First stop, Scone Palace.
It's a "new" building of early 1800s, not part of my Explorer Pass.
Had to pay £17.50 (castle + garden).
Scone's claim to fame is the Stone of Scone
(now in Edinburg Castle).
But the original wooden throne that fits over the stone is still here.
The history of Scone is even older.
Moot Hill is the site of Scot coronation. It also housed Scottish parliaments for over 100 years.
Photos are not allowed inside. So, all my photos are "illegal" and badly shot.
Today, a pot fest was drawing a lot of people (outside of the palace).
Lovely garden. Rhodies were blazing. A few peacocks.
I got lost in the maze. Had to crawl through a hole in order to get out.
Next, we visited Lochleven Castle. £10 including a short (~10 min) boat ride (~every 45 min).
This is part of the Explorer Pass. PS decided to buy the same pass here.
6 passengers to, 11 back. Next boat only 2 passengers arriving.
Mary of Scots was house-arrested here for ~1 year. She escaped.
Very peaceful. Some midge. Not much left of the orignal building of Mary's time.
A cemetery by the shore with its own watch tower for body snatchers.
Many white swans on lake.
Next, Doune Castle. Another ruin. £10 (included in the Explorer Pass, otherwise, I don't recommend).
Late 14th century. Ruined before 1800.
Mary of Scot stayed here on occasions.
Monty Python and few other movies were filmed here.
I no longer remember why I picked this one to visit, probably because it was on the way to Stirling.
Stirling Castle, one of the most historically significant, and maybe my favorite castle on this trip.
£19.5. (included in the Explorer Pass)
Free guided tour every hour. The guides are patient to answer my questions.
We parked on the road before the hill at ~4pm. A short walk.
The setting is excellent: on top of a bluff.
The earliest structure dates back to the 13th century, but mostly built during the reign of James IV, V, VI (until 1600).
The ceilings of each room is interesting, especially the one with heads.
Now the heads on the ceiling are replicas. The originals are saved in glass cases.
Continue our theme of Mary of Scot,
After checking into the hotel, I walked into the town. PS was too tired to venture out.
Checked out the old bridge, then upto Gowan Hill.
Quite of some rabbits at the bottom of this hill.
The 2 cannons here are purely for decorative purpose.
The beheading stone is thought to be where the heads were placed before being chopped off.
On the way back to the hotel, I stopped at the cemetery next to Holy Rude, in time for sunset.
A very nice and elegantly looking town. Many fancy old buildings are now converted into hotels.
6/10. Saturday.
Good and filling breakfast at this B&B.
Inquired about the blood sausage and haggis, noted the brand (MacSween).
Visited Stirling Holy Rude (a relic of the true cross). £5. Opens at 9am. The 600 year-old original oak ceiling is impressive (restored in 1940).
