Rabbies is one of the go to tour companies for small group tours all over Scotland. I signed up for two of their day trips from Edinburgh for my last few days in Scotland after my Pensacola friends’ departure.
On Tuesday Sept 18th, I took the West Highlands, Lochs & Castles tour.
It rained quite heavily throughout the day. But it was still beautiful to see the change in scenery as we left the flatter lowlands into the Highlands. We visited the following sites:
Inveraray – an 18th-century town located on Loch Fyne in County Argyll. There is a castle that was built in 1744 by Duke of Argyll but it was closed, though I took a walk to look at the castle from the outside. Best view was from the road. The village was a good place to get a quick lunch and just stretch my legs.
Doune Castle – this was the highlight of the day. Doune Castle is a well preserved medieval castle that was featured in Monty Python’s Holy Grail, Outlander, and The Outlaw King. Doune is close to Stirling Castle (which we saw from the road) and was built in the 13th century and rebuilt again in the 14th century after damages in the Wars for Indepenance. It is located on the River Teith and there is a walking path along the river near the castle. There is very little furniture inside the castle, just what is left of the structure.
We passed many Lochs (lakes) and stopped at Loch Awe. The longest loch in Scotland has close connections to the MacArthur, Campbell, Stewart, and MacGregor clans.
We stopped at lovely village of Luss that sits on the shores of Loch Lomond. It is a beautiful traditional village occupied by local residents who have preserved its character. Only village residents are allowed to drive and park in the town itself. The Luss Parish Church and its cemetery sit just off the Loch. There are many walking paths throughout this region and guide books abound in all the bookstores and gift shops.
A quick stop at Loch Lomond National Park with postcard-perfect views, if it wasn’t raining.
Rossyln Chapel and Scottish Borders
On September 19th, I took the Rosslyn Chapel & The Scottish Borders tour. This was a shorter day than the West Highlands tour and we ended up with beautiful weather. Our driver was Jim Divine who did a great job. He is also a landscape photographer and a graphics designer in additon to being a Rabbies driver/guide. Our main stops were Scott’s View, Melrose Abbey and the village of Melrose and Rossyln Chapel.
Scott’s View provides a stunning view of the River Tweed and Eildon Hills and was a favorite spot for Sir Walter Scott to stop and reflect.
Melrose Abbey is a beautiful and ruined Gothic abbey that is said to hold the embalmed heart of Robert the Bruce, a Scottish King. The abbey was founded by David I in 1136 for the Cistercian Order. Being so close to the border with England, Melrose Abbey suffered at English hands during the Middle Ages (Richard II’s armies). Rebuilt in the 1380s, it was used as an abbey until the Protestant Reformation of 1560. Afterwards, the existing monks were allowed to stay on – the last one died in 1590. The surviving remains of the church are of the early 15th century. The exterior of this magnificent ruin is decorated by unusual sculptures, including hobgoblins, cooks with ladles and a bagpipe playing pig. After a quick tour around the Abbey (inside is closed for renovations), we had some time to walk around the village of Melrose.
Rossyln Chapel is a beautiful 15th-century chapel in rural Midlothian, full of impressive architecture, stone carvings, and some interesting tales. The construction of the Chapel was started in 1446 by Sir William St Clair. The building was incomplete when he died in 1483. His son took over the construction but di dnot complete his father’s massive design.
Following the Reformation, the Chapel fell into disrepair and, in 1650, Oliver Cromwell’s troops attacked Rosslyn Castle and stabled their horses inside the Chapel. After a visit by Queen Victoria, the chapel was repaired and rededicated in 1862 and weekly services began again. Work was done in 1954 that actually caused more damage and extensive repairs were done in 1990’s. The Chapel has become quite famous since it was featured in Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code. There is elaborate stone carvings with mystical figures.
This chapel does not allow interior photos (because of a stupid accident where a tourist was laying on the floor taking pictures and another visitor tripped and fell and then sued the chapel’s Trust). This place has been visited, written about for several centuries. I love this 1880’s postcard found on flickr.
