Today I'd like to take you to Scotland. I am posting our travels as I have recorded in my journal of our wonderful trip to Britain to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary taken last fall. If you follow Susan Branch you know that she is just finishing up her wonderful journey to England, Ireland and Wales. In fact she is on the Queen Mary 2 sailing back home. It's a wonderful way to travel across the pond and we did the same on both of our journeys to Britain. Susan's book, A Fine Romance, inspired Grayden and I to first go to England in 2015. If you love Britain as I do, you must read her book. She will be writing another one about her current journey. I just saw her video of the most gorgeous views and it made me cry. I'm not sure about that reaction, but I love Britain so much! I'm a very sensitive one and feel everything from the bottom of my heart. I make no apologies for my sensitivity as I believe God made me that way for a reason. So let's go see the beautiful Castle Stirling in Stirling, Scotland.
We started our day early so we would arrive at Castle Stirling in a timely manner. Our drive was lovely as we traveled along the way to Scotland from the Lake District.
It didn't take long to take the road to Glasgow and follow our GPS right up to the front of the Castle Stirling.
As you can see the dark clouds began to roll in and give Stirling Castle an air of foreboding! I'm imagining how folks would have felt if they wanted to approach this castle back when it was a fortress! You can see it sitting up on Castle Hill from miles away.
Unlike Edinburgh Castle we were able to drive right up to the entrance and park.
Just like in Edinburgh Castle, many men were wearing their tartan kilts.
Walking through the Inner Gate I'm realizing the ancient stones I'm walking on and how very special Castle Stirling was in Scottish history.
King Robert the Bruce stands on the castle esplanade. Stirling Castle's long history begins before Robert the Bruce. The volcanic rock the castle sits on is Scotland's symbol of independence and national pride. Stirling Castle was mentioned in the 10th century and has been home to most monarchs that have either lived here or crowned here or born here or died here. If you want to read more about its history you can go to The Stirling Castle Website to learn more.
I am immediately drawn to the Queen Anne garden in front of the Prince's tower. Looking so lovely this September morning.
Moving into the Inner Close and Royal Buildings we view the collection of Stirling Heads. This area was added by James V. A lot of what we are viewing is attributed to him. Located inside the Royal Palace is the Stirling Heads Gallery. These wooden heads depict the images of kings and queens and biblical figures as well as mythological ones. They decorated the palace ceilings until the collapse of 1777. The figures we viewed in the gallery were oak and unpainted reproductions that Historic Scotland commissioned to show how they were during James V's reign. We then viewed the ceiling with the ornately painted figures.
You can get a slight glimpse of the ceiling in the upper left corner of this photo.
This is the ceiling with the painted heads depicting the royal ancestors of James V.
The Palace is ornately decorated in the style that James V saw when in France.
The tapestries in the palace were added by Historic Scotland. Their research showed that James V and Mary of Guise owned more than 100 tapestries. Historic Scotland had reproduction tapestries made of James V's lost pieces.
The views from Stirling Castle are spectacular! Even on a cloudy day it took my breath away.
This is the view of the King and Queens Knot. This was once part of the formal gardens of Stirling Castle. Queen Victoria ordered it to be restored in 1842. As you can see the octagonal mound rises to 3 meters ( about 9.5 ft ) high and a rectangular parterre is to its south east.
We are standing in the Lady's Lookout in the castle viewing the gardens below.
The Palace and the Great Hall had lovely gardens in bloom.
The Royal Palace bought renaissance architecture to Stirling Castle ordered by James V.
As you know a castle is a city in itself.
There was a mock up scene preparing for a great feast for the royals of the day in the Great Kitchens.
Seeing Stirling Castle and visiting buildings that date between 1490 and 1600 gave me chills. These buildings were built before my ancestor came to the New World.
Join us next time as we visit another lovely place in Scotland. ♥
I am immediately drawn to the Queen Anne garden in front of the Prince's tower. Looking so lovely this September morning.
Moving into the Inner Close and Royal Buildings we view the collection of Stirling Heads. This area was added by James V. A lot of what we are viewing is attributed to him. Located inside the Royal Palace is the Stirling Heads Gallery. These wooden heads depict the images of kings and queens and biblical figures as well as mythological ones. They decorated the palace ceilings until the collapse of 1777. The figures we viewed in the gallery were oak and unpainted reproductions that Historic Scotland commissioned to show how they were during James V's reign. We then viewed the ceiling with the ornately painted figures.
You can get a slight glimpse of the ceiling in the upper left corner of this photo.
This is the ceiling with the painted heads depicting the royal ancestors of James V.
The Palace is ornately decorated in the style that James V saw when in France.
The tapestries in the palace were added by Historic Scotland. Their research showed that James V and Mary of Guise owned more than 100 tapestries. Historic Scotland had reproduction tapestries made of James V's lost pieces.
The views from Stirling Castle are spectacular! Even on a cloudy day it took my breath away.
This is the view of the King and Queens Knot. This was once part of the formal gardens of Stirling Castle. Queen Victoria ordered it to be restored in 1842. As you can see the octagonal mound rises to 3 meters ( about 9.5 ft ) high and a rectangular parterre is to its south east.
We are standing in the Lady's Lookout in the castle viewing the gardens below.
The Palace and the Great Hall had lovely gardens in bloom.
The Royal Palace bought renaissance architecture to Stirling Castle ordered by James V.
As you know a castle is a city in itself.
There was a mock up scene preparing for a great feast for the royals of the day in the Great Kitchens.
Seeing Stirling Castle and visiting buildings that date between 1490 and 1600 gave me chills. These buildings were built before my ancestor came to the New World.
Join us next time as we visit another lovely place in Scotland. ♥
Superb photos again ~ and lots of history too, which I enjoy. The unpainted, wooden Stirling Heads make me think of the medieval misericords. When I look at the painted ones, it's just another thing that makes me wonder how much of their days did our ancestors spend looking up, that they invested so much into decorating their ceilings?!
ReplyDeleteI empathise with your sensitivity! It takes so little to make me cry when I see something so beautiful that it moves me to tears.
~~~Waving~~~Deb in Wales xoxo
Thank you, Deb. Very interesting comment about the ceilings! I imagine it showed great wealth and power to all that visited. Maybe even a message to not even think of trying to overthrow the powers that be considering the great wealth of the king? I hadn't thought about the misericords that we viewed in some of the cathedrals. I must go look at my photos and remember that for future posts such as the ones in Exeter Cathedral.
DeleteI hope we both always see beauty that brings us to tears, my friend. Have a wonderful day. ♥
That is quite a view from the castle! And I love those tapestries. Visiting such places that existed so long ago is very "chill-worthy." Trying to imagine how people thought about life from our modern perspective is worth the effort to help ground us in our journey now.
ReplyDeleteThe view from Stirling Castle was so lovely, Cathy. I can only guess how more beautiful it would be on a clear day. Quite a bit of money has been spent on the restoration of the Royal Palace and the tapestry collection alone was certainly worth it for future generations to view and get a sense of what it was like in the days of James V. ♥
DeleteThis is magnificent! I love the gardens and the tapestries! Undoubtedly, many talented people worked to recreated these beautiful pieces! I am also quite taken with the "mock up" of the Great Kitchens. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind comments, Chip Butter. They also had a tapestry exhibit that was closed when we visited. It was showing how these fine pieces were made. The many hours spent on these pieces was clearly one's life's work. ♥
DeleteI love Susan Branch and I've also been following her journey and have read most of her books! These photos are so lovely and I'm sure even more breath taking in person! One day I will get to tour England I hope! :-) In the mean time I will continue to enjoy your posts and check out the links you have provided. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Jill
Jill, I'm so glad you are traveling along with us on our trip. I've met so many lovely kindred spirits through Susan Branch. I'm really looking forward to her next book. I'm sure you would love Great Britain--it has certainly captured my heart. Have a lovely week. ♥
DeleteYou had a fabulous adventure there! I loved each and every photo you shared. It's just beautiful and I loved seeing the kitchen and the models of the bakers. Just imagine those days. Ah to be a royal in those days. Thanks so much for taking us with you. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteTeresa, it's fun to relive our trip with all of you. I really think it was a really hard life for most folks back then. Of course, being a royal made it quite a bit easier in many ways. Although they always had to be weary of someone trying to overthrow the throne. Enjoy a happy day! ♥
DeleteWhat a treasure of a post. I love seeing Scotland through your eyes. I hope to visit one day. I am part Scottish. The gardens are gorgeous! I never tire at looking at beautiful photos from travels.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Linda. I have some Scottish blood as well. Plan your trip and go! ♥
DeleteSo much history, imagery (not all of it beautiful to my eye...*shudder* 🙃), design, and beauty... those sweeping scenes are truly breathtakiing. Just got caught up reading Susan Branch’s blog yesterday. Marvelous! Wonder how many she has inspired to visiit the British Isles. Have she and Joe purchased a vacation home there?
ReplyDeleteVee, Susan Branch certainly gave many of us the courage to follow a dream. I really wouldn't know if she and Joe will purchase a home there, but I wouldn't be surprised at all. ♥
DeleteFantastic photos! I'd love to visit Stirling Castle. It's almost embarrassing how much I love Britain. Lol. I'll be looking for Susan's new book. Hopefully Mr. C and I will return to England in 2019 to celebrate our 50th! Even if we take 3 weeks, it's so hard to know what should go on the itinerary and what must be left out for lack of time. Thank you for sharing your wonderful photos with us!
ReplyDeleteHi Judy, I make no apologies for my love of Britain! I feel so connected to just about everything there. That's wonderful that you and Mr. C will be going again in 2019! This trip was for four weeks there and two weeks total on the QM2 and we really saw a lot, but there is so much more to see. There will always be a reason to return. Have a great day. ♥
DeleteYour pastoral captures are just beautiful. My Mom and Dads side are Scottish and Irish. What a beautiful trip. I always gaze several times at your pictures and enjoy reading the history.
ReplyDeleteHow do you organize your trips and adventures for reference? I need to get some of my pictures from trips organized some how. Maybe scrapbooks again for the table. Just not sure.
Look forward to more of your travel history and photos. Betsy
Betsy, I keep a journal when we travel. Each day I record what we've seen and make notes about special things along with pamphlets. When we get home I put all of my photos in a folder on my computer from that trip. Now I'm going through the journal day by day and posting about that day. It works for us when we want to go back and remember special times. For everyday photos I just put them in a monthly folder on my computer (I name the folders digitally by year and month). ♥
DeleteAll photos looks amazing. Stirling Castle looks amazing with beautiful flowers, architecture, statues etc...
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by and visiting Stirling with us. ♥
DeleteI have no words, Martha Ellen! Thank you so much for sharing your unforgettable visit to Stirling Castle with us. It is a true Scottish treasure, both inside and outside. A wee bit Scottish myself, I could feel a tug on my heartstrings as I studied your beautiful photos. I completely understand your heartfelt tears, dear one. I'm so grateful that your travel journal holds so many exquisite memories! You help us feel as though we were walking along with you and Grayden! ♡
ReplyDeleteDawn, thank you for sharing our joyous trip to Stirling Castle with us. It's so nice to remember these days with my friends here. The memories are imprinted on our hearts. I have some Scottish blood as well, my friend. Great Britain feels like home to me. Stay cool and enjoy your evening. ♥
DeleteOnce again, a wonderful post full of lovely photographs and information.
ReplyDeleteA joy to read, thank you.
All the best Jan
Thank you, Jan. We enjoyed Stirling very much. ♥
Delete