We booked a tour to Loch Lomond where we could do a cruise if we wished , then a drive through some Nation Park , then to Stirling Castle , where we could also do a tour if we wished .
The tour left from the bus station at 9am , so we got organised and found our way into the city again . Glasgow turned on a cool morning and we noticed , still in shorts , but a warm jacket was required . We met our tour guide Wee Davey , outside the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall . He quickly made his presence felt , asking if we wanted the Commonwealth Games back . He told us it was a ridiculous price to go and see any of it - a family of 4 was about 600 pounds ( $1200 Aus) - so basically unaffordable . We spotted this mural on the way over .
Wee Davey was quick to tell the tour group that he didn't have much time for tree huggers and is a self confessed petrol head , with some OCD mixed in as well . We arrived at Loch Lomond under grey skies and moist conditions , dropping us at the dock for the cruise - we decided to go , paid and boarded the boat. There were at least 60 others as well , we went up to the outside deck - it had a roof , but no windows , downstairs had the windows and closed doors . We headed out onto the Loch , passing by large numbers of cruising motorboats - some in pristine conditions , ranging to this poor old one , that doesn't look like it has an owner .
There were over 100 boats in several docks & moorings , and that's just the ones we could see - there were more further up the river , and down in the Loch .
The largest steam powered paddle steamer was out in the dry dock for some maintenance , it was huge
Further into the cruise & not too far past the dry dock this hotel came into view . Winston Churchill has stayed here .
Quite the mansion .
Further into the cruise Ben Lomond was pointed out , but was behind the just ti the right of middle on the horizon .
An island approached , creating a picture postcard look . That was our turning point for the tour , and we were pretty happy as the wind was bitingly cold !
We got back to the coach and continued on our journey through the Trossachs NP and to an old flour mill tourist spot where you can feed the wee cooos - for those who don't speak Scottish - little cows or more correctly Highland Cows - hairy critters with horns and a penchant for getting fed fruit & veggies from tourists . Having seen enough cattle in my life , I decided to have a look around , spotting this small residence some distance away in front of a forest of Firs , Elms & Oak trees , complete with some mountains behind .
Wee Davey then took us into Callandar , for a lunch break . We chose to go down to the riverside park and eat our lunch with the swans & ducks and about 100 people . There's a nice old bridge and a river walk with seating & tables . The sun had come out and it was getting quite nice .
We finished lunch and walked up to the road bridge for another view of the river - Eas Gobhain - at least that's what google calls it 😁 Beautiful view though of the valley etc.
The walk past the cemetery was interesting , there's an information board telling you about the little building at the top of the graveyard . It was to allow people to standby overnight to thwart the grave robbers , who were known to come and steal the newly buried corpse from the graves . Apparently there was a lucrative trade in bodies & body parts back in the day , supplying universities & other teaching establishments where doctors train . Hence the phrase "The Graveyard Shift "
I know , you're excited to be learning that , but we have to continue on , Stirling Castle awaits .
We arrive at Stirling after listening to Wee Davey and a haunting rendition of the Bonny , Bonny Banks of Loch Lomond . We learned it's history - 2 brothers were incarcerated and they were told to choose who would be executed and who would go free in the morning . After long discussions and reasons for and against they finally went to sleep . The younger brother woke to find his older brother had taken his own life during the night , so he could go free and live his life , the older brother had lived his life , had a wife and children . Hence the verse " me and my true love will never meet again on the bonny bonny baks of Loch Lomond " The song took on a whole new meaning for us .
We arrived at Stirling and drove up to the castle - we had 2 hours to check out the castle & grounds if we wanted to, so we did - when in Rome 😉 A statue of Robert the Bruce greeted us .
Then the castle outside gate .
Then the pay booth to gain entry through the 2nd gate . We headed left at this stage as there was another garden to check out , not to mention the castle walls .
And here it is , roses flowering profusely , and a nice grassed area .
With steps that led us up onto the wall .As you can see , the castle is perched up on and old volcanic plug that rises up from the surrounding plains .
Here's the view over some older sporting fields apparently .
Here's the views over the side of another wall further into the castle grounds .
Cannons on display aren't actually from the castle , but still look threatening .
Inside the main residence section of the castle is a museum , with various bits & pieces on display . The following are rosettes from the ceiling . A lot of these were removed from the castle over the years , some never returned , but a lot have been recovered - these date back to the 1500's and are all hand carved in Oak - amazing to think they are still intact after all those years .
And with that , our time ran out , so we headed back to the coach and back to Glasgow , with Wee Davey keeping us amused with really bad dad jokes and others . A good day out , even with the 11 degree temps at Loch Lomond . Here's a map link :- https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1G7_zqGo9PiY1cbAhzLKL7Nt-Dcr2JBg&usp=sharing
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