Stirling Castle and the Trossachs

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Our full day of sight seeing on the Coach today was enjoyable (sitting). Our first stop was the town of Aberfoyle where the Scottish Wool Mill shop does a brisk business. I bought 2 wool plad scarves for myself.

Our guide on the coach gave us lots of historic background while we viewed scenery that was great. We ate our box lunches at lovely senic David Marshall Park. A cottage there (perhaps the caretaker's ?) had a beautiful garden that was carefully tended. I couldn't resist taking some pictures.

Our next stop was Stirling - the town and the castle. The Castle was very impressive and we could see how, this was once a walled community (in Medieval times) Robert the Bruce was the Scottish king who led the Scots to victory in the battle for Scotland's independence over James II's armies in june 1314.

We then drove through the countryside and a couple of country small farming towns. We stopped to take pictures of Hamish - the Highlands country Kou (Cow, actually he's a Bull and BIG). HAMISH has his own tourist stop, snack bar, gift shop, bathrooms, etc.

We reboarded the coach and continued through more countryside. We saw Lowlands vs. Highlands and many lakes (Lochs) and woods. I took pictures from coach windows. Returning to Edinbrugh, we saw two bridges across the Forth.












We got back to QMU just in time for dinner in the dinning hall - Haddock with potatoes and vegetables. Tasted good - we were all hungry. After dinner, I went back to my room to rest and read while John went on Haunted Underground in Edinbrugh tour with some others from our group. Many teen voices gathered in a "talk circle" kept me company outside my window because the front door to Block A is right below my room. AHSTF office is on first floor of
Block A.

John returned from the tour about 10:00 and said it was fun but better that I didn't go because of stairs in the dark underground. Oh, my sore feet and legs! Then we went to bed.

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Photos

Scottish Wool Center
Retail Therapy

Aberfoyle
We stop here for sight seeing

The Trossachs
region on the line between the Lowlands and Highlands

Ram
Curly horned ram and ewe, feeding

Bah, Bah, Black Sheep
Have you any wool?

David Marshell Lodge
We ate our box lunches here

Caretaker's cottage ?
Beautifiul Garden

Stirling Cstle
Guide gives us orientation about Stirling Castle

Robert the Bruce
Scottish King who led the Scots to victory over the Englsh troops of James II in June 1314

Cieling of Great Hall
Entire roof of Great Hall is made of timber from surrounding area

Stirling Castle
Castle buildings inside the walls

Stirling Castle
building inside the walls

Stirling Castle Wall
with gun emplacements

Down the hill from Stirling Castle
in Medieval times this was a walled City

Hamish grazes
The Highland's country kou (cow, bull actually)

Firth of Forth Bridges
Forth rail Bridge -cantilevered construction
Froth road bridge for cars and pedestrians - looks like the Golden Gate Bridge
We see on our way back into Edinbrugh