Yesterday it was up a bit earlier and on the road at 9:00 and into Huddersfield . Julia on the train to Hull and me on the road north. Four hours motorway driving with occasional instructions from Sharon such as ” follow the M6 for 93 miles”.

Arrived in Stirling just after 2:00. One of the disadvantages of driving on busy roads is that when you turn a bend and there’s a massive rock with a castle on top you can’t quickly stop to take the best picture. Stirling Castle is a spectacular location.

Staying at The Portcullis which is literally the last building before the Castle. Used to be the old Grammar School back in the day. But like many buildings near the Castle it has also been used by the army. A bit rabbit warrenish and I should have just sorted an overnight bag rather than humping the suitcase up the stairs, but there you go. It’s the price you pay for quaint.

Once sorted it was off to the Castle. Should have expected that on a Sunday afternoon there would be plenty of families out and about. But so many under 8s. One young girl approaching the castle loudly complaining that the towers weren’t tall enough. Resisted pointing out to her that this was a 15th and 16th military defensive position with a royal palace attached not some Disney fantasy – but I smiled benignly and carried on. Smiled less benignly at some on the tellers, jumpers and screamers inside!

Anyway, that aside it is a great castle. So much work has been done to restore / redecorate the palace parts to how they would have been In the 1540s.  It really is quite spectacular.

Away from the Royal quarters very much the military strategic post. Amazing night views over the surrounding countryside. Certianly you couldn’t get too close without being noticed.

Today its off up to Aberdeenshire and the Davidson family heartland.