Author Archives: pmichael

Day 3 – Hadrian’s Wall and England’s Lake District

We left Edinburgh in the morning and headed out to the Lake District.

Who might this barber shop’s clients be?…

We stopped at the ruins of the Jedburgh Abbey and visited a section of Hadrian’s Wall.

Jedburgh Abbey

Hadrian’s Wall

We stopped for lunch at Castletown English Country Manor.

After arriving in the Lake District, we visited Dove Cottage and the Wordsworth Museum in the village of Grasmere.

We continued on to Newby Bridge for a two-night stay at our resort hotel, The Swan Hotel & Spa.

The Swan Hotel & Spa

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Castletown English Country Manor

Dove Cottage

Hadrian’s Wall

Day 2 – Edinburgh City Tour

Today we had a city tour of Edinburgh by bus which included a private tour of the Palace of Holyroodhouse (the king’s official residence in Scotland) and a visit to Edinburgh Castle. We were fortunate to have spectacular weather (sunny and in the 70’s).

Holyroodhouse

Scottish Parliament Building

St. Giles’ Cathedral

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle dominates the city skyline and is a national icon that is Scotland’s most popular attraction. We toured the grounds and were just in time to hear the sounding of the daily One O’Clock Gun.

Entrance

Great Hall

St. Margaret’s Chapel

After a rest break at our hotel, we left in the early evening for the Scotch Whisky Experience near Edinburgh Castle. We had a great dinner and sampled three types of Scotch whisky.

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Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh City Tour

Holyroodhouse

The Scotch Whisky Experiencee

Day 1 – Stirling Castle

Our tour of Great Britain began in Edinburgh, Scotland. We left our hotel in the early afternoon for Stirling Castle.

On the road to Stirling – “The Kelpies”, by Andy Scott, landmark of the Helix canalside park

One of the nation’s greatest strongholds and holding the pass to the Highlands, Stirling Castle occupied a key position in Scotland’s struggles for independence. Parts of the castle date from at least the early 12th century, with the current buildings dating back to the 15th/16 centuries. We toured the Queen Anne Garden, the Chapel Royal, Great Hall and the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Regimental Museum.