Scotland has turned out to be a beautiful country, beyond all my best expectations. I try to summarize the fundamental stages.
TANTALLON CASTLE
https://goo.gl/maps/5fBRfWHJ4382
We went to visit Tantallon Castle southeast of Edinburgh in East Lothian. It is certainly one of the most fascinating places visited during the trip to Scotland. It is a medieval fortress completely overlooking the sea.
In reality there are few rooms and a few corridors accessible by stairs, but the charm is intact.It was built around the middle of the 14th century on the initiative of Count William Douglas. The Douglas dynasty, however, was always in contrast with the crown and in fact the castle was reduced to rubble in 1651 and definitively abandoned.
What really characterizes it is the presence of a single red stone wall 15 meters high to act as protection. Then there is the classic sighting of a ghost on dark and stormy evenings … good hunting!
After the visit we left in the direction of Stirling to go to sleep in a B&B in the external area of ​​the city.
STIRLING CASTLE
https://goo.gl/maps/HBEQotJC1Uo
The visit to Stirling Castle took us all morning.The castle is one of the largest and most important fortresses in the whole of the United Kingdom and is situated on a rock that was once a volcano, now inactive. Its appearance is imposing, above all due to the steep precipices that surround it on three sides. The castle of Stirling immediately presents a large esplanade where the monuments dedicated to the national heroes known also outside the national borders of Scotland are found, that is the king Robert the Bruce and William Wallace (the hero immortalized in the film “Braveheart” of Mel Gibson).
Many of the sovereigns of Scotland were crowned there, including Maria Stuarda who was crowned on 9 September 1543 inside the royal chapel.At the Battle of Stirling Bridge, in 1297, William Wallace defeated the much larger and more impressive English army by trapping enemy soldiers on the bridge.From its imposing walls you can admire the panorama of the rich Scottish landscape and it is worth remembering that the surrounding countryside was the battlefield of the past.
The faithful reconstruction of the kitchens and other rooms immerse you in the normal life inside a castle and make the visit particularly suitable for children. They are also given the opportunity to wear period clothing. Inside the castle there are restaurants, bars and toilets so the visit can be extended even for several hours
William Wallace’s national monument
On a hill north of Stirling stands the majestic tower dedicated to the national hero of Scotland, William Wallace who fought against King Edward I of England in the War of Independence. The tower was completed in 1869, it is of Victorian Gothic style 70 meters high, built on sandstone foundations. Once inside the building armed with patience to face the 246 steps that separate you from the highest point from where you can enjoy the wonderful panorama of the city of Stirling.
Later we visited the city of Stirling, we can easily walk around due to its small size. We were not able to enter the most characteristic pubs as after a certain time these places are forbidden to children.
LAGO KATHERINE
https://goo.gl/maps/7bPqnEfCdEJ2
Loch Katrine is a lake (loch) in central Scotland, located in the Trossachs area in the administrative area of ​​Stirling. It is the largest of the Trossachs lakes.
Loch Katrine was made famous by the poem by Sir Walter Scott “The woman of the lake”. We took the “Sir Walter Scott” steamboat for a very relaxing navigation.
If you want, you can also rent mountain bikes, tandems, children’s bikes and electric bikes to travel the paths around the shore
FALKIRK WHEEL
https://goo.gl/maps/NFXfZnrSBeu
The Falkirk Wheel is a hydraulic lift for rotating boats, which connects the Forth and Cly channel to the Union Canal.
The difference in height between the two basins at the point where the wheel was built is 24 meters, roughly equivalent to the height of an eight-story building.
There are also some tools like slides, pumps and dams with which children can become familiar with the principles of hydrodynamics.
THE FIFE COAST
https://goo.gl/maps/i5mYNicXksH2
In the afternoon, tour of the coast above Edinburgh to visit the fishing villages in Fife (we crossed the bridge over the Firth of Forth).
Cities and villages are modest in size, but it is truly spectacular to explore them on foot to enjoy impressive views along the “Fife Coastal Path” and some local gastronomic delights (fish and chips, cheeses, craft beers, …).
SAINT ANDREWS
https://goo.gl/maps/jQ1YxcbFsbF2
The small historic town of St. Andrews is the world center of golf and a lively center with one of Scotland’s most fascinating cathedrals.
St. Andrews is the oldest university town in Scotland, full of charm thanks to its crowded student streets in rigid school uniform and the imposing remains of the castle and the cathedral.
Also visit St. Salvator’s College, founded in 1450, the oldest of all the colleges that make up the University of Saint Andrews.
GLAMIS CASTLE
https://goo.gl/maps/xPWNA1NeiNp
The castle of Glamis is the manor that dominates the village of Glamis, near Angus.
Glamis Castle was the birthplace of Queen Mother Elizabeth, mother of current Queen Elizabeth II of England. The property around the residence covers 57 square kilometers and in addition to the Italian garden, where there are many paths, the rose garden and where agricultural products such as wheat are produced, it is also possible to come across the farm for meat production.
Here too it is possible to meet the ghost of the castle and, if really skilled, try to solve the mystery of the secret room.
ABERLEMNO
https://goo.gl/maps/4fiJoYjVubF2
Halfway between Glamis Castle and Dunnottar Castle along the B9134 road it is worth stopping near the village of Aberlemno.
Here are the sculpted stones of Aberlemno (not visible in winter as the stones are covered to protect them).
These stones were carved between 500 and 800 BC by the Picts, a pre-Celtic tribe. The most interesting and famous is certainly the one found in the church cemetery of Aberlemno. The other stones are located about 500 meters on the roadside.
The first stone has incisions where a snake, a double disc, a rod, a mirror and a comb are recognizable. The stone that instead is located in front of the church of the village of Aberlemno, is a cross-shaped slab that presents different Celtic designs.
STONEHAVEN CASTLE
https://goo.gl/maps/Zve68QWQSFU2
Dunnottar Castle is located on a secondary road, about two kilometers from Stonehaven on the east coast of Scotland. It is located on a peninsula overlooking the North Sea, connected to the mainland only by a small isthmus.
The fort is located in an extraordinary defensive position. After the entrance gate, a dirt path leads to an exceptional vantage point. A walkway downhill, made easy by steps, leads to the level of the cliff, after which a short and steep path climbs to the monumental area.
The most impressive and luxurious building that we find inside is the Tower House with the central hall, the private room of the lord and other rooms placed in the upper section.
Carried all the way back by car from Aberdeen to Edinburgh along the motorway.
ROSSLYN CHAPEL
https://goo.gl/maps/GBxrjTfCiPu
The Rosslyn Chapel is located just outside the village of Roslin, near Edinburgh.
Made famous by Dan Brown’s 2003 best-seller, The Da Vinci Code, it was built around the middle of the fifteenth century by Count William Sinclair. Many of his decorations and drawings are connected to the Freemasons and the Templars for which the Chapel is the object of many myths and legends such as the presence of the Holy Grail. There is no corner of the structure that does not appear meticulously decorated, almost obsessively such as columns, windows, ceilings and hidden niches are rich in details.
One element in particular attracts the attention of visitors: the apprentice’s Column,
There are many plants represented in the sculptures of the Chapel and the most mysterious of all is the one that looks like a corn cob: at the time of the construction of Rosslyn, maize was an unknown plant in Europe because America still had to be discovered.
William St. Claire, who died in 1330 in Spain, is buried in the Chapel Crypt. Templar symbols are found in his tomb: a sword, the cross and the tree of life. In the afternoon we returned the rented car to the airport.
EDINBURGH
https://goo.gl/maps/74o4ffLBEQq
Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, is a small town rising on the hills.
It has a medieval old town and an elegant Georgian district called New Town, full of neoclassical gardens and palaces. The center is dominated by the Edinburgh Castle and it is the seat of the jewels of the Crown of Scotland and the Stone of Destiny, used in the coronation of the Scottish rulers.
The pedestrianized street of the Royal Mile, flanked by shops, is the classic street where souvenirs, traditional tartans and whiskeys are sold. If you are in these parts, on any day of the week except Sundays, at 13:00 o’clock, you will hear the echo of an explosion by the blank cannon (One O ’Clock Gun).
Here is some information that could be useful.
FLIGHT:
I traveled with the company EasyJet directed Venice - Edinburgh, unfortunately the ticket price was not really a low-cost but I saved time by not making intermediate stops compared to other companies.
Edinburgh airport is very close to the city and is very well connected with buses even at night (Airlink).
I booked very early for the combination of golf tournaments paying by credit card.
CAR RENT:
We booked very early for the combination of golf tournaments.
In the activation of the options, given that in Scotland you drive in the left lane, I did the full insurance coverage.
I advise you to return the car with a full tank of fuel, otherwise the rental company will pay dear gasoline.
HOTEL RESERVATION / B & B:
I relied on website for the entire tour by paying with a credit card.
I have used both hotel, rooms and B&B rooms that have noticeably different prices.
The “Premier Inn” hotel is present everywhere even in the city center with good prices and always close to steakhouses. But sometimes the rooms were a bit noisy.
The B&Bs in the countryside are very nice, characteristic and ideal for those traveling with families but they are small so it is not always easy to find a place,
Consider that the standard room in Scotland does not have a bathroom in the room unless specifically requested.
TICKETS FOR MUSEUM / CASTLE VISITS
I relied on the site VisitScotland to buy a single ticket for access to many Scottish sites (explorer-pass).
I bought the ticket in the “7 DAY FAMILY” option via internet with a credit card, read the instructions carefully because the ticket lasts 14 days but you can only use it in 7 days
WHISKEY
Let’s not forget to make a stop at the whiskey distilleries (not all distilleries allow access to children).
bye, bye
Massimo