This morning we checked out of our hotel in Durham.
Our hotel view in Durham
On our drive to Liverpool we saw a beautiful full rainbow.
On our drive we saw some Highland cows in England.
Highland Cows
In the village of Brough, Cumbria, England we saw the medieval ruins of the Brough Castle. It was built on the site of a Roman fort, Verteris in the 12th century.
Ruins of Brough Castle
Much of the fields and farms that we passed were divided by stone walls. This began in England in the 12th century and continues today.
Stone walls dividing fields
We arrived in Liverpool and it was such a beautiful day but very windy!
We got off the bus and headed to lunch where we had reservations at the Philarmonic Dining Rooms.
The Philharmonic Dining Rooms was called The Phil by the locals. It was a historic pub built between 1898 and 1900. It was famous for its mens toilets! Buddy Holly performed here as well as Paul McCartney (as seen on James Corden’s The Late Late Show).
Outside of the Philharmonic were two signs, one that allowed dogs and the other that mentioned the toilets in the mens room.
Once we ordered our food, we had to visit the restrooms to compare the men’s to the women’s. Women could check out the men’s room if it was vacant. The men’s room was definitely more elaborate than the women’s room.
Women’s RestroomMen’s Restroom
The Philharmonic as we walked in for our reservation.
The Philharmonic BarThe hallway that leads into the main dining area.
We ate lunch in the room where Paul McCartney did a surprise performance with James Corden from The Late Late Show. Here is a YouTube link to watch the surprised guests in the pub, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPmD9C2uab4.
Enjoying an English cider and beerThe beautiful room where Paul McCartney performedOur group enjoying lunch in the Phil
After lunch we had time to visit the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral. It was the largest Catholic cathedral in England. The architect that won an open competition was Frederick Gibbard. One of the requirements for the design competition was that every member in the cathedral could see the altar. Gibbard’s design was a cathedral in the round. Construction began in 1962 and it was completed in 1967.
The main focus was the white marble altar and the floor was also gray and white marble.
The white marble altar could be seen by all.
We saw the statue of Hugh Stowell Brown. He was a 19th century preacher and social activist in Liverpool. His statue was one of three Liverpool clergymen who received the honor of a statue.
Hugh Stowell Brown
The Wellington’s Column or it was also called the Waterloo Memorial was completed in 1863. It was a monument to the Duke of Wellington that celebrated his achievements. His most notable was the Battle of Waterloo.
Wellington’s Column/Waterloo Memorial
In the photo below, the Art Deco building on the left was the George’s Dock Ventilation building. It was a ventilation shaft for the first Mersey tunnel and also had some offices. It was built in the 1930s.
George’s Dock Ventilation Building on the left and on the right was the Port of Liverpool Building
The building on the right of the above photo was the Port of Liverpool building that was completed in 1907. During WWII its eastern wing was damaged from a bomb hitting the building. It was restored after the war ended.
The Beatles bronze statue was located on Liverpool’s waterfront. It was sculpted by Andrew Edwards and placed in 2015. The statue was donated by the Cavern Club which was a famous music venue. The Cavern Club was also where the Beatles began!
The Beatles Statue
The Beatles statue was the most popular selfie spot in Liverpool and it was very busy when we visited. Of course we took photos too!
A group picture with the Beatles!
Our next stop was the Royal Albert Dock for The Beatles Story!
The Beatles Story
The entrance to The Beatles Story
The Beatles Story was a museum that had authentic memorabilia and incorporated immersive experiences. If you were a Beatle fan then you were impressed with the displays. We had an audio guide that allowed us to move at our own pace. This experience gave us the complete history and rise of the Beatles. It was well worth the time. Click through the slideshow below to view some highlights from The Beatle Story!
When we left The Beatles Story, we drove down Penny Lane. Penny Lane lyrics were written by Paul McCartney. It was memories of his childhood neighborhood in Liverpool. Some of the people named in the lyrics were based on actual people that Paul remembered. If you don’t know the song please look it up and listen to it.
Street from Penny LaneAnother side street
Our bus driver also took us past John Lennon’s childhood home. The current homeowners have a plaque on the front of the home and another sign on the side of the driveway entrance letting people know where his home was located. The plaque on the home said that John Lennon lived in this home from 1945-1963.
After a busy day in Liverpool we checked into our hotel in Chester, England.
This morning we checked out of our hotel in Edinburgh and we were heading to England. As we drove by Haddington, Scotland we saw such fertile land.
Fertile farmland south of Edinburgh
We passed by Eyemouth, Scotland. It was a fishing port along the North Sea and it was located about five miles from the English border.
The coastline of Eyemouth
By mid-morning we crossed the border from Scotland into England.
Scotland side of the borderThe border wallEngland side of the borderWelcome to England!
We had a quick stop at Berwick-upon-Tweed. It was the most northerly town in England and along the North Sea coast. The Royal Border Bridge was a railway line running between Edinburgh and London. The bridge was designed by Robert Stephenson and spanned the River Tweed. It had 28 semicircular arches and 13 of those arches spanned the river. The bridge used 8 million cubic feet of stone and 2 1/2 million bricks set in cement. It opened in 1850.
The Royal Border Bridge
During WWII, the Royal Border Bridge was a vital target for German bombers. It was never successfully hit and it operated throughout the war. In the 1990s the bridge underwent a restoration project.
The Berwick Lighthouse was red and white at the end of the pier guarding the entrance to the River Tweed. It was built in 19th century and completed in 1826.
Berwick Lighthouse
The lighthouse was very exposed with the North Sea gales. In 2020 it was repainted and repointed.
Down the coastline was Spittal Beach in the village of Spittal. It was a popular seaside resort due to its sandy beach.
Spittal got its name from a shortened form of “hospital”. That hospital was dedicated to St. Bartholomew and it was built here during the Middle Ages to care for lepers.
We passed by Holy Island also known as Lindisfarne was a tidal island known for its historical sites. The Lindisfarne Priory which was a former monastery and Lindisfarne Castle dated back to 1550. You could only reach the island by a causeway that only can be traversed following the tide schedule and the weather.
Holy Island
Bamburgh Castle looked over the Northumberland coastline and we stopped here for a visit and tour. The castle sat on a volcanic rocky plateau 150 feet above the coastline. Its remains dated back to the 12th century.
Bamburgh Castle
Map of Bamburgh Castle
The Bamburgh Castle was home to a succession of kings from Henry VI to James I. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny beginning scenes were filmed outside of the castle. The castle doubled as a 1944 Nazi Germany location.
The Battery Terrace was located above the Battery Gate. It was designed to withstand attacks.
The Battery Terrace
In 1894 William George Armstrong bought the castle. He was an inventor, industrialist, philanthropist and he transformed it into an archetypal castle. He added a unique collection of artwork, ceramics, and objects of art. The Castle was still owned by the Armstrong family. There were 14 rooms opened to the public.
Inside the castle, Dave sat in the Wessox throne that was created in Season 3 of The Last Kingdom which was a TV series. Some of the series was filmed at Bamburgh.
The Keep was a large square structure and the oldest surviving part of the castle. The walls were 11 feet thick to the front and 9 feet wide elsewhere.
The Keep
The Courtroom was located within the Keep and originally was a Norman guardroom and now served as a portrait gallery.
The Corurtroom and our Castle guide.
At the base of the Keep was a Saxon well with a victorian cap.
Well located at the base of the Keep.
Murder Hole in the ceiling
The murder hole located in the castle was used to discourage or kill invaders from entering the castle.
The Cross Hall, located at the top of the King’s Hall had a tudor style fireplace and vast trapestries and the focus of the room was a copy of “The Card Players” by Theodoor Rombouts It was painted in 1630.
The Cross Hall
The Card Players
The King’s Hall was built on the site of the medieval Great Hall. The false hammer beam ceiling was made from teak wood that came from Thailand. It was the castle’s main social reception and banqueting hall.
The King’s Hall
We visited the Victorian Stables. It was built by Lord Armstrong. Now it was home to the Victorian Stables Bar and included a dog-friendly area.
Outside of the stablesEntrance to the stables
We also visited the Library, with literature from the mid 17th and mid 18th centuries and the Faire Chamber that housed a collection of ceramics from the 18th and the early 19th century. The Armory had a collection of weapons displayed.
Armory
Views from the castle to the surrounding area.
View of the North Sea from the ground of the castleView of the North Sea from the CastleView of Bamburgh from the Castle
Looking out at the North Sea we could see the Farne Islands, a National Nature Preserve. We could see a few of the 15-20 islands. Lighthouses have been built on many of the islands due to the danger to ships. Below were a couple of the islands we could see that had lighthouses.
When we left Bamburgh Castle we headed to Durham. Durham was located in Northeast England and was a hilly city and the Durham Cathedral dominated the skyline. Its name was derived from “Dunholme” or hill island due to its location and a bend on the River Wear.
Crossing the River Wear
The Durham Cathedral and the Durham Castle became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986. In 2008 the World Heritage site expanded its designation to include Durham University, Palace Green, University College, and Durham.
Durham CathedralDurham Castle
A few scenes from our walk in Durham.
Map of Durham
The Durham Cathedral was founded in 995 AD by monks from Lindisfarne who were fleeing Viking raids. They brought their holy relics with them.
Durham Cathedral
The Sanctuary Knocker or Sanctuary Ring currently on the north entrance door was placed there in 1981. The original was in the Durham Cathedral Museum and was from the 1100s.
The Sanctuary ring was used by a person who committed a great offense. That person would rap the ring and monks would give the person 37 days of sanctuary. The 37 days would be used by the accused person would need to decide whether to face trial or exile. This right to sanctuary was abolished in 1624.
Built in 1686 was a beautiful oak wood organ case. It was built by Bernard Schmidt or Father Smith as he was called. It was no longer in use.
Father Smith’s Organ Case
The Cloister was a covered walkway with windows on one side that opened to a grassy area called the Cloister Garth. It was located south of the Nave and was built in the 12th century and remodeled in the early 15th century and this was what we saw today.
Part of the Cloister
If you were a Harry Potter fan then you’d be interested in the scenes filmed at the Cathedral. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone movies filmed scenes in the Cloister.
The Cloister Garth was used in a wintery scene in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. It was whenHarry released his pet owl Hedwig. It was also used in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets when Ron’s “eat slugs” curse backfires.
The Cloister Garth (green space)
In the Galilee Chapel was constructed in the 1100s when Durham Cathedral was a monestary. This was one of the few places a woman was allowed. Saint Bede the Venerable was known for his writing, scholarship, and historian. His most famous work was Ecclesiastical History of the English People. His resting place was here.
If you watched Avengers: Endgame movie the Galilee Chapel was one of the rooms in the Asgard Palace.
The Nave was the main room of the cathedral. Services were held here.
Durham Cathedral Nave
The Nave was also used in Avengers: Endgame movie. It was where Thor traveled back in time and visited Asgard.
A wider view of the Nave
The South Transept was by the entrance to the Cathedral Tower. It had a colorful medieval clock above a door that the choir used to enter.
South Transept
The clock was constructed by Prior Castell in the late 15th or early 16th century. In 1845 they removed the clock. The Victorians thought is was too frivolous. In 1938 the clock was reconstructed by the Friends of Durham Cathedral.
The Quire was the heart of the cathedral. Daily worship took place here.
The Quire
The Shrine of St. Cuthbert was up the stairs in the Chapel of Nine Altars. He was buried beneath a stone slab that bore his name. The Shrine was located behind The Quire.
Shrine of St. Cuthbert
The Chapel of the Nine Altars was located behind the Shrine of St. Cuthbert. Today there were three working altars dedicated to St. Margaret, St. Hild, and St. Aiden. It was built between 1242-1280 because they needed space for the number of pilgrims visiting St. Cuthbert’s Shrine.
The Pietà sculpture was in the Chapel of the Nine Altars. It was carved from a beech tree with brass details from 1974-1981 by sculptor Fenwick Lawson.
The Pietà Sculpture
We checked into our hotel and walked back into town to eat at the Fat Hippo. It was located in the historic center of Durham.
Fat Hippo Restaurant
The Fat Hippo was known for their burgers so we all tried one and it didn’t disappoint. The restaurant was in a grade II listed building. That meant the building had to be preserved and was recognized on England’s National Heritage List. We were seated on the second floor which had a little bit of a slope. The building was from the 17th century.
After a eating a delicious meal, we walked back to our hotel.
Our first stop today was in Roslin, Scotland. This village was known for the Roslin Institute which created, Dolly, the world’s first cloned sheep in 1997 and the late Gothic and mysterious Rosslyn Chapel.
Rosslyn Chapel was founded in 1446 and took forty years to build.
“Legend has it that underneath the chapel, buried behind a stone wall and set back from the detailed wall carvings, is a spartan stone crypt. Buried even deeper is said to be the treasure of the Knights Templar. There is no solid evidence that suggests the Holy Grail is or ever was present at Rosslyn Chapel.” (https://www.rosslynchapel.com/) It certainly added to the mystery of the Chapel.
Rosslyn Chapel
Rosslyn Chapel front entrance
The Chapel was abandoned due to the Reformation and it fell into disrepair from 1592-1736. In 1736 General James St. Clair ordered repairs. Then in 1837 when James Alexander St. Clair-Erskine became 3rd Earl of Rosslyn more repairs happened. The process used for its repairs caused damage. In March, 1997 a free-standing steel structure was erected to cover the Chapel to allow it to “dry out”!
So in May, 2012, the restored organ accompanied the inaugural performance of the Rosslyn Psalm by Howard Goodall to celebrate the completion of the Rosslyn Chapel Conservation program.
Notice all of the ornate carvings on the outside of the Chapel. One could find carvings of plants, animals and human figures.
Across from the main entrance to the Chapel was a memorial to Frances Robert St. Clair-Erskine, the 4th Earl of Rosslyn (1833-1890). It stood 20 feet tall and was erected in 1899.
The symbolism in the ornate stonework in the Chapel added to its mystery. No photos were permitted but I have included a few photos from the book, Rosslyn Chapel by The Earl of Rosslyn.
The Choir (photo credit: Rosslyn Chapel by The Earl of Rosslyn)
The pillar carved by the Master Mason was less elaborate than his apprentice’s pillar! The story was that the Master Mason went out of town to get ideas before he carved the other pillar. While he was gone his young apprentice had a dream that he finished the pillar and so he did. When the Master Mason returned and saw the beautifully finished pillar he was so upset he struck his young apprentice with his mallet. He killed the apprentice instantly and was hung for his crime.
The Mason’s Pillar (photo credit: Rosslyn Chapel by The Earl of Rosslyn)Apprentice Pillar (photo credit: Rosslyn Chapel by The Earl of Rosslyn)
Looking back toward the choir loft you could see the carvings of those involved in the Apprentice Pillar. In the left corner was the apprentice with a scar on his forehead and near him was his grieving mother. In the opposite corner was the master mason and he forever had to look at the Apprentice’s Pillar.
The apprentice, his mother and the master mason (photo credit: Rosslyn Chapel by The Earl of Rosslyn)
The inside and outside of the Rosslyn Chapel had close to 100 green men carvings. These were faces with foliage coming from their mouths.
Green man (photo credit: Rosslyn Chapel by The Earl of Rosslyn)
Below were a few more examples of the symbols and carvings in the Chapel. We would highly recommend visiting this curious chapel.
Roof showing stars with sun, moon, dove (photo credit: Rosslyn Chapel by The Earl of Rosslyn)Christ with his hand in blessing (photo credit: Rosslyn Chapel by The Earl of Rosslyn)
The Sacristy (crypt) was reached by going down a steep set of steps. It was believed that this crypt was older than the chapel. It was used as a workshop during the years the Chapel was being built. It rose to fame because of The Da Vinci Code.
Sacristy (photo credit: Rosslyn Chapel by The Earl of Rosslyn)
We first read about Rosslyn Chapel in Dan Brown’s book, The Da Vinci Code, in 2003. We also saw the movie in 2006. The book and the movie combined to make Rosslyn Chapel known worldwide. Visitor numbers grew substantially thanks to The Da Vinci Code.
Abbotsford, the home of Sir Walter Scott, a 19th century novelist was our next stop. It was located on the banks of the River Tweed.
Abbotsford
Entering Abbotsford
Abbotsford
Sir Walter Scott wrote his most acclaimed works Ivanhoe, Rob Roy and The Lady of the Lake here at Abbotsford. He was in significant debt because of the 1825 banking crisis in the U.K. In today’s market his debt was in the millions. He didn’t want to lose Abbotsford so he put his home and income in a trust belonging to his creditors. His plan was to write himself out of debt. When he died he still owed money but his books kept selling and it wasn’t long before his estate was debt free. His home was opened to the public in 1833 by his family.
Scott’s Study
Sir Walter Scott was an obsessive collector of books, artifacts, and weaponry. His library was filled with his collection of books as the last two photos show.
The photos below show part of his weapon collection.
Click through the slideshow below to see more of Scott’s beautiful home.
The chapel was added in 1855 by Sir Walter Scott’s granddaughter, Charlotte and her husband James Robert Hope. Much of the chapel was covered in plastic sheets because a bird kept getting in and the staff wanted to figure out how it was able to access this historic space.
Sign explained the coverings.The Chapel
The robes below were gifted to Mary Monica, the daughter of James and Charlotte by Cardinal Newman who was a close friend.
Sacred relics
Witch Corner was located on our way to visit Abbotsford. It had stories and sculptures that were inspired from the writings and research of Sir Walter Scott. The name Witch Corner came from Scott’s nickname for his favorite section of his enormous library. This section was on witchcraft, magic, folklore, superstition and consisted of 250 rare books.
This evening some of our group would be flying home tomorrow. We had a group dinner at MacKays on the Mile restaurant.
The main course was traditional Scottish food: Haggis, turnips, and mashed potatoes!
Haggis on top, creamed turnips in the middle, and mashed potatoes on the bottom.
The restaurants interesting decor!
Our Group of Travelers
Another great day for us! Tomorrow we leave Edinburgh for England.
Today we were traveling to St. Andrews, Scotland. It was sunny but quite windy. We made a stop at The Forth Bridges. There were three famous bridges that we saw. The bridges crossed the River Forth which was a major river in central Scotland. The river drained into the North Sea.
The oldest bridge was The Forth Bridge which became an UNESCO World Heritage site in July of 2015. It opened in 1890 and was only open to trains. It was the world’s first major steel structure. It under went a complete restoration that was completed in 2012. It was constructed of 53,000 tons of steel, 6.5 million rivets and 73 lives were lost during its construction.
The Forth Bridge
Memorial to those workers who lost their lives during the construction of The Forth Bridge.
The Queensferry Crossing (the bridge in the back in the photo below) opened in 2017. It was the longest 3-tower, cable-stayed bridge in the world. It spanned 1.7 miles. Its bridge towers were the highest in the United Kingdom.
Queensferry Bridge in the back and the Forth Road Bridge was in the front.
The Forth Road Bridge (the bridge in the front in the photo below) was a long span suspension bridge. It was the 4th longest bridge in the world and the largest outside the United States when it opened in 1964. It was 1 1/2 miles in length and was built using 39,000 tons of steel!
When we arrived at the historic town of St. Andrews we had a self-guided tour of the R&A Golf Museum. It was located opposite The Royal and Ancient Clubhouse.
Outside the R&A World Gold Museum
The museum explored the past, present and future of golf. There was a large collection of golf memorabilia from around the world. We were able to explore over 400 years of golf history in the museum.
When we finished the museum, we walked beside the 18th hole of the Old Course. It was created in 1754 and the Royal and Ancient Club headquarters of golf ever since. Our purpose was to take pictures on the famous Swilcan Bridge. It was located on the 18th hole and the bridge was originally built 700 years ago. The Swilcan Bridge was 8 feet wide and 30 feet long and spans the Swilcan Burn (stream). It was one of the most photographed bridges in the world.
Swilcan Bridge
We waited until the foursome on the 18th hole passed and we walked out quickly for our pictures.
More shots from around the course are below. Please click through. It was such a gorgeous day.
The clubhouse of the Royal and Ancient Golf Course
Be aware!
The course was by the North Sea
Statue of Old Tom Morris by sculptor David Annand.
Martyrs’ Monument- commemorates protestants that were executed.
The Old Course filled with golfers
It was a great day if you were a golfer.
The 18th hole was behind us!
The 2027 British Open will be played at the Old Course at St. Andrews. What a beautiful setting for the tournament. The beach and the bay by the course!
What a great way to forecast the weather at St. Andrews. Make sure you read the sign below.
Along the sidewalk across from the course were plaques of the British Open. Jack Nicklaus who was from our area won in 1970 and 1978!
St. Andrews Club Members Only entrance
Besides St. Andrews being known as the birthplace of golf, it had a university which was the oldest in Scotland. The University of St. Andrews was founded in 1412. Prince William was the most recent and famous alumnus. We could also see the ruins of the St. Andrews castle. When we visited here in 2003 we visited the castle and walked through the university. Today we had time to eat lunch and then meet our group. We asked a couple of University students where would be a good place to eat and they gave a few suggestions. We found a pub, Central Bar, that had been around for over 100 years! Many of us had their Grilled Cheese Toastie which was a grilled cheese sandwich.
Part of our group at Central BarThis sign was posted around the bar.
As we headed back toward Edinburgh, we followed along the scenic coastline of Fife. We had a quick stop at Cellardyke, a village in Scotland. The Cellardyke Harbour had stunning views of the fishing village. Our next stop was the coastal town of Anstruther. It was another fishing village.
Along the road we saw farmland and we all commented on how fertile the soil looked. The soil didn’t have clay like our gardens at home.
This evening we were tired and went to dinner a block from our hotel. We had dinner at the No1 High Street on the Royal Mile. They were able to accomodate our group and our food was tasty. Another great day!
Our day began with a drive through the “New Town” of Edinburgh and by new town, it was constructed between 1767 and 1890! It had stylish boutiques, classical Georgian architecture, many excellent restaurants, and large green spaces.
As we rode along, we looked back at the “Old Town” of Edinburgh and Castle Rock with the castle.
We passed Charlotte Square which had a statue of Prince Albert (consort of Queen Victoria). It was a private garden that was only for the owners of the surrounding properties.
Charlotte Square
West Register House- National Records of Scotland along Charlotte Square. It was constructed from 1811-1814 as St. George’s Church and was converted to the Register House in 1964-1970.
We passed the historic local pub, Greyfriar’s Bobby Pub. It had been around for at least 150 years and occupied the ground floor of a row of Georgian houses. In front of the pub was the statue of Bobby, a Skye Terrier. He was a famous dog in Scotland. Legend said that in the 19th century Bobby spent fourteen years guarding the grave of his owner until the dog died in 1872. Many stop and rub the dog’s nose on the statue for good luck.
Greyfriar’s Bobby Pub and statue of Bobby
Bobby, Skye Terrier
Queen Elizabeth II’s yacht, the Britannia, was our next stop.
Her Majesty’s Yacht Britannia
It was her Royal Yacht from 1954 to 1997. The ship was built in Scotland and it was appropriate for it to become a tourist attraction near Edinburgh, the capital. It opened as a visitor attraction in 1998. As of 2016 Britannia had over five million visitors. We had an audio self-guided tour as we toured the ship. We toured at our own pace.
The HMY (Her majesty’s yacht), Britannia traveled more than one million nautical miles. It had 250 crew members and it also served as Queen Elizabeth II’s Royal residence. She held state visits, official receptions, Royal honeymoons, and had relaxing family holidays on board the ship.
The Queen’s BedroomThe Queen’s Bedroom
Prince Philip’s Bedroom
The double bed was added to this bedroom for Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s Honeymoon.
The Sun Lounge was the Queen’s favorite room.
Sun Lounge
The Drawing Room was a place where the Royal family would relax or sometimes it was a reception room and could hold up to 250 guests.
The Drawing RoomThe Drawing Room
The State Dining room was the largest room on the yacht. The Queen entertained some very important Heads of State in this dining room.
The State Dining Room
We took a break during our tour and visited the Royal Deck Tea Room. This deck was previously used by the Royal Family for deck games. They also enjoyed drinks or buffets. One can only visit the Tea Room if you were touring the Britannia. We enjoyed our tea and scones.
All the clocks on board the Britannia stopped at 15:01 or 3:01 PM. This was the time that Queen Elizabeth II went ashore for the last time!
3:01 PM
The officers and sailors on board also had their own places to relax. One of the places was a bar where you could pretend to enjoy a cold brew!
One could also be the “Admiral” during your tour!
The engine room was so shiny and pristine!
Engine Room
We visited five decks and saw so much! We just highlighted some of the rooms of the yacht. If you are in Edinburgh and have the time, we would recommend taking the tour.
When we left Britannia, our next stop was lunch before meeting at the entrance to the Edinburgh Castle. We walked up the Royal Mile to find a place for a quick bite. The Amber Restaurant and Whisky Bar was able to seat 11 of us and serve us quickly. The restaurant and bar first opened up in 1988. Its main focus was the scotch whisky experience but the restaurant was very good.
Amber Restaurant & Whisky Bar
The rest of our afternoon was visiting the Edinburgh Castle. It was built from the 11th century to the 21st century. The castle was a military fortress, royal residence, and a military prison. It sat on an extinct volcanic plug. It currently served as an active military base. The highlight was the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo that happened every August on the castle esplanade.
Our Hilliard Area Chamber of Commerce Group in front of the Edinburgh Castle
Everyday at 1:00 PM a gun is fired! They had signs warning of the loud noise! Mons Meg was a giant, late-medieval cannon.
Mons Meg Cannon
St. Margaret’s Chapel was the oldest building in Edinburgh. It still hosted weddings and christenings.
St. Margaret’s Chapel (12th Century)
Another building within the castle was the Scottish National War Memorial. It had a “Roll of Honour” where visitors with help could look up fallen soldiers from WWI to the present. It was run by a small charitable trust.
Scottish National War Memorial
In the Royal Palace we saw one of the fireplaces that had the Royal Arms of James VI, King of Scots.
We walked all around the Half Moon Battery that was located on the eastern side of the castle grounds. The cannons were 18 pounds and built in 1810 for the Napoleonic Wars.
A Cannon from the Half Moon Battery
The sun was shining but it was very windy as we walked.
The panoramic views of Edinburgh from the caste were amazing. One could see for miles!
We could also see the Soldiers’ Dog Cemetery which dated back to 1837. Visitors can’t enter the cemetery but it can be viewed from above.
When we left the Edinburgh Castle we stopped at another traditional Scottish pub along the Royal Mile called the World’s End Bar. It was located in a 16th century building and its exterior wall formed part of Edinburgh’s ancient wall.
This sign was in the pub.
Some of us had a beverage while part of our group was shopping on the Royal Mile.Our group in the World’sps End Pub
This evening we had reservations at a speakeasy in the New Town of Edinburgh. Some of our group took a cab to the location because it was about a mile walk and we had already walked over four miles and a lot of stairs.
We left our hotel to walk to the speakeasy.AS we walked down to the speakeasy, we looked back up to the Edinburgh Castle.
Panda and Sons was the name of the speakeasy. It opened in 2013 by Panda and his family. It was located in a vintage style barbershop.
It was a classic style Prohibition speakeasy. The bar entrance was hidden behind a bookcase.
The entrance was behind the bookcase.
We enjoyed a drink in Panda & Sons and then we were in search of a restaurant for dinner. One of the waitresses suggested a restaurant and even called for us to see if they could seat the nine of us. She made a reservation for us at Old Pal and we walked there. It was almost a mile away. Our group decided as we walked to the restaurant that we would take a cab back to our hotel. We were all tired. As we walked we passed by Charlotte’s Square and saw West Register House illuminated.
West Register House
Old Pal was a new restaurant that opened in 2024. The restaurant wasn’t busy but our food was delicious!
A block away from the restaurant there was a taxi stand! We took a taxi back to our hotel. Another busy day completed.
This morning we boarded our bus to head toward Edinburgh. We had several stops along the way. Our first stop was at the Glengoyne Distillery. They opened at 10:00 AM and we were ready for our tour. By 11:00 AM we were tasting their single malt Scotch whisky!
Glengoyne Distillery
The Glengoyne Distillery was located on the HIghland Line which was a division between the Highlands and the Lowlands of Scotland. It had been described as Scotland’s most beautiful distillery located at the foot of the Campsie Hills and next to a waterfall.
Glengoyne Distillery had legally been making whisky since 1833! Their stills were the slowest in Scotland. The casks take six years to prepare and they were known for their barley which was only dried by air. Our tour took us through all of the stages of the process.
Most of our group in the Glengoyne Distillery
After our tour was over we met in the tasting room to try 3 different aged whiskies. The first was aged 10 years, the second 12 years, and the third was aged 15 years. I was able to taste test because the distillation process ensured all gluten in the barley was removed. Our tour director was able to taste with us because she wasn’t driving. Scotland had a zero-tolerance to drinking and driving. If you were a driver you could only nose the whisky, but not taste. That would not be fun at all.
Our second stop was The Falkirk Wheel and lunch. The Falkirk Wheel was the world’s only rotating boat lift. It linked the Forth & Clyde canal to the Union Canal which was 114 feet above and in a half-turn that took five minutes. It opened in 2002 and replaced a flight of 11 staircased locks. It was a busy tourist site. We arrived as The Falkirk Wheel began its turn.
Below was a short video that showed the wheel moving.
The Kelpies Horse sculptures were also a must see! We stopped and had time to walk up close and around these two horse-head sculptures at the Helix Ecopark.
The Kelpies
Each head was 98 feet high and they were designed by sculptor Andy Scott. The Kelpies were part of Scottish folklore. They depicted a beautiful horse that lured victims to their deaths in rivers or lochs.
Duke and Baron
Duke and Baron were named after two real Clydesdale horses. They stood 100 feet tall and weigh more than 300 tons each. They were the largest equine structures in the world.
Edinburgh was our final stop. As we approached our hotel we could see the Edinburgh Castle on Castle Rock.
Edinburgh Castle
We checked into our hotel which was located a block from the Royal Mile. Our hotel room looked out over the train station.
The train station out our window.
We left our luggage and went walking up the Royal Mile toward the Edinburgh Castle. As we were walking we passed by “Oor Tom” which was created by the Edinburgh artist, Chris Rutterford to honor the war veteran Tom Gilzean. For over 20 years Tom collected over one million pounds for the Edinburgh Childrens’ Hospital Charity and he was always dressed in his tartan trews. He was 99 years old when he died. What a wonderful way to continue his charitable legacy. We donated when we returned home.
Tom Gilzean sculpture established to continue his legacy.
The Royal Mile was located in Old Town of Edinburgh. Its origins date back to the medieval period. In 1995 it was designated an UNESCO World Heritage site and it also included Princes Street in New Town. The Royal Mile went from Edinburgh Castle (west end) to the Palace of Holyroodhouse (east end). Some sights as we walked up to the castle.
Looking down the Royal MileSt. Giles CathedralChalmers’ CloseEdinburgh Castle
On our way back to our hotel we stopped for a drink at the No1 High Street pub. It was the original meeting place for the famous Edinburgh Cape Society that was founded in the 1700s. Some famous members were Robert Burns (famous Scottish poet) and Deacon William Brodie (he was Robert Louis Stephenson’s inspiration for Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde). The back of the bar had prints that depicted the Cape Society. The Cape Society still exists!
After our walk along the Royal Mile, we had a group dinner at Tolbooth Tavern. It was a traditional Scottish pub that was established in 1820.
Tolbooth Tavern
The group had an appetizer of Haggis, a national dish of Scotland. It was a type of pudding made with minced sheep’s lungs, heart, and liver. It was then mixed with beef or suet, oatmeal, and then seasoned with onion, cayenne pepper and other spices. I had tomato soup because the haggis was not gluten free. I was happy with that.
After dinner we walked back to our hotel. The view from our room looking the other direction.
This morning we visited Loch Lomond which was located in the Trossochs National Park. Our stop was in the quaint village of Luss (in Gaelic it meant herb) which was located on the western shore of Loch Lemond. Much of the village was from the 18th and 19th centuries but the area dated back to medieval times. We saw rows of cute cottages. Luss also was the village used for the Scottish TV soap opera, “High Road”. On the show Glendarroch a fake village was filmed in Luss. The population was about 450 residents.
Loch Lemond was the largest fresh water lake, by surface area, in Britain. The Loch floor was formed by glacial excavation. There were many islands throughout and the Loch and it was 23 miles long. The largest island was called Inchmurrin. Due to the foggy conditions when we visited it was difficult to see the islands. Inchmurrin was located across the Highland Boundary Fault that separated the Scottish Highlands and Lowlands.
Luss Parish Church was built in 1875 but the cemetery was much older. Luss Parish Church succeeded a church of worship in 1771 and was built on the site of a pre Reformation Chapel.
In the cemetery there was an 11th century Viking hogback memorial stone. It dated back to around 1260 when Vikings raided the area!
The Hogback Memorial Stone is in the foreground.
The Queen’s tree was planted in Luss to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II becoming the longest reigning monarch in British history on September 9th, 2015.
Queen’s Tree in Luss
After exploring Luss and Loch Lemond we continued through the Trossochs on our way to the town of Stirling.
Stirling was located in central Scotland. It tied the Highlands and the Lowlands together. It was surrounded by a landscape adorned with rolling green hills. In 2024, the town celebrated its 900th anniversary.
Statue of Scotland Poet, Robert BurnsWolf plaque in the city centerThe Antheneaum, built in 1816, originally a library and reading room.
We walked around Stirling which was busy and had lunch at the Wee Wolf Bistro. The restaurant got its name from wolves that helped protect the city. The food was delicious. They served “jacket potatoes” or baked potatoes with various toppings which I thought was yummy. And those that had burgers said they were the best! It was amazing what they served with only a tiny kitchen.
Where we ate lunch.The tiny kitchen.The back part of the restaurant.Our friends waiting on lunch.The front of the restaurant.
Stirling Castle was located on a volcanic crag. It was a beautiful stone castle with a rich history.
Stirling Castle sat on a volcanic crag.
Stirling Castle
Our Stirling Castle guide
James V
Around the Inner Close, or square, there were 4 main buildings. The King’s Old Building was built for James IV in 1496. The Great Hall was added by James IV around 1503. It was the largest medieval banquet hall ever built in Scotland.
The Great Hall
The exterior walls of this building was painted Royal Gold harling. This was the color it would have been in the 1500s.
Outside the Great Hall repainted with the original Royal Gold Harling!
The Royal Palace was built for James V around 1540. It was the childhood home of Mary Queen of Scots.
The Chapel Royal was commissioned by James VI in 1594 and took 7 months to build. He wanted it finished for the baptism of his son and heir Prince Henry. (1593-1594).
The Stirling Heads were large oak portrait medallions that were carved in the mid 1500s to decorate the ceiling of a room in the castle. They were carved with images of kings, queens, nobles, Roman emperors, characters from the Bible and classical mythology.
We looked out at the King’s Knot and the Royal Park that was once part of the royal properties.
The royal properties and to the left was the city of Stirling.
The castle was getting ready to close when we left. The large doors were already closed so we ducked through the small doors.
From the castle grounds we saw the National Wallace monument that stood 220 feet. It stood where William Wallace led his troops to victory at the Battle of Stirling Bridge. Inside you could climb 246 steps on a spiral staircase that had exhibition centers inside.
When we returned to Glasgow, we freshened up and left for our dinner reservations at The Corinthian Club. It was located in Merchant City not far from our hotel. We ate in the Teller’s Bar and Brasserie. This location was first an 18th century mansion for City Merchant George Buchanan. This building was demolished and the Glasgow Ship Bank was constructed and then it was the Union Bank of Scotland. Then in 1920 it was converted into judiciary courts. Then in 1999 it was restored as The Corinthian. It had a 26 foot glass-dome that was gorgeous. It was refurbished and reopened in 2010. It was a great evening and meal.
After dinner we wanted to visit a local pub for an after dinner drink. The waiter suggested a traditional Scottish pub and we headed there. We ended a very busy day at the Piper Bar.
This morning started with a bus tour of Glasgow. Our first stop was at the Glasgow Green. Here was saw the Doulton Fountain. It was a five-tier fountain in a French Renaissance style. It was built for the Queen’s Golden Jubilee in 1887. It was restored in 2003-2005 and stood 46 feet high and 70 feet across the base and it was thought to be the largest fountain in the world.
Doulton Fountain
We did our O-H-I-O in front of the fountain!
The fountain was located in front of the People’s Palace. It was built from 1893-1898. It housed the city’s social history collection.
People’s Palace
We passed the Hydro. It was an indoor arena that had a capacity of 14,500 including the standing room and opened in 2013. It holds various events.
The Hydro
The bus also took us past the Clyde Auditorium which resembled the Sydney Opera House in Australia. The Clyde Auditorium also known as the Armadillo and opened in 1997. It hosts big entertainment names and performers and has a capacity of 3,000.
The Clyde Auditorium
As we walked up to the Glasgow Cathedral we saw one of the former blue police boxes that were used from the 1920s and have been sold and converted into businesses. If you were a Dr. Who fan these former police boxes were used as his tardis (time machine) to travel from place to place.
This police box is now a coffee shop.
We had an hour to tour the Glasgow Cathedral on our own. It was dedicated to St. Kentigern, also known as St. Mungo. He was a Christian missionary from the 6th century AD.
Glasgow Cathedral
The cathedral was built in the 1100s and it took 350 years to finish. It was a medieval cathedral.
The Queen/King’s BoxIn the foreground is part of the Pupitum, carved stone screen from the 1400s.
We walked through the crypt that housed the tomb of St. Mungo.
Down to the cryptTomb of St. Mungo
The set of stained glass windows were made in the 1860s by the Munich glass and were installed in the Cathedral between 1859 and 1864. The windows deteriorated and had to be replaced and the three pictured below were restored by Historic Scotland.
Behind the Cathedral was the Glasgow Necropolis. It was a Victorian cemetery and the first garden cemetery in Scotland. It opened in 1833 on a hilly site and the top was dominated by the 12 foot statue of John Knox. He was known most for the Scottish Reformation.
The entranceThe Glasgow NecropolisStatue of John Knox
Near the Glasgow Cathedral was a statue of David Livingstone by John Mossman. He was a Scottish born doctor, missionary, and explorer. When we traveled to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe in 2018 we saw a statue to Livingstone who discovered the falls in 1855 and named them after Queen Victoria.
David Livingstone
Across the street from the Glasgow Cathedral was the oldest building in Glasgow, Provands Lordship. It dated from 1471 and was used by the clergy when they visited the cathedral.
Provands Lordship
Located behind Provands Lordship was St. Nicholas Garden. It was established in 1995 and contained herbs and plants used in the 15th century. In the center was a carved granite fountain. At the back were cloisters which contained Tontine Heads that were removed from the old Tontine Building which was once used as an exchange for sugar dealers. Below are a few of the Tontine Heads.
St. Nicholas Garden
Before lunch we visited the Riverside Museum. It was filled with transportation and technology collections. The building opened in 2011 and took four years to complete. Dame Zaha Hadid was the world renowed architect that did the design.
The Riverside Museum was located at the junction of the Clyde River and the Kelvin River.
Riverside MuseumCar WallSkateboardsBicycle CollectionMain Street (1890s-1930)Some examples of the various vehicles in the museum.
Displays from Star Wars could be found throughout the museum! Below were a few of the Star Wars collections.
This afternoon we have a tour of the National Piping Centre. It was located in a building from 1872 that was extensively renovated and the Piping Centre opened in 1996. We learned all about the history of Bagpipes. It was founded to promote the study of the music and history of the Highland Bagpipe. The Centre housed a museum of piping which we were given a tour. After our tour, we all had the opportunity to play “Mary Had a Little Lamb” on a chanter. It was fun to try it. A couple of people from our group then tried playing the bagpipe!
The Piping CentreOur guide who also played the Bagpipes for us.Playing Mary Had a Little Lamb. Reminded me of my clarinet days!Playing the ChanterOur travel group in front of the Piping Centre
Our group really wanted to see the Highland Cows and when we finished at the Piping Centre we quickly left for the train station to go to Pollok Country Park. Of course we went to the wrong train station first! We made it to the correct train station, bought our tickets and had to rush for the train! At the second train stop we hopped off and walked to the park which wasn’t far away.
Little did we know that this park was Glasgow’s largest green space! It was gifted to the city in 1966 and the Maxwell family owned this estate before it became a park. The Maxwell’s established the famous Pollok Highland Cattle fold nearly 200 years ago. They were brought down from the Scottish Highlands to graze the grounds within the estate. There were about 50 cattle. These Highland cows spend all year outside due to their double coat of hair. We walked quite a distance in the park before we spotted some coos (or cows)!
Mama and Baby
As we walked back we found coos close to the entrance which weren’t there earlier. The park was huge! You could spend a full day here and not see all of it!
We had round trip train tickets that took us back to the city center.
The train station for the Pollok Country Park.
We were ready for dinner after a busy day! Near Merchant City where our hotel was located we passed a restaurant that could seat eleven of us! We ordered drinks and food and enjoyed both.
As we walked back to our hotel we passed by the Gallery of Modern Art which was located in an early 19th century neoclassical building in the city center. In front of the Gallery was a statue of the Duke of Wellington who had a traffic cone on his head! The placing of the traffic cone on his head and sometimes on his horse began by late night revellers in the 1980s. It demonstrated a sense of humor and that tradition has continued!
After walking almost six miles today we were tired and ready for bed! Tomorrow would be another exciting day in Scotland!
This was our first international trip of 2025. We traveled with the Hilliard Chamber of Commerce. We have traveled on other trips with them and have found their itineraries to be well planned and the price better than if we put this trip together on our own.
On Wednesday we left Columbus for Atlanta on time. We were all in our zone lines for our second leg, KLM flight to Amsterdam, when the flight was delayed 10 minutes, then 50 minutes and then three hours. We were finally in the air four hours later than scheduled. That meant we would miss our connecting flight to Glasgow. Due to the late departure we were served one dinner, no breakfast because the flight attendants needed a regulatory rest. Also, because the flight was delayed so long our plane was not completely full. We sat in a row of three and had an empty seat between us. Even though we had an empty seat it was difficult to get any sleep. The plane was warm and the seats weren’t comfortable.
The early morning sky out the plane window.From pinks to blues with the white clouds.
When we landed in Amsterdam, our tour company had rebooked our group on a noon flight to Glasgow so we only lost half a day. Unfortunately all of our checked luggage did not follow us onto the plane. Thank goodness we always pack 2 days of clothing in our carryon!
Thursday, March 20th, 2025
When we arrived in Glasgow we were met by our tour guide, Laura. She introduced herself as we traveled from the Glasgow airport to our hotel. We checked in, freshened up and some of us went walking around the area.
St. George’s-Tron ChurchGeorge Square and the City Hall of GlasgowA shopping mall near our hotel.
We stopped in for a drink at a great bar for Happy Hour. It was really busy.
The Counting House- we sat in a back room.
This evening we had a group dinner at a restaurant close to our hotel called The Spiritualist. It was a great dinner of fish & chips.
The Spiritualist RestaurantInside the restaurantIrn-Bru is a Scottish orange colored carbonated soft drink that is very popular and just behind whisky!
After dinner we walked back to our hotel, Ibis Styles Glasgow George Square, and went to sleep pretty quickly!
Our ship was sailing toward Boston where we would be disembarking tomorrow! It was another nice day on board the Viking Mars. We were able to read out on deck because the weather was sunny and warm.
This afternoon the Hotel officers hosted a “Live Margarita Bar”. We participated in enjoying a drink.
Late afternoon we attended Rear Admiral John Lippiett’s lecture, “That ‘Tea Party’ in 1773- A Look into the Tea Trade”. He explained how drinking tea became fashionable and spread to the colonies.
This evening we went to hear one of the Viking vocalists perform a solo show. It was called “An Evening with Adam”. He sang a variety of his favorite songs.
Our last sunset of the cruise was beautiful!
Saturday, August 31st, 2024
This morning we woke up in Boston, Massachusetts.
Pier in Boston
Our flight home wasn’t until late afternoon. We thought we’d be sitting in the airport all day but Viking booked hospitality rooms where we could relax until 2:00 PM when they would then transport us to the Boston Logan International airport. We left the hotel and walked around Boston. The weather was sunny and warm. Viking also arranged for lunch to be served. We were quite impressed with these unexpected provisions.
Beautiful day in BostonChristian Science Plaza near the hotel
It was the Ohio State Buckeyes first game of the season against an in-state team, Akron. The game was in the afternoon and we figured we’d miss the entire game. We were surprised to see it televised an airport restaurant by our gate. So we saw a lot of the first half before we boarded our flight. We looked out over Boston and the surrounding area as our plane lifted off for Columbus!
This adventure had ended but we look forward to the next one!
