Day 14: Adventures in Scotland
Day 14: Adventures in Scotland was another exciting day loaded with interesting options for us. In fact, there were so many options that I only listed our ‘Must Sees’ on my spreadsheet. We were blessed to drive right past Collairnie Castle, as pictured below, on our way to Perth.
If you look at Destination: Fife Council and Destination: Perth and Kinross Council, you will understand our quandary! However, Dunfermline Abbey and The Stone of Destiny were our only ‘Must Sees’.
If you are going to Scotland, or dream of going to Scotland, I highly recommend that you read Michael Phillip’s Caledonia books. The first book, Legend of the Celtic Stone, is a modern day mystery set around the Stone of Scone. Interwoven into the current day tale are historic fictional stories that bring the story of Scotland to life. After reading these books we wanted to see the places in the book and uncover the history ourselves.
Kinnoull Hill
I happened upon Kinnoull Hill while exploring Google maps for Perth and Kinross Council. It is an elevation where on a clear day you can see forever!
Instead of a clear day it was misty, moody, mysterious and dripping. I was still excited about the hike, but my aunt decided to read in the car and stay dry! I chose the Corsiehill Trail since it’s a nice circle that takes you to the stone table. It is only 1.5 miles and my time to beat was an hour. My time was 49 minutes even with stops for taking pictures!
Perth
Perth is another beautiful historic city. The famous Stone of Scone or Stone of Destiny is currently housed at Perth Museum. The Perth Museum and The Stone of Destiny Experience are free, but there are special exhibits that do cost.
We knew we wanted to see the Stone of Scone even before reading Legend of the Celtic Stone, one of the books on the Scotland reading list. Michael Phillips’ descriptions made viewing the stone even more intriguing.
We arrived early enough that we didn’t have to wait long for The Stone of Destiny Experience.
We were required to book our time slot at the desk since there is no pre-booking. Staying longer at the Perth Museum would have be lovely, but we were also anticipating visiting Dunfermline Abbey and Palace before driving to Queensferry for dinner.
For those who want to know more about the adventure of driving and parking in Scotland see: Driving in Scotland: 7 Things To Do To Set Yourself Up For Success.
Dunfermline Abbey and Palace
There is free entry to Dunfermline Abbey and Palace with an Explorer Pass from Historic Environment Scotland membership. We put our memberships to good use during our Scotland adventures! I thoroughly enjoyed most of Dunfermline Palace, although I found myself pushing my limits with heights especially on the circular stairs. After stopping to take pictures while getting my heartrate back to normal, I noticed the sign in the doorway, “Beware of sheer drops”. The sign is positioned immediately before walking across a metal grate over the “sheer drops”! However, the beauty of the palace, even as a ruin, justified facing my acrophobia. Visiting Dunfermline brought to life the history of Queen Margaret and King Malcolm, as well as King Robert the Bruce.
Ending with Sticky Toffee Pudding
We didn’t eat out much while we were in Scotland. Most of our meals were picnic style either on our way or before getting out of the car when we arrived at the next destination.
Since we were in fresh fish country, we had fish and chips in Inverness, Cullen, St. Andrews and here at Scotts Bar and Restaurant. Scotts at Port Edgar Marina has wonderful views of the Firth of Forth bridges, an aquarium, and the best fish and chips! The sticky toffee pudding was also excellent, but Clachaig Inn serves my favorite sticky toffee pudding with hot custard.
Concluding Day 14: Adventures in Scotland
This was another perfect day beginning with our fabulous Room in Letham AirBnB and ending with a delicious dinner at Scotts. From our first day the history of Scotland opened in ways of which I had only dreamed.
As you can see from the Google map, there is much to visit in a small area. My research showed that there is something to interest everyone: the history buff, the outdoor athlete, the foodie, the bookworm, and kids of all ages. With such a wide array of choices, it is impossible to visit everything that captures your interest.
My biggest travel tips are:
- Know the options and pick out your top favorites.
- Plot a course with your Must See or Do places.
- Have a backup or second choice options in case of inclement weather, traffic, or other incidentals.
- Be open to changes in your plans. Some of the best memories end up happening when your plans go awry!
- There will be plenty of material from areas you won’t be able to visit to start a list for your next trip. This is a list that you can add to while on your trip!
Disclaimer: The items on this page might have affiliate, join, or purchase links that benefit me or my friends. *As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
