Today is our last day. Our final and exceptional visit was to Rosslyn Chapel just outside the city of Edinburgh. The chapel was built out of red sandstone by the William Sinclair family in 1446. William Sinclair’s goal was to create a Bible in stone for his family. There are many stories about the building and preservation of Rosslyn Chapel. …
July 30, 2019 (Edinburgh, Edinburgh Castle, St. Giles Cathedral, John Knox Home, Preston Field)
Leaving Carberry Mansion and it’s picturesque grounds, we arrived this morning in Edinburgh where we picked up two Scottish guides who gave us a tour of the city, as well as taking us through Edinburgh Castle, the St. Giles Cathedral and the home of John Knox. As our group was working to stay together when walking through the city to …
July 29, 2019 (Lindisfarne on Holy Island)
After a wonderful breakfast at the Carberry Mansion, we embarked for the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, which is actually in England. Lindisfarne is one of the most important centers of early English Christianity. It was here the four Gospels were copied and illustrated by the monks of the Lindisfarne Priory. Years of dedication were spent preserving early Christianity through the …
July 28 (St. Andrews, Falkland Village, Carberry Tower Mansion)
Today we said farewell to Dundee and had a lovely drive to St. Andrews where we saw the University, passed by the famous St. Andrews golf course, walked through the ruins of St. Andrews Church and then St. Andrews Abbey where John Knox was taken prisoner and put in a Galley ship for several years. We enjoyed walking around the …
July 27, 2019 (Dunfermline Palace & Abbey, Linlithgow, Stirling Castle)
Today we experienced torrential rains as we visited wonderful sites. We started with Dunfermline Abbey and Palace ruins. Dunfermline Abbey is a Church of Scotland Parish Church in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland. The church occupies the site of the ancient chancel and transepts of a large medieval Benedictine abbey, which was sacked in 1560 during the Scottish Reformation and permitted to fall into disrepair. Part of the old abbey church …
July 26, 2019 (Dundee, Pitlochry, Perth, Scone Palace)
Today we left Inverness on our way to Dundee. We stopped at Pitlochry, a lovely quaint village for a snack. Beautiful countryside every day! Lunch was at Perth where some of our group discovered a very nice tea room. The big event of the day was Scone Palace (pronounced ‘scoon’). We toured the palace, the vast grounds and of course …
July 25, 2019 (Culloden, Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle)
Today, most of us headed on the bus to Culloden where, in 1746 was the final Jacobite rising. The lost to the British meant a harsh end to the Highland clans of Scotland. After lunch we all embarked on a boat cruise into the Loch Ness where we landed on the shores of the Loch Ness to visit the Urquhart …
July 24, 2019 (Oban, Glenfinnan, Ft. Williams, Inverness)
Recap of the day – Today we drove to the Glenfinnan monument where Bonnie Prince Charlie raised his standard thus beginning the Jacobite Rising in 1745. The drive was glorious with continuous views of mountains and Lochs. We even saw a steam engine passenger train, through the trees, heading to cross the very same Glenfinnan Viaduct the Hogwarts Express crosses …
July 23, 2019 (Oban, Mull, Iona)
Recap of the day – Today we left Oban for an hour ferry ride to the Isle of Mull. From there our bus drove us for an hour to the foot ferry that would take us to Iona. The road was one lane with places for oncoming vehicles to pause for passing. Once on Iona the sun came out and …
July 22, 2019 (Glasgow, Oban)
Recap of the day – After a delicious breakfast, we load the bus setting off for Oban. From our bus, we viewed beautiful scenery on our drive through the Scottish countryside from Glasgow, including sheep, and a flock of black sheep! We stopped at Inveraray for a stretch and snacks. We visited a Woolle mill, saw a Scotsman in full …