While based in Inverness, we went on 3 excursions.
The first was a visit to the Culloden Battlefield. The Battle of Culloden was an important part of Scottish history, and we learned a lot about it on this trip. Too much to get into in this type of blog, but it was all very interesting.
This picture makes me laugh because it was so windy! Look at my hair! LOL
Visiting the Battlefield where it all actually took place was quite a powerful experience. We visited the visitor centre first, where we missed a top notch audio-visual display that puts you in the centre of the battle. Everyone was raving about it… how the Hell did we miss it? We also went out to walk around the Battlefield, where they had 2 rows of flags on display – representing the 2 frontlines. It was a nice excursion.
After this we went to Clava Cairn, kind of like the Stonehenge of Scotland, but better in a way because you can get up close to the stones and touch them! It really was interesting to see them and ponder their significance. They are about 5000 years old! Amazing.
Then it was off to Cawdor Tavern for a drink. It was just a normal pub, but it was nice to have a “free” drink and get a chance to socialize with other people on the tour.
The next day brought the highlight of the trip for my husband: A Sheepdog display – it was quite something! The shepherd had up to 10 border collies to help manipulates his flock… boy can those dogs RUN!
My husband LOVED interacting with the dogs! He had the time of his life and made a new best friend for life. This dog would not leave his side! It was quite something. I bet if we go back in a few years, that dog will know him!
I on the other hand was enamoured by the puppies… They were SO CUUUUUTE! the youngest was only 6 weeks old.
… but I still don’t want one!
This picture makes me laugh every time I see it!! I asked my husband to take a picture and I assumed he understood OF ME AND THE PUPPY! .. Guess not! LOL, he chopped my head off!
Then it was time for a lunch stop in Pitlochry. Well, lunch for us… just more shopping for most other people! I was so happy because we FINALLY had a decent amount of time for a real sit-down-and-order-wine-and-take-your-time lunch. An hour and forty five minutes!! Hooray!!!
We picked “The Auld Smiddy Inn”. We had a fantastic bottle of red wine, fancy fish and chips, and for desert, a plate of Scottish cheeses. Absolutely perfect!
After lunch, we went to tour a whisky distillery. That’s where we learned that the Irish add an E in the word whiskEy in order to help distinguish their inferior product! LOL
This excursion didn’t do much for me, and my husband was tired (and therefore a little grumpy – but he would deny that) after that heavy lunch so we didn’t have a great time.
Free samples!
That night, we spent the night in Dundee. The hardest part was trying to act amused at all the “where’s the crocodile” jokes going around. Groan.
We explored the town a little on our own before diner, it was nice. Small.
One thing that did stand out for me was St Mary's Church. There was an outline of the front of the church drawn on the ground with paving stones in front of the church. It was neat!
Check out the view from Google Earth… cool.
At the St Andrews Golf course, I got to show off my prowess… HAHAHA more like: TOTAL LACK THEREOF!!! Look at this picture! I don’t think a professional could perform this badly, even if they tried! it’s so funny!!!
My husband performed better than me!
After hitting some balls, we had some free time to explore the grounds, but we were WAY more interested in exploring the ruins of the Castle and Cathedral!
We almost RAN to make it there and back in time, the stop technically was not long enough for a proper visit, but it was totally worth it!
Back on the bus after, when someone asked if we went shopping (HA!) I said no, we hightailed it to the Castle and Cathedral, a woman a few seats behind me muttered to her husband: “Ah! We should have done that too!”
Really they are ruins, doesn’t take THAT long to see… I think a stop there, 10 – 15 minutes each would have been do-able with the bus!! Ah well, that’s all part of coach-touring.
Next on the itinerary was Scone (pronounced: Skoon) Palace.
It was nice, but I am a little done with Palace Interiors. After a while, they tend to all meld together in my memory and none seem to really stand out anymore. In this case, we had a great guide who made is all extremely interesting – I must admit – but still, it was a little long.
The highlight was the peacocks!
I enjoyed walking along the grounds and being outside between rain showers.
Next came Edinburg, but I will save that for Part 4
Bannockburn. I hate to say it, but I didn’t care anymore!
I am happy that I learned about it, the Battle of Bannockburn was a big deal in the fight for Scottish independence, but learning about it would have been enough. I didn’t need to visit the battle field. One Battlefield visit per vacation is enough I think, and I got my fill visiting the Culloden Battlefield.
Here’s a statue of Robert the Bruce, King of Scots from 1306 to 1329:
Luckily, the visitor centre had a lot of hands-on displays, so we went to play with the swords and chain mail head gear!
Our last stop was in Stirling, but we did not visit the castle which was fine with me. We went there to see the National Wallace Monument…
… and get our group picture taken. I have still not received it – have to make a point to follow up with that!
I have to agree about palace interiors. It takes a lot at this point to make an impression on me - and size doesn't do it for me.
ReplyDeleteLove the chain mail!