CASTLES WE VISITED IN SCOTLAND
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Our first day was spent at the WILLIAM WALLACE MONUMENT (photo as seen from Stirling Castle, with the statue of Robert the Bruce in the foreground was completed in 1870 and stands 220ft high) and STIRLING CASTLE.The climb to the top of the Monument is not for everyone, as a narrow spiral stairway of 240 steps must be negotiated. On the way to the top, you pass 3 floors, each displaying various items including Wallace's two-handed broadsword. At STIRLING CASTLE, you can relive many great historical events. The best remembered being the murder of the Earl of Douglas by James II and throwing the corpse out of a castle window. Mary Queen of Scots spent her childhood here and her son James VI was baptized in the Chapel Royal. This is a beautiful renaissance castle. View photos of Stirling Castle and Stirling Castle museum

CRICHTON CASTLE We arrived about 30 minutes before a Scottish Wedding started at the Crichton Church. (located on the path leading to the Castle). We toured the church, founded in 1449, and saw the wedding participants, some dressed in tux and some in kilts. We also listened to the bag pipers practicing. An unexpected treat! CRICHTON CASTLE is a castle ruin located a few miles south of Edinburgh and on our way to Fala Hall B&B. I enjoyed this ruined castle as much as any of the others. You can certainly let your imagination soar, when touring this castle. John de Crichton began developing this site during the reign of Robert III (1390-1406). As succeeding generations came and went, his castle was adapted to meet their changing needs. One of the fascinations of Crichton is to see how the accommodation changed during the two centuries the castle served as a lordly residence. Mary Queen of Scots was a guest here at the marriage of her half-brother, Lord James Stewart to Lady Janet Hepburn in January 1562.

EDINBURGH CASTLE The free audio tour made EDINBURGH CASTLE a very memorable site. It is here that you will see St. Margaret's Chapel and the 5-ton Mons Meg cannon. This 15th century cannon was the most advanced piece of artillery of its era and was able to fire a 500 pound stone a distance of two miles! Also, view vaults where foreign prisoners-of-war were held, the Great Hall, the magnificently restored Laich Hall, and the Scottish National War Memorial. "Honors of the Kingdom" exhibition which traces the history of the Crown Jewels. It is also in this Palace, in the Crown Room, that the Scottish Crown Jewels, known as the Honours of Scotland, are displayed. (Photo: The fireplaces were so large, I could have set a dining room table in them.)

Travel down to the opposite end of the Royal Mile and you will come to the entrance of HOLYROODHOUSE PALACE. ("rood" means cross) This is still the official residence of Queen Elizabeth II when she is in Scotland, and she is usually in residence for a few weeks in May and July of each year. I was very disappointed with the Palace tour. You are not allowed into very many of the rooms. Attached to the side of the Palace is the Abbey ruins. Most of the remains that you see date from the 13th and 14th centuries.

CULZEAN CASTLE (Coo-lane) I don't think CULZEAN CASTLE deserves the title of Castle, ….. Maybe palace. When you enter this place, it's more like walking into a museum than a castle. The most impressive part of it all is the Oval Staircase. When the castle was donated to the National Trust for Scotland in 1945 the owners asked that the top floor be given to General Eisenhower as a thank you from the people of Scotland. A good part of this "museum" is the Eisenhower Rooms recalling the President's links with Scotland. It would have been great to see one of the EISENHOWER APARTMENTS on the top floor without having to pay to spend the night.

A Robert Adam's castle built between 1772-1790 for David, 10th Earl of Cassillis on a cliff-top, located south of Ayr.