Midhope Castle is the fictional Lallybroch, the Outlander home of Jamie Fraser

Secrets of Scotland

Rick and I made a quick trip to Scotland on our way back to the US. We will return to explore Edinburgh and the Scottish Highlands. But this fast foray into the country whetted our appetite for more.

Flying into Glasgow, we rented a car and drove off for the 30 minute trip up to the Stirling Castle, which dates from 1110. In 1314, King Robert the Bruce defeated the English at the base of this castle. Mary, Queen of Scots, was crowned queen in the courtyard in 1542 when she was just 9 months old. We loved learning about the historical significance of these massive grounds, complete with fragrant rose gardens and hilly view paths.

 

 

Ten minutes across the River Forth is the Wallace Monument atop the Abbey Craig. The landmark commemorates the scene of Wallace’s greatest victory over the English, the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297. His famous sword is housed inside the Hall of Heroes.

 

 

Our lodging was the delightful Powis House, an 18th century mansion set in the beautiful grounds beneath the Ochi Hills of Stirling. Colin and Jane greeted us warmly this afternoon with homemade cookies and french pressed coffee. A beautiful breakfast spread was served in the dining room the next morning with eggs from their own hens. This was a fabulous Secret find!
powis-house-bb.stirling.info

Rick is an avid golfer, so a visit to Scotland MUST include the famous St. Andrews Golf Course, only one and a half hours from Stirling. We purchased a guided tour online at standrews.com and learned many stories about the course and the famous golfers who walked the hallowed grounds. The famed Swilken Bridge was a must do photo shot. For one pound (for seniors) you get to putt on the Himalayas. The hours are short, so take a look at himalayasputtingclub.com for the times so you can take advantage of this historic site.

 

The wind was blowing, the sea was churning, and the rain pelted down, but it did not dampen Rick’s obsession with this great golf course.

We walked the town to see the University of St. Andrews where Kate Middleton and Prince William met. We even stopped for coffee at the coffee shop where they supposedly shared a coffee while they were in college.

Driving through a quick, but blinding rain on the narrow roads heading south, made us detour to Dunfermline for the evening. Garvock House Hotel was a happy find, a two hundred year old Georgian manor house that was set in lush gardens.
garvock.co.uk

Our last day in Scotland took us over the Forth Bridge, but we bypassed Edinburgh on this trip because we knew that we would want more time for this Scottish city.

Instead, we found the Midhope Castle, following a forested small, winding road to Lallybroch, the Outlander series home of Jamie Fraser which has lettering on the stone wall dated 1587. We had just started watching this series and we were excited that we actually found this site.

Linlithgow Palace was close by, situated on the Linlithgow Loch, and are the ruins of the elegant medieval birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots in 1542. Roofless and crumbling, this stone structure was built in the 1100’s and still inspires awe as you enter the red brick gates.

After a coffee break at Four Marys in the cute downtown of Linlithgow, we drove to Roslin to view the Rosslyn Chapel. Built in 1446 and completely filled with carved stone, this amazing building is one of a kind. We read The Da Vinci Code and the conclusion of the book takes place here. In fact, the movie ending was filmed on the grounds. 110 “green men” carvings of human faces are hidden all over the chapel, from the ceiling to the walls, and created a fun Indiana Jones scavenger hunt. These carvings symbolized the goodness of man. This church was captivating and ethereal, and we were delighted that we made the journey.

 

 

Driving back into Glasgow for our evening flight to the US, we feverishly searched the pastures for the iconic Scottish Cow, the hairy, longhorned cattle that dot the landscapes of the Highlands. We were not lucky, and will save them for our tour of the Upper Scottish Highlands in the next few years.