Tuesday 4/6/19 Cool and Cloudy with sunshine

My intention was to blog everyday and to some extent I have been as I journal everyday. Internet connections, wifi availability and some times phone battery have hampered my efforts however and I have fallen behind with my posts.

I’m so excited to have finally arrived in my beloved Scotland; a lifelong dream, that I just have to share it so I promise to catch up with earlier travels, including the days in Ireland very soon but I just have to share this today!

Ron I travelled up from Dover to Carlisle on Sunday and then after visiting Carlisle Castle and Hadrian’s wall yesterday, we arrived in Scotland at about 6:30 last night.

We are staying Fascadale Croft in West Lothian, which means we are situated approximately halfway between Glasgow and Edinburgh which is ideal for exploring the central Scottish belt. Our Croft is very comfortable, probably the best BnB Rob and I have found to date and very good value!

Today we visited Linlithgow Palace, Blackness Castle (where some of Outlander was filmed) and Hopetoun house. Our first full day has been a brilliant day, the weather is cool but we had no rain until we just arrived home earlier this evening.

Linlithgow palace

We parked near the loch to walk around to the castle you can see in the background and the greeting party arrived to meet us! Swans, ducks and other water birds started swimming towards us. It was quite surreal and a very sweet moment.

They were expecting food of course and we’ll trained they were too but we were a an empty handed disappointment!

The palace was outstanding! Four towers in tact and I felt like a child exploring tunnels, walkways and the rooms of Kings and Queens gone by.

I counted over 110 steps in each tower. Who needs a Stairmaster when you can go exploring instead 😄.

Each of the towers branch off at five different levels and the outer walls are a maze of tunnels and rooms.

The lower levels were for the servants and guards and as you go up there are halls, bedrooms, a chapel and even a very tiny room at the the top of the highest tower.

The central courtyard also had a very decorative fountain.

On the second level there was a display of items found when restoration excavation works where carried out. Most were pottery but one of the cases held the remains of a child’s shoe.

Blackness Castle

On the Firth of the Forth sits the ship that never sailed… A medieval fortress that was more recently used as a setting in “Outlander” tv series.

Hopetoun House

17th century stately country estate. We decided not to go in as only a very small portion is open to the public. Very impressive from the outside I must say!

Queensferry Crossing

One of three bridges that cross over the Forth. I caught the cable stays in the afternoon sunlight and it reminded me of thr sails on a ship, stunning!

Rob and I have had a brilliant day. Couldn’t have asked for better for our first day in Scotland!