Edinburgh

On Tuesday, we made the drive down to Edinburgh, about 2 hours SE of our cabin.

First, we visited Edinburgh Castle.  St. Margaret's Chapel, enclosed in the castle walls, is the oldest building in Edinburgh, and dates from the 12th century.

As we toured the castle, it started to rain, so we took shelter in the restored Great Hall.

After the shower passed, we walked down the hill to the National Museum.

We stopped for lunch at their cafe, then went to see some of the exhibits.  Asta voted to see the animal section first, so that's where we started!

We stayed at the museum until it closed, and we out got to see a small portion of what they had. We'll just have to come back some day. 😉

On the way back to the cabin, we stopped to see the Falkirk Wheel, a huge machine that transports boats vertically​ between two locks.

Also, nearby the wheel, are two monumental statues of horses' heads called The Kelpies.

Back at the cabin, we had to get packed up.  We were moving on to London the next day!

Day Two In Scotland

Despite the looking threat of rain on Monday, Andy & Becky were determined to do some hiking.  Several trails begin at Glen Coe, and we decided to try the Hidden Glen path.  It was a short but steep hike!

It was tough work, especially since it began to drizzle about half-way through, but absolutely worth it.  What views!  Terry, Candy, and Asta waited at the carpark, and listened to a piper playing nearby.

From Glen Coe, we drove northwest towards Inverness, going along the edge of Loch Ness.  No monster in sight, unfortunately.

We did, however, see Castle Urquhart, perched on the edge of the lake.  It was raining pretty heavily when we arrived, but we still enjoyed the ruins and museum.

We arrived in Inverness at dinner time, and found an Italian place that everyone enjoyed.  We also picked up a few little souvenirs, and walked along the river.

Exploring Scotland

On Sunday morning, we drove in to Aberfeldy to go to Mass at the local Catholic church.  Afterwards, we picked up some snacks at the grocery store and headed west towards Loch Lomond and the Trossochs National Park.

Asta enjoying a cheese & crackers picnic in the spacious back of our van

North of the park, down a short trail, are the ruins of Kilchurn Castle.  The castle was built in the 1400's, and was once the stronghold of the Campbell clan.  With Loch Awe in the background, it is one of the most picturesque spots in western Scotland.

After wandering around the ruins, we continued on to "the bonny, bonny banks of Loch Lomond".  We got some ice cream cones and enjoyed the view of this long, narrow lake.  The weather was beautiful, and many people were out taking boat rides.

From Loch Lomond we drove to the city of Stirling, with it's castle perched high on a hill.

The castle museum was closed when we arrived, as it was already evening, but we got to look out over the city from the high walls, and listen to a bagpiper play.

Next door to the castle is the Holy Rude church, and the city's old cemetery.  

After exploring the area, we decided to take a risk for supper-- a Mexican restaurant!  For Scotland, it actually wasn't too bad, and Asta got to wear a stylish hat.

Then it was back to the cabin for a much needed rest!