Vacation: Traveling South

As we left Edinburgh, we went to Rosslyn Chapel.

Construction on the chapel was begun in 1456. Both the outside and inside are covered in ornate carvings.




And there were also various gargoyles and faces carved into the stone.


Everywhere we looked there was some other ornate carving to see. Unfortunately, photos aren't allowed inside the chapel.

Some of the carvings depict items that weren't known in Scotland at the time they were carved - such as corn - leading many stories to develop around the chapel. There are also theories that Rosslyn Chapel is connected to the Knights Templar and the Freemasons.

After the chapel we drove and drove to Jedburgh to see Jedburgh Abbey. The ruined abbey sits on a bluff right in the middle of town, looming over the residents like a fallen guardian.

It is beautiful.


Jedburgh Abbey was established in the 1100s. All that remains now is a shadow of what it once was. But what a shadow!

While we were at the abbey, we asked the helpful salesperson in the gift shop if there was a McDonald's in town. We were desperate for a burger. There wasn't one in Jedburgh, but he told us there was one in a nearby town. Off we went for the best McDonald's hamburger I have ever eaten!

The next day we left Scotland

and drove into England.

Vacation: HMY Britannia

After the Go Ape Adventure, Inchmahome Priory and Doune Castle, we returned to Edinburgh. Our final stop in Edinburgh was Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia.

The Britannia was built in 1953 and retired in 1997.

The boat was luxurious without seeming ostentatious.

In addition to carrying the royal family, it included marines and sailors - some of whom had to store 21 different uniforms (plus band instruments!) in a tiny space.

Even the engine room was pristine!

Since there was a tea room on board, Mom and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to dine onboard a royal yacht. We had Edinburgh tea

and a slice of chocolate cake.

We expected the cake to be dry, but it was phenomenally good. Quite delicious!

Vacation: Go Ape Adventure

I've been sidetracked from the vacation posts while I was editing my young adult novel. But I need to finish these, so here goes!

As I said in my last post, before we went to Inchmahome Priory and Doune Castle, I spent the morning climbing trees and swinging on zip lines.

In the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park, the Go Ape Adventure has five sites set up amongst the trees.

Those sites involve climbing up into the trees - a good 30 feet off the ground and moving from tree to tree through various methods. After a brief training and safety lesson, you're off on your own.

Yes, those are my tiny feet.

Some of the ladders were rope, and some were wood. Both required using the safety equipment to climb. By the time I hit the last site, I didn't think I had the strength to climb any more blasted ladders! My arms felt like they were going to fall off, and my hands had no more grip left. And the rain in the middle of my experience didn't help!

But I struggled through the last site and made it to the final zip line - 426 meters long (which is almost 466 yards).

The safety equipment that was all there was between me and certain death. I clung to this (the blue line, per the safety instructions!) for dear life.

The zip lines were my favorite parts. I had always seen people using them on The Amazing Race, and they looked like such fun. Turns out, they're even more fun than they appear on TV. I would go on another zip line in a heartbeat.

I spent all my time in the park playing in the trees and swinging on zip lines. What I did see of the park was glorious. A beautiful spot for a day out from Edinburgh or a short holiday.

And this was me at the end of the day. Exhausted, but exhilarated. Filthy and fabulous.

Vacation: Stirling and Surrounds

On we drove from Inverary to Stirling, driving past Loch Lomond. The day began dreary and rainy, so our view of the lake wasn’t that beautiful. Whether we took the low road or the high road, we did get to see Loch Lomond. Although there weren’t that many pull-outs for us to get a good photo.

Then we drove on to Stirling Castle through sunshine, rain and fog. We also had to circle around the town twice before we found the way to the castle parking lot.

Once we finally got to the castle, we saw the largest medival hall in Scotland. Originally built in 1503, the roof was reconstructed in 1997.

From the castle, we could see the Wallace Monument.

Despite some vague directions (‘go to the roundabout and follow the university signs’), we managed to get there.

Mom waited in the parking lot while I climbed the short, steep hill and then all 246 steps in the monument.

The monument, built in the 1860s, to honor William Wallace stands 220 feet tall.

Inside the monument, I saw Wallace’s sword.

It stands 66 inches long from end to end, which means Wallace himself must have stood about 6 feet, 6 inches tall. That’s tall now, let alone in the 1200s.

After making it back down all the steps and the hill, Mom and I drove to the Corrie Glen Bed & Breakfast for the night.

The next day, I spent the morning climbing trees and swinging on zip lines, but I’ll post about that another time.

After the zip lines, we went to Inchmahome Priory. The priory is on an island in the Lake of Menteith, the only lake in Scotland.

Getting to the priory was a bit odd. We parked, walked to the end of the dock and flipped a board from the black side to the white side. This indicated that someone was waiting to picked up and brought to the island.

The boat ride over was so nice, and the pilot was super friendly. She answered all our questions about Scottish wildlife, and we told her about American animals.

The priory itself was so peaceful. I could see the appeal of being a monk at Inchmahome. The quiet and solitude were lovely.

The ruins and setting soothed.

Mom and I walked around the island and saw sweet chestnut trees that were 500 years old.

They looked like the tree the giant toad lives in in Pan’s Labyrinth. They also looked half dead, and we wondered how they could still be alive.

The whole of Inchmahome was a favorite stop for Mom and I on our vacation.

From there we visited Doune Castle.

On the advice of the boat pilot at Inchmahome, we listened to the audio tour. Normally, we don’t do the audio tours, but this one was done by Terry Jones. Why Terry Jones? Well, Doune Castle was used quite a bit in the filming of Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Listening to the audio tour, you were given options to hear bits from the movie. I could always tell when someone was listening to Monty Python - they had silly expressions on their faces.

Doune Castle was where the French taunting took place.

It was also Castle Anthrax.

It was Swamp Castle.

And even Camelot.

Mom and I thoroughly enjoyed Doune Castle (and the audio tour). We even took a picture of another group of American tourists using coconuts and ‘riding’ to the castle door.

Awesome!