The Great Scottish Adventure
Day 4
Rob Roy’s Grave/Finlarig Castle/Kilchurn Castle/Dunstaffnage Castle
Oatmeal and coffee for breakfast in the campervan this morning. Then a much needed shower at the campsite facilities. On the road a half hour earlier than planned, so that is good.
First stop was Rob Roy’s grave at the Balquhidder Parish Church. Rob Roy MacGregor was actively involved with the Jacobites cause. It was interesting to visit the site in Balquhidder that I found to be deeply connected to the Stewarts of my lineage. Interestingly, the Stewarts of Balquhidder website has more information on my ancestors that can be found here.
Then on to the nearby town of Killin to check out the ruins of the Finlarig Castle. Finlarig Castle was built in the 1620’s by ”Black Duncan” Campbell, the 7th Laird of Glenorchy. It even has, as lore will state, a beheading pit. And the remains of the Breadalbane Mausoleum are found here as well. All very decrepit and overgrown, but that added to the mystery of the place. Very cool!
Continuing on through the rain, we stopped in Tyndrum for lunch and had some delicious fish and chips with a cup of broccoli/cauliflower soup.
After lunch, we were off to the very photogenic Kilchurn Castle on the edge of Loch Awe. We drove around to the opposite side of the Loch for an incredible perspective of the castle with the mountains as a back drop and Highland Coo’s in the foreground. While Harmony napped in the van, I photographed in the rain for awhile under some very atmospheric conditions. Dark moody clouds, the rain coming down, and sunlight breaking through every now and then made for conditions any landscape photographer would be giddy about! I was hoping some would turn out to be pretty special! Once I had captured the images I wanted, I returned to the van to wake Harmony and bring her out to view the spectacle.Then we drove around to the other side of the Loch and walked out to the castle. Pretty incredible!
We finished the days touring at Dunstaffnage Castle. Arriving only a short time before closing, It was nice as we almost had the place to ourselves, with only a few other people about. Amazing! We spent some time speaking with the friendly site overseer as he was closing up who had some interesting stories to tell. That is one of the things that has been so apparent to us, is how nice and friendly everyone we meet here in Scotland is!
Camp tonight is at Highfield Holidays in Benderloch.
Looking forward to tomorrows adventures…
Fantastic Photo!
Thank you!
That one of the Kilchurn Castle, with the sheet of rain and the sun peaking through on the adjacent hillside…👌
👍 Hard to beat great atmosphere!