A Visit to Scotland - Part 1

If I mention Leith - maybe only a handful can make the connection. But if I say Edinburgh, then almost everybody can make the connection to Scotland. Leith is a port located in the north of Edinburgh at the mouth of the Water of Leith. During our travel to Scotland, we stayed in Leith. And what we love about Leith, is it's fish n chips - it may due to the fresh haddock. Hmm... Yummm..

The day after we reached Leith, we headed to Stirling - to visit Stirling Castle. It is one of Scotland’s grandest castles due to its imposing position and impressive architecture. It towers over some of the most important battlefields of Scotland’s past including Stirling Bridge, the site of William Wallace’s victory over the English in 1297, and Bannockburn where Robert the Bruce defeated the same foe in the summer of 1314. (Source : Historic Scotland). Due to our excitement, we parked our rented car at the first big sign of direction to Stirling Castle. Bad decision! We ended walking and climbing up the hill for what felt like 10 miles? Exaggeration of course but that's how it feels at that time - what more, we have to push a stroller uphill. However, along the way, we came across this building which was once a jailhouse.

Even after we left the Old Town Jailhouse, we still could not see any other sign to Stirling Castle. However, since we did not see anywhere to stop (restaurant or cafe, etc...) we continued walking while pushing the stroller (which carries Mia)until we found this YMCA Building.

And finally! After more climbing there stood the Stirling Castle. Exploring through the Castle, one can witness and admire the architecture of the Renaissance era. All right, some info which I extract from www.stirling.gov.uk on the architecture of the magnificent Castle :

Quote"1. The first fortification on the site dates to the 11th century. Much of the castle which exists today, including the Palace and Chapel Royal is magnificent Renaissance architecture with a strong French influence.

2. The Royal Palace, 1540-42, is the finest Renaissance building in Scotland. A three-storey building with an ornate facade of tall windows and niches which contain a selection of grotesque carved figures and Renaissance sculptures. Over the Centuries, the Palace Block was stripped for military use and the Royal Chambers converted to mess rooms and officers' quarters.

3. The King's Presence Chamber originally included an ornate ceiling of over 100 carved oak heads (the Stirling Heads). Though many of the heads have been lost or destroyed, some survive to let us imagine how the original ceiling would have looked. Work is now in progress to restore the rich Renaissance decoration of the Kings' and Queens' apartments. Stirling Castle is widely regarded as having the finest examples of architecture from that period in Europe".Unquote.

Too bad we have lost some of our photos of Sterling Castle (inside the Castle). All I can say is, it is worth the climb.