Granted, we’ve been home a week now, but I wanted to finish my chronicle of our trip. On Day Eight, we set out by bus to Stirling Castle, less than a hour from our hotel in Edinburgh. Along the way, our driver did point out a few points of interest including the birthplace of Alexander Graham Bell who invented the telephone and the Kelpies.
Door on the building where Alexander Graham Bell was born.
The Kelpies which look way more impressive at night.
We arrived at Stirling Castle and began our tour of one of the most important castles in the history of Scotland. It dates back almost a thousand years and was a favorite residence of the Stuart royals.
Stirling Castle
In front of the castle are two statues. One dedicated the the Argyll and Southerland Highlanders and the other to King Robert the Bruce.
King Robert the Bruce
Memorial to the Argyll and Southerland Highlanders
We first toured the wall lined with an impressive battery of cannons before moving on to the massive Great Hall.
Cannons at the ready on the wall.
As we moved through the Royal Apartments, the fireplaces were adorned with a variety of crests.
Of course, Genny was insistent on checking out the ceilings which were decorated in their own right.
After a lunch in the cafe at the castle which was one of the better meals we had, we returned to Edinburgh. Our final activity was to hike up Arthur’s Seat which is located in Holyrood Park. It was a challenging climb, both steep and rocky in places. The view, however, was worth the effort as we could see the Firth of Forth which empties into the North Sea. Also in Holyrood Park was a lake, complete with swans.
Our return walk to the hotel took us past the Palace of Holyroodhouse, which is where the Queen resides when she visits Scotland, the Scottish Parliment Building, and St. Giles Cathedral.
Palace of Holyroodhouse
Scottish Parliament Building
St. Giles Cathedral.
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