UK Roadtrip - Edinburgh

29th September


A trip to Edinburgh would not be complete without a trip to Edinburgh Castle, so this morning off we set up the Royal Mile to walk around the castle.  Getting premium parking right by the gate thanks to Nanny's Disability Pass, we would have been first in the door... except that we were 30 minutes early.  So instead we went for a walk down the Royal Mile, into all the little, but very expensive souvenir shops and took in the local sights. 

The Royal Mile



Walking up to the Castle

After 9am we returned back to Edinburgh Castle and bought our tickets.  Heading into the castle we decided not to get audio guides and just walk around ourselves.  Heading inside the castle through the castle gates we found ourselves upon the Argyle Battery where there was a sign for the next guided tour... in less than 5 minutes.  Timing that perfectly we decided we could wait the whole 4 minutes!

The Argyle Battery

The View from the Argyle Battery

Archaeologists have established human occupation of the Castle Rock where Edinburgh Castle sits today, since at least the Iron Age (2nd century AD), although the nature of the early settlement is unclear. There has been a royal castle on the rock since at least the reign of David I in the 12th century, and the site continued to be a royal residence until 1633. From the 15th century the castle's residential role declined, and by the 17th century it was principally used as military barracks with a large garrison. As one of the most important strongholds in the Kingdom of Scotland, Edinburgh Castle was involved in many historical conflicts from the Wars of Scottish Independence in the 14th century to the Jacobite Rising of 1745. Research undertaken in 2014 identified 26 sieges in its 1100-year-old history, giving it a claim to having been "the most besieged place in Great Britain and one of the most attacked in the world".


We joined our tour guide at the Argyle Battery, from here the tour lead us past the One O'clock Gun, the Governor's House, the New Barracks, through Foog's Gate (Fun fact: no one knows why it is called that!), past St Margaret's Chapel and the Forewall and Half-moon Battery before we entered the main square and the highest part of the castle.  In the main square was the Scottish National War Memoriam, the Great Hall, the Royal Palace (including the room where Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to King James I) and the Honours of Scotland: the Scottish Crown Jewels. 

 

 

 

 

The Main Hall

 

St Margaret's Chapel 

  



 

After we had visited just about every room in the castle and read just about every sign (mum was not impressed with me on that!) we headed back down the hill out of the castle.  Continuing along the Royal Mile and down some of the other main streets to do some more shopping!

We did a general drive through Edinburgh visiting the sites and taking in the scenery.  We visited the Scott Monument, which is the largest monument to a writer in the world. It commemorates Sir Walter Scott.  Then we drove past Saint Andrew's House and the Princess Suites. 




 

The Scott Monument

 

  


We tried to visit the Nelson Monument and the National Monument, however couldn't access the lane up as it was blocked off.  Instead we admired them from the base of the hill. 


Finally we stopped off at the Palace of Holyroodhouse and the Scottish Parliament. I have to say Scottish Parliament stands out with its modern type building compared to the older surroundings!

 

Scottish Parliament

The Christmas Shop

From here we stopped off at Tesco's to buy some dinner where we scored lots of reduced chuck out items before heading home to cook it all!

 

 

Heading Home

UK Roadtrip - Nairn to Edinburgh

28th September


Brace yourself for the scenery photos...


We packed up our car and our suitcases, only slightly fuller this morning compared to when we picked it up from the airport! Locked up the door behind us to our little apartment in Nairn. 


   


We took the A939, the Highland Tourist Route, through the Cairngorms National Park visiting little towns such as Grantown-on-Spey, Tomintoul, ending in Braemar.  Here are the scenery photos....





   

I told you to brace yourself. Needless to say it was gorgeous!


We tried to visit Lizzie at Balmoral Castle, hoping she had the kettle on, but it turns out Mum forgot to send the email to let her know we were coming!





In Braemar we visited the charity shops and the local castle; Braemar Castle.  The L-shaped tower Castle was built in 1628 in a commanding position overlooking the River Dee, primarily as a hunting lodge.  The lands around the castle were owned by the Earls of Mar, hence the name Braemar, which translates as the ‘hills of Mar.’ Braemar Castle is the only Community run castle in Scotland.

  

Continuing on the A939 and the A39, we passed through many more little towns, visiting many more charity shops, and Scone Castle, before making it to the city of Perth. 

 

Visiting Perth in Scotland was very confusing despite the fact that Perth, Scotland was founded wayyyy before Perth, Western Australia.  However whenever anyone asked us where we were from, in that split second between saying 'Perth' and 'Western Australia' the look on their face was as if we were the stupidest people alive.  We walked along the shore line and through the sculpture park before heading out on the M9 to Edinburgh. 

Perth

Dodging parked cars and buses through the centre of Edinburgh we found the next little apartment which was our home for the next three nights. Once we unpacked the car, we headed out for a stroll along the nearest main street.  

Queensferry Crossing coming into
Edinburgh

 

  

Edinburgh