We left at 8:30am and got home at 10:30pm. Castle Campbell, Lochleven Castle, Huntingtower Castle, Stanley Mill, Dunkeld Cathedral, dinner at the Logerait Inn, The Enchanted Forest in Pitlochry, then home. I will fill it out tomorrow.
So...on the drive to castle campbell we were able to get on the smallest road ever! It was barely a 1 lane track it was supposed to the 1 direction although we did meet some cars coming the option direction that should not have been there. The castle is situated way up at the end of a beautiful glen overlooking the valley. It's very isolated and we were the only visitors there at the time.
Lochleven Castle situated a little island on the largest freshwater loch in the lowlands. it was originally built by the english in the 1300 but William Wallace took it from them during his campaign and ever since it's been in Scottish hands. The lock and grounds are privately owned india state overlooks the castle from the shore. We were taken by a small boat out to the island for a visit. It really is a beautiful place. Mary Queen of Scots didn't think so though when she was imprisoned there for about a year. During that time she miscarried twins and was forced to abdicate the throne of Scotland.
Huntingtower Castle what is a fun surprise as it was owned by the Murray clan. I mentioned to the lady working there that's my grandmother was a murray . She immediately recognized my lairdship addressing me as such. While we were touring the castle she looked up all of the other properties that belongs to my clan. It was originally built by a nother clan but they turned traders to the throne of King James by imprisoning him there shortly during good youth, and all of their property and titles were stricken from the record. It had originally been a very odd build server to maintain our separated by a 9 foot gap . This gave rise to an interesting story called the maiden's leap. The young lady of the castle had a male visitor who was of course staying in a separate our than she was . She decided to pay him a midnight visit and a service reported this to the mother. Fleeing, the maiden lept from one tower to the next clearing the 9 foot gap, then ran down and got in her bed before she could be discovered. Kari braved the same gap via a small wooden walkway, though not quite so bravely!
Stanley Mill was a HUGE cotton milling complex . Though impressive in size and complexity it was really a rather depressing is it due to the fact there were so many horrible stories poor working conditions in child labor.
Dunkeld Cathedral was just closing when we got there but we did get it to work around the outside of it and see it's beautiful ruined facades . then we got into our only trouble during our stay in scotland, so far... We accidentally got locked into the complex and while climbing over a haste to get out were lightly reprimanded by very kind elderly lady.
Dinner at the Logerait Inn was outstanding Kari had fish and chips and I had pork belly.
The enchanted forest was beyond belief . If you told me that they shine some light on trees and turned on some music you think sure great . The whole thing was outstanding it was like being inside music . Kari discovered a small puddle that made it look as if there were a hole in the ground that lead to a different world , due to the reflection . (
Here is the route map)
