Oban to Stirling Castle

Wednesday morning began with some sightseeing over Oban from Mccaig's Tower.

We then headed to Loch Lomond stopping off at the beautiful St Conan's Kirk. It was lovely but at less than 150 years old it seemed quite new compared to other buildings we've seen.

We stayed in a place that looked out at Loch Lomond. Not that we could see it with all the clouds about.

Thursday we headed to Stirling with lots of stops. The Falkirk Wheel was interesting but disappointed it wasn't moving whilst I was there. 

I was surprised how many people were at the Kelpies monument.

I learnt all about Robert the Bruce's tactics at the Battle of Bannockburn Experience.

Then we checked out the nearby ruins of Cambuskenbeth Abbey, where quite a few kings were crowned but hardly anyone visits today. We'd learnt about it from a Neil Oliver podcast, he walks his dog by it!

 

Then I walked up to the Wallace Monument and decided not to push my knee climbing up the 246 steps inside it as well. 

The Wallace Monument from Stirling Castle.

Today has been my favourite place on mainland Scotland, Stirling Castle. We spent 5.5 hours there as there was so much to see and it was all so interesting. I even got to learn all about blackwork, a style of embroidery that Mary Queen of Scots used to embroider in Parliament. She was so good she could do it while listening to what was being said but the noblemen complained she couldn't do two things at once!

The King's Palace has been refurbished as it would have been during King James V's time, when it was first built. There were even 'characters' in each room, who were so knowledgeable about the time period.

Recreating these tapestries took 13 years and lots of specialised research and work. 

Ceiling of kings.

This evening we met Dimity's cousins for a lovely pub meal, I had Bangers and Mash and a Scottish beer recommended by the barman. This afternoon the sun was actually out and we sat outside but by 6.30pm it was rather chilly.