Paula from Lost in Translation hosts this challenge once a month. She chooses five words and matches the words with photos. It’s a fun challenging challenge! See what you can come up with, thinking outside the box helps.
Buoyant Charming Ill-Mannered Perpetual Tubular
Buoyant
As we are in Bali right now, I thought this photo of Lachie on a beanbag is a good one for Buoyant
A Charming cobble-stoned street, Dean Village, Edinburgh
Ill-Mannered
Petitenget Beach, Seminyak, Bali
One thing you can always rely on is the Perpetual tides coming in and out
This week Donna from Windkisses is hosting Lens-Artists Challenge with the theme “Over the Hill”. This phrase is most used for people getting on in life but it can also mean what is over the hill. Is the climb worth it you think standing at the bottom, and so you start to climb and often when you reach the top there is another hill, tantalising you to keep on climbing.
I searched my archives for hills climbed and for hills driven up, the views are incredible and worth every step from my aching legs.
This week Dr. B has posed the challenge of bridges. I remember posting some bridges earlier, but here goes again!
Arched glass bridge, Kings Park, Perth WA
Standing 52 metres high, the rusted steel structure finish was designed to blend in with the trees in the gardens. It provides a potent reminder of the rusted steel of camps, farms and mines in the Western Australian bush at the time of Federation. Source: Kings Park and Botanic Garden
Macclesfield Bridge
There is a short story about Macclesfield Bridge. In October 1874 a barge containing coffee and nuts exploded under this bridge. The bridge was destroyed and three men were killed, but the iron columns were left intact. The explosion could be heard from a mile away and caused uproar among the animals at the nearby London Zoo. (Posted as part of My A to Z Travel Challenge – L is for London – Part Two – 🏴)
During our stay in Edinburgh we hired a car for two days to explore outside of the city.
Day 1 – Pittenweem, St. Andrew’s and Perth
We walked over to the Hertz Rental office and picked up a car after a very long wait! It seems in this office if they see you are foreign or speak with an accent they go over every minute detail at least four times, I found it insulting and time-wasting and it did not give a very good impression of Scotland being tourist friendly.
So we got off to a bit of a late start but finally got on our way. Our first step was going to be Anstruther, just over an hour’s drive from Edinburgh. By the time lunchtime came though we were passing through Pittenweem. It’s a tiny fishing village in Fife on the East coast of Scotland. We found a cosy restaurant for lunch right on the harbour.
Crossing over the Queen’s Ferry Bridge
Leven Beach
Pittenweem Harbour
The Promenade, Pittenweem
A memorial dedicated to the men and women who made their living from the sea and also to those who lost it at sea
Getting colder as the day wore on!
John Dory Bistro – where we had a delicious fish lunch
We ended up driving through Anstruther and went onto St. Andrew’s, the home of the famous golf course. It really was only a short stop here as the weather was becoming worse.
The ruins of St. Andrew’s Cathedral
Back in the car and then it was off to our sister city Perth! Just to see if there were any similarities really. It sits on the River Tay and is a big university town. We saw many students that day walking around with gowns and mortar boards, obviously having just graduated. The architecture was impressive but could do with a good wash down with a power hose.
On our way we passed through Dundee and saw the RSS Discovery
River Tay Bridge
Looking towards the Court House
River Tay
The River Tay
End of Day One
Day Two – Loch Lomond and The Trossachs
After another hearty breakfast at the Apex we set off again this time in the other direction. The weather was not looking good but dressed appropriately we hoped for the best!
Our first stop was Doune Castle, now famous again for being Winterfell in Game of Thrones. Being a big fan I really wanted to take a look. It was also used for the castles in Outlander and Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
On the way we passed by these 30 metre high steel horses on our way to Doune Castle. They just appeared seemingly out of nowhere so I took the best photo I could in a moving car!
Back in the car it was off to Callander, a small town near the River Leith and on the edge of The Trossachs National Park.
Callander
Eas Gobhain – Gaelic for The Smith’s Cascade
Had to have a coffee here, being a big Peaky fan!
After a quick look on Google maps I saw there was a waterfall with an old bridge nearby. It was just a five minute drive away. When we got there I realised we would have to do a bit of a hike! But determined to see it we trudged on. It was called Bracklinn Falls and was actually a series of waterfalls with a wooden bridge crossing them.
Sunrays peeping through the clouds
Overlooking The Trossachs
Bracklinn Falls
On the Bracklinn Bridge
Bracklinn Bridge
Lunchtime
Lake Menteith was our next stop and we found a beautiful spot for lunch right on the shores of the lake.
Fishing on the Lake of Monteith
Monteith Parish Church
From Lake Menteith we drove onto Loch Lomond with a quick stop at Balloch Castle. This castle dates back to 1238 and was the home for hundreds of years to the Earls of Lennox. Now it is on the Buildings at Risk Register and the grounds officially became a national park in 1980.
Balloch Castle
Beautiful views over Loch Lomond
Sadly derelict and boarded up!
Loch Lomond
Maid of the Loch
Climbing out of the Loch!
After many attempts by my dear hubby at taking my photo, I settled for the above photo which looks as if I’m climbing out of the Loch fully clothed.
Stirling Castle
Much to my disappointment by the time we arrived at Stirling Castle it was closing. But the surrounding areas including the graveyard was full of interesting graves, monuments and statues.
Stirling Castle
The Royal Chapel
John Knox – Leader of the Scottish Reformation – 1513 – 1572
Robert the Bruce
The Star Pyramid commemorates all who were martyred while seeking religious freedom.
Mars Wark- a wall left from the original house built by John Erskine Earl of Mar , 1570. He was a regent for James I of Scotland
The Holy Rood
Views from the battlements
Views of the Trussochs
Margaret and Agnes Wilson’s monument – Scottish Martyrs
Margaret Wilson 1667 – 11 May 1685, along with her 15 year old sister Agnes were both drowned to death for refusing to swear an oath declaring James VII of Scotland and II of England head of the Church. They were tied to stakes in the sand to await the incoming tide to flow over them. They were certainly cruel times back then!
We certainly enjoyed our week in Scotland. It wasn’t long enough to get everywhere but I think we did our best!
We were recently invited to a Scottish wedding in Edinburgh so decided to have an extended trip and explore the City and surrounding areas. Edinburgh was a first for both of us so we had lots to explore. Arriving from Perth through Doha straight into Edinburgh was brilliant. Travelling on Qatar airways was fantastic. […]
We were recently invited to a Scottish wedding in Edinburgh so decided to have an extended trip and explore the City and surrounding areas. Edinburgh was a first for both of us so we had lots to explore.
Arriving from Perth through Doha straight into Edinburgh was brilliant. Travelling on Qatar airways was fantastic. Doha airport is out of this world, like another planet, so airy and spacious. We spent a relaxing hour or two here.
Some of the amazing sculptures around Doha Airport
We stayed at Apex Grassmarket Hotel and had a room overlooking the Grassmarket. We had such a nice view of the castle as well. Edinburgh is such a great city for walking around and there’s so much interesting history here. There is a big French influence as we found out from all the restaurants we ate in. This must come from Mary Queen of Scots who grew up in France.
Over the next couple of days we walked our feet off enjoying all the sights of Edinburgh. In between our stay we also hired a car to explore what we could of Scotland. Our first port of call was of course the magnificent Edinburgh Castle.
Edinburgh Castle
The view from our room – the magnificent Edinburgh Castle
The city through the stone lookouts
Inside St. Margaret’s Chapel
St. Margaret’s Chapel
There are so many tours around but we decided to go at our own pace and be free to roam wherever we liked.
Next up was the very pretty Dean Village which is about 20 minutes walk from Edinburgh Castle. This is a heritage listed village and well worth a visit.
Dean Village
One of the 18th century buildings in Dean Village
The River Leith flowing through Dean Village
Well Court built in the 1880’s and recently refurbished
Looking through the archway into the courtyard of Well Court
The picturesque Hawthorn Buildings
The clock tower rising above what was once the social hall
Cobblestone house in Dean Village
Next up we had a bit of lunch in a lovely little French restaurant called Escargot Bleu, it was French right down to the waiters and chef!
To walk off this wonderful lunch we headed to Holyroodhouse Palace and the gallery. This was one of my favourite places, very old and beautiful. Gorgeous garden and also enjoyed walking around the rooms. I didn’t realise that this is the Queen’s official residence in Edinburgh so is very much a working palace. Even that night Princess Anne was flying in for a formal dinner with the University.
Holyroodhouse Palace was founded by David I in 1128 as an Augustinian monastery in 1128. In 1501 James IV built a Palace for himself and his bride, Margaret Tudor – the sister of Henry VIII and the grandmother of Mary, Queen of Scots. Mary spent much of her later turbulent years here and was married twice from here.
The arches of the ruined abbey
From the gardens
One of the walls still standing
This place was definitely a must see for me and if you’re a history buff then you shouldn’t miss it.
One thing I loved about Edinburgh were all the quirky little alleyways and the names above them.
One rainy afternoon we had lunch in the lobby of The Scotsman Hotel. A beautiful baroque building dating back to 1905 and was once the home of The Scotsman Paper.
A few more photos of street scenes below.
The famous pierced lady who claims to be the most pierced human – I don’t think she’s lying!
Two “wee” scottish boys dressed for the “Independence for Scotland” march
The famous Greyfriars’ Bobby – a skye terrier who guarded his master’s grave for 14 years.
The famous West Bow Street
Cobblestone alleyway
We also found time for a quick walk around Greyfriars Kirkyard. Still an active church with a famous burial ground going back to the 16th century. It was very hard to actually read the names on all the plaques.
The details on this grave are very intricate
As I mentioned there are some fabulous restaurants in Edinburgh and below are some of the ones we tried:
