Scotland - Saturday 3rd May - Stirling

We only have one day in Stirling so we are off to fit in some historic sites, and follow the footsteps of Robert the Bruce (above) who is possibly an ancestor of mine. (There are millions of people who claim they are descended from Robert the Bruce, I googled it once).

 

Sterling Castle

 

 The problem with castles are they are usually on top of a big hill.

This makes them easier to defend and you can see the approaching enemy miles away. 

 

So although not far from our air B&B it was a huge uphill walk for my poor hip. 

 

 

 

 

The fun thing is that its the VE day 80th anniversary this week so the castle is holding some special events to celebrate, including people dressed as land army girls and a 1940's fashion parade.

They are having a swing dance tonight.

 

We took the guided tour which was great. 

But we needed to get on our way early because we had tickets booked for Banockburn in the afternoon.

 This cannon is taking aim at the Wallace memorial. Not a fan of Mel Gibson then.... (the Braveheart movie cops a lot of flack in Scotland, and maybe everywhere).

Then after wandering around and trying to catch a bus to Banockburn we gave up and took a taxi. We are usually pretty good at navigating public transport systems in new towns,  but this one was confusing and we were short of time. The taxi driver gave us his number and said call me when your finished and I'll collect you, which worked out really well.

Banockburn

They are not really sure if this was the site of the battle.

But this is where there is the memorial and museum.

There is Stirling Castle in the distance, weren't we just there a minute ago!

Its cool, but not so cold that we need our winter coats that we have been lugging around everywhere.

Here's Robert again. My might be ancestor. 

 Then we visited the Battle of Banockburn experience.

Its one of those round movie theatre things where there are images on all sides and you are suppose to feel like you are in the battle. (We did something similar at Waterloo and it was wonderful).

This time it broke down, or the computer went offline or something so we didn't get the full experience!

 

While sitting outside the museum waiting for our taxi to come back we saw the news from home. Anthony Albanese has got back in, following the federal election, with a huge majority. Its the first time in our lives we haven't voted. We arranged an exemption as we were going to be away. (voting in Australia is compulsory and you are fined if you don't turn up).

Tonight we went to a local restaurant which was easy to walk to.  T.Js,

 There is a pub next door to our B&B called 'The Wall' but we are sick of pub food, all the menus are the same.

Tomorrow its a short train trip to Glasgow. 

Poor Graham has to get the bags down all those stairs again...

 

 

Travel day - Friday 2nd May - Inverness to Stirling

For the next two nights we are staying in a small room we booked online. Of course we are on the very top floor up four flights of narrow stairs! Poor Graham with the suitcases..

Thats our room with the bay window and the wonderful view.

 

Up with the birds soaring past the window.

Its built into the old city wall and the street is apparently the oldest paved street in the UK.

 

Fish and chips for dinner...

 

 

And a DEEP FRIED MARS BAR...

(just to say that we tried it. It was okay tasted like you'd expect).

 

 Goodnight everyone,

its still light outside but its Scotland so its likely  to be 9.30pm.

 

 

Lossiemouth - Thursday 1st May

Well if we come to Scotland we have to drop into Lossie.

 

I'll have to compare the photos to the ones from 20 years ago which are still packed in a box somewhere.

We went to the museum. I wish I'd looked at the family tree stuff before we left (sorry Cathy) because they where really interested when I told them my surname. I'll check when we get home.

 

 

Then on our way back to Inverness we stopped at a convenient garden centre for lunch, sounds a bit silly but it had a huge cafe, was really busy with folks having a day out and we had a really nice lunch.

 

Then it was one night in Inverness before we head south. At the Mercure which was more nicely decorated than some of the previous ones we have stayed at.

 

We walk across the bridge (River Ness) to do some laundry.

 

As we are sick of the Mercure menu  we went to a restaurant next door for dinner.

 

Where Graham had a risotto that was so heavy with garlic that I wouldn't let him breathe on me for 24 hours.

 

This is the view from our window, the train station is at the end of the street opposite.

 

 

 Some yobbos had a screaming match in the street in the middle of the night that kept us awake. It continued for hours.

Its not even Friday or Saturday night...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edinburgh to Elgin - Wednesday 30th April- Travel and Travel...

No photos today.

We took a train to Inverness, and picked up a hire car. 

We struggled to find a hotel so ended up at a Travelodge on the other side of Elgin.

Back on track tomorrow. 

The weathers nice, no rain and its coolish but not cold enough for our heavy coats. 

Edinburgh - Tuesday 29th April - Just Passing, thought we'd drop in...

We couldn't avoid stopping for one night in Edinburgh, there was no way to get around it by train.

 

As much as we love this city, but we tried to avoid it as  its expensive and there are too many steps.

 

So as we only here for an afternoon we visited the Art Gallery, somewhere we hasn't been before.

 

 

 

 

And here is the view of Edinburgh 200 years ago.

 

One bit of sunshine and all the Scots are out.

 

 

We finally had a decent meal.

A curry.

 

We ordered too much food as usual, but it was nice. (Slightly too hot).

 

 We are staying tonight at the Premier Inn in Rose Street.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

York - Monday 28th April - Day out in York

Like a few of the places on this trip we have been to York before and have done all the top tourist things, so this time we are only here for one day.

More buses today so we caught a bus from the stop opposite the Hotel. They said it would be hot again so I didn't take a jacket and I was cold.

We stopped at York Minster, didn't go inside because we did that last trip. 

 

There is a new statue of Queen Elizabeth. 

She once met Paddington Bear too.

We visited the York Chocolate story.

York is where the big Rowntrees factory is. So its the birthplace of Kit Kats, Smarties, Black Cat, Quality Street  etc. 

We didn't eat any chocolate over Easter. The thought of it made our tummy's turn..

We made up for it today with LOTS of chocolate treats! 

We even decorated our own white chocolate lolly pops.

 I also bought a brown teddy friend for PJ bear who I've named Kit Kat bear.

 

Then it was a visit to a National Trust property near the Cathedral..

The Treasurer's House

 We had a guided tour and we were the only ones on the tour.

 https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/yorkshire/treasurers-house-york

 The Shambles are covered in scaffolds no not as pretty as usual.

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shambles

 We had lunch in a nice pub so it didn't really matter that we are still eating our way through the Mercure menu for dinner.

 

Nice G&T.