Category Archives: Scotland

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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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.

Robert the Bruce statue

Entrance

Queen Anne Garden

Grand Battery

Museum and Chapel

Great Hall, exterior

Great Hall, interior


Exhibits from the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Regimental Museum


We drove back to our hotel for our welcome dinner which featured Scottish dishes and a surprise performance by a bagpiper.


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