Day 5, Stirling Castle.

Travel blog about our trip to Scotland in May/June of 2005
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Pieter
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Day 5, Stirling Castle.

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Kinloch Rannoch, Scotland.

31 May 2005

Sunny, every now and then a slight drizzle, 15 – 18 degrees, what else does one need, 246 km.

A short trip ( that is, we planned for a short trip). Our plan to take the train to Fort William had been thrown overboard, despite the fact that it would have been a beautiful trip over the Rannoch Moor. The big issue was the late trip back, which meant that we would have to stay till 6 o’clock in Fort William because there wasn’t any other train back. Fort William isn’t big enough to spend a whole day.
This day we are heading south and started our trip at 9:30. Via Tummel Bridge and Glengoulandie we took a new route which took us through a beautiful Glen where the river Lyon finds its way. We pass villages like Keltneyburn and Fortingal, heading to Kenmore. We’ve been to Kenmore before therefore we took a right turn in Fearnan to go to Killin.
We passed Loch Tay which was smooth as a mirror, resulting in magnificent views over the Loch. Needless to say we made a few stops along the shore to take in the scenery and shoot some pictures. The landscape mirrors in the water and makes it hard to see where the water ends and the land begins, stunningly beautiful.
In Killin we made a coffee stop in the Killin Hotel. The coffee was made at 8 and used as dishwater before it ended up in our cups. A place to forget about and it didn’t take us long to leave again. Killin is also the site of the Dochart Falls and despite all the people climbing the rocks in the river it’s a beautiful sight to see. The falls aren’t high, but they are wide and cascading over a number of steps.
After we left Killin we took a piece of racing track, de A85/A84, which brings us via Lochearnhead and Strathyre to the Pass of Leny. Here we went back to the country roads again to the village of Brig O’ Turk. Here we enjoyed a tasty lunch at a place called Byre Inn, a lovely spot in the middle of the forest.
During lunch we decided to go to Stirling, so up and away we went. A scenic route leads us through the Achray Forest and brings us in Aberfoyle. We even spotted our own Loch, Loch Drunky.
In Aberfoyle we went to the Scottish Wool Centre, a large shop, but we didn’t went in, instead we went to the demonstrations of sheepherding with dogs. The stars of the show were Jock, a Border Collie and Buster, a Kelpie which is an Australian breed. Buster was a feisty little snapper with a steel knee joint, but that didn’t bother him. Also a guy with birds of prey was attending the show, with lots of birds like owls, falcons and others, but the most impressive was the Golden Eagle. You don’t see it very often up close and personal.
Time to move on and via Port of Monteith and Thornhill we reach Stirling. Stirling Castle and the William Wallace monument are to be seen from a distance. Stirling is a beautiful city and after a steep climb (with the car) we find ourselves at the square before Stirling Castle. From this spot there is a stunning view over the river valley and we make lots of pictures of it. In fact I shot a series of pictures, overlapping each other in order to stitch them together when we’re home again.
The castle itself we leave for what it is because it’s getting late already, with rush hour nearby. We’ll be back again anyway to visit this impressive castle.
After a short stretch of motorway and a near accident on a roundabout we take to the country roads again. Via Dunblane, Kinbuck and Braco we are heading to Crieff, where we had to look for the road back to Aberfeldy. Near Gilmerton we turn left in order to take the scenic route through “The Sma’ Glen”.
In Amulree we take the road to Glen Quaich, a single track road with beautiful views of the surrounding countryside. Suddenly we come across a large banner with a picture of nude local ladies holding a banner to say NO to the building of large windmills in the area. The address of their website is also on it www.aswag.org.uk , we’re sure to pay a visit.
Past Garrow awaits us a surprise, a steep climb has to take us over the mountain. The way up is in first gear and luckily we came across a passing place to let someone pass coming down the mountain. It is a 20% gradient and it brings us some 600 meters higher, which reveals stunning views. The weather is clear which allows us to see for miles and miles. The way down on the other side is also very steep, again in first gear with the aid of the brakes we’ve got down again. Eventually we reach Kenmore, were we take the road back home again, passing Tummel Bridge.
We were back at 6 o’clock where we enjoy a cold drink in the hotel pub and decide to grab some pub grub. The fish & chips and the sirloin steak were very enjoyable, in all honesty, the food at the hotel is very good.
Again we had a wonderful day, enjoying a short trip (hmm), tomorrow it’s time again to get some fuel for our horse.
Don't put your mouth into motion, before your brain is in gear.
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