Statue of Robert the Bruce and the Wallace Monument, near Stirling, Scotland. © fotoVoyager
Beyond Edinburgh
A reasonably energetic day-trip from Edinburgh can take in the spectacular castle at Stirling, indomitably perched 250 feet above the plain on an extinct volcano, and its Royal Palace as well as the Old Town; see the Wallace Monument (and climb its 246 steps if you're full of puff); and visit the Bannockburn Heritage Centre where the history of the Wars of Independence is brought to life.
Inverness and Around
From the capital of the Highlands we can head first for Loch Ness to see if we can be the first to prove the existence of its legendary monster. Thence to Cawdor Castle, which featured in Shakespeare's Macbeth although it had not yet been built at the time in which the play is set. The private stronghold for centuries of the Thanes of Cawdor, it contains fine portraits and outstanding tapestries and is a wonderfully unpretentious home as well. At Elgin we will see the ruins of the cathedral that was once known as 'the Lantern of the North', but was burned down by the Wolf of Badenoch, a son of Robert II, during a dispute with the church over his love life!
This is just a taster of the wonders of what Scotland has to offer. For more details and other suggestions, charges and booking please contact us