Saturday, March 22nd, 2025

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 Queen’s tree was planted in Luss to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II becoming the longest reigning monarch in British history on September 9th, 2015.

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.

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.

Stirling Castle was located on a volcanic crag. It was a beautiful stone castle with a rich history.

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 exterior walls of this building was painted Royal Gold harling. This was the color it would have been in the 1500s.

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 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.

Tomorrow we leave for Edinburgh!