Stirling

After the final laugh in Glasgow, I was really taken by this sign as I arrived in Stirling. I must have ridden in hundreds of lifts in my lifetime, but none with such a warning. Health and safety rules gone mad, it seems!

This is my first visit to Stirling , once capital of Scotland, and it certainly has impressed me so far. What a pretty little town it is. I love all the stone houses and cottages, though I did struggle with my case up the hill to the Youth Hostel. I figured 8 - 10 minutes would be fine, but it was all uphill and at times pretty steep. Still, going down tomorrow should be sensational!

The weather was still glorious so I really enjoyed the great views over the surrounding hills, the graveyard, castle and Wallace Monument. Can't help thinking of Braveheart here, even though the story was not exactly true!

Early evening light was truly spectacular and I loved the solitude and the serenity of the moment as I sat and stared.

Despite dire weather warnings, I had a brilliant day today at Stirling Castle. I made sure to do the outside parts first, but I didn't need to worry.

It is one of the best castles I have visited in recent years, having both lovely garden areas with magnificent views plus wonderfully refurbished palace rooms with extraordinary tapestries, furnishings along with helpful, entertaining and knowledgeable staff in costume.

I have to admit that I was thankful there were no fires to deal with! Picking up one of these huge poles to pull down the burning timbers would require considerably more strength than that required to pick up the heavy tea pots we had in Luss! I wouldn't fancy my chances, to be honest, and I could not see a single visitor who would be up to it. 

Fabulous views from the Ladies' Walkway of the little grey town of Stirling  and also some of the ancient battlefields.

In the afternoon I took the train to Perth to visit someone I met in July in Saas Fee. Public transport is good, cheap and reliable it seems.

I had a few hours to look around and spent some time in Greyfriars graveyard, an ancient graveyard which allows total bio diversity by being  completely overgrown. Once again I felt sad to think of all the families which lost so many of their children. Some had lost 5 or 6 of their children in infancy. I cannot imagine this.

It was certainly a great day and the strong winds of 70 mph at about 9 p.m. thankfully did not eventuate . Tomorrow I am looking forward to meeting Guni at Edinburgh airport , and then to our trip north to the Orkneys and west to the Outer Hebrides.