Blogs from Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe - page 2

Today we split up and did different things. Don got up at 4:30 am and drove 1.5 hours to Saint Andrews to try to play the old course. Unfortunately, only the people who basically spent the night in the queue were able to get a spot so about noon, he headed back. I’m the meantime, I packed up our laundry and went to a local laundrette. It was a nice relaxing morning with my book. When Don got back, we went for a fish and chips lunch where a talkative Scotsman regaled us with stories about his naval family in the US. We walked from there to the National Museum of Scotland. It didn’t help us get too familiar with the history of Scotland, unfortunately. Then we did the Hop On, Hop Off bus around the ... read more

SUN, 18 SEP 2022 - Day 11: Uncover Edinburgh’s Treasures - Ramble up the Royal Mile today and see the iconic sights of one of Britain's most enchanting cities. The elegant Palace of Holyroodhouse, in the shadow of Arthur's Seat, and the Scottish Parliament feature on your sightseeing tour with a Local Specialist. Visit Edinburgh Castle perched atop Castle Rock overlooking the city. Admire the elegant Georgian architecture in the New Town and amble through the hidden passages of the Old Town before enjoying an evening at leisure. Consider an OPTIONAL EXPERIENCE including traditional song, dance and Scottish fare.... read more

I leave the Highlands after passing Kilchurn Castle in my previous blog at . This fourth and final blog of my ancestral visitations to castles in Scotland covers my visits to the Lothians. 31 Aug 2022 Wednesday. My next stop of the day is Doune Castle which was originally constructed on the site of a Roman fort in the 1200's, but restored to its current structure by Sir Robert Stewart, 3rd Duke of Albany (17th ggf), the younger son of King Robert II of Scotland (18th ggf). His ascendancy continued when his elder brother, Sir John Stewart, Earl of Carrick (17th ggf), gained the throne as Robert III (the name change was to avoid connection with the earlier English appointed King John Balliol). However, King Robert III "The Lame" suffered a debilitating injury from a horse ... read more

On August 4 I flew to Edinburgh, Scotland to visit my friend, Ron, take in the Fringe Festival and go on a road trip to the Isle of Skye. On my first day I hiked over Calton Hill, down to the New canton Burial Ground, past Holyroodhouse and the Scottish Parliament into Holyrood Park, then hiked to the top of Arthur’s Seat for the panoramic view of the area. During my stay I visited four art museums, all worth a visit: The National Portrait Gallery, The Gallery of Modern Art, The Scottish National Gallery and The Royal Scottish Academy. The many Fringe Festival venues were spread around the central part of the city in spaces from tiny to large where we saw drama, standup comedy, live music, acrobatics, and the Military Tattoo. There were many musicians, ... read more

We had our typical morning…up at 6, luggage to the bus at 6:45, breakfast at 7, load the bus and depart at 8. Today was mostly a travel day we had to get from the Highlands at Strathpeffer to our home for the next 2 days in Edinburgh. Our first stop was a little Victorian town called Pitlochry which is a cute town with lots of shops and restaurants. It is located close to the Cairngorms; the largest national park in the UK, which we drove through and would continue to do so for some time. Pitlochry was our morning bathroom / snack break. Interestingly enough the public toilets didn’t open until 10 am. We arrived at 9:50 so there was a long line!! Our next stop was St Andrews golf course. St. Andrews is the ... read more