

Royal Botanic Gardens of Edinburgh over 300 years old!

                                                 Betula Pendula "Tristis":

Mother Moor Hen feeding her baby:

Even the cafe is a stone building:

Day 13 - Edinburgh

Had a hearty breakfast at Oak Tree Inn and got to the start of the walk up Ben Lomond - one of the 284 Munros - hills that are over 3000 ft high in Scotland - by 9am. We were the only ones on it. Half way up Ben Lomond (974 m) track it poured and was freezing cold so we came back down after taking photos of snow on the peak! It must have fallen while we were on the way up the mountain. A woman with a 30 kg pack came up a little while after we turned around and others followed but we were pleased we had turned around. The weather was really changeable all day.  We did a short walk around the lake then onto Edinburgh to return the car. I guess that rates as bagging half a Munro!

The start:

At the beginning:

I didn't last long before I had to put all those layers back on:

It is snowing on the top of Ben Lomond!

 Ronnie at the high point we got to:

The highest point we got to - just over half way:

This is scotland after all:

Had an ice cream and just managed to scape into the half hour window every three hours that the road was opened because of roadworks.  

Arrived at Edinburgh to drop the car back and encountered a huge hail storm.  Caught the tram to Edinburgh to the Premier Inn, Lauriston Place where we had dinner.

It’s 20p to pee in England and again here in Scotland. Such a joy!

Day 12 - Ben Lomond

Short walk along Derwent Lake. 

Then up to Scotland to Dumbarton for lunch. Drove up to Rowardennan along Loch Lomond to see the start of the Ben Lomond walk. Really lovely area that we both prefer to the Lake District.  Only half an hour from Glasgow and it is superb. 

Ben Lomond - note the green grass at the top of the mountain:

 Our first Scottish Highland Cow:

Dinner at the Oak Trees Inn where we stayed in a cute cottage in Balmaha.