Tour through the Highlands

The first time during our journey we took a guided tour with a travel agency and got on a bus into the Highlands. Bus left from Edinburgh castle and lead us into the Highlands, the bus driver was very entertaining and told us a lot of stories, as it should be when taking a guided tour.
The first interesting castle we saw was the Sterling Castle, it was only at the route we were driving and we did not stop there. To bad the castle looked very interesting. Close by we could see the Wallace Monument, also from far away. Yes it's to remember William Wallace, most parts in the movie close to everyone knows about him are not true, the Scots say that it is a fact that he was born and torn into peaces in London. Not so glorious as in the movie, at least the end is the same. So first bad thing in taking a guided tour.

Doune Castle ( -> wonna know more ?) was our first stop on the tour, when we got there I could imagine the French soldier making fun about King Arthur. A great choice for Monty Python taking the film scenes. The castle is in a rather good condition, again because of the less time we got there we did not have as much time there to look around. Second negative for taking a tour. Bernd wasn't that upset cause he knew otherwise we would have to climb up all the stairs.

The next stop was at a weaving, they used to make a lot of different wool panels having the specific clan colours. Also we could take a look at some highland cows, but they were a bit too far away for taking a closer picture. When Bernd got closer to the fence they also came closer, seeming to be very hungry. I was only able to take one picture of Bernd before he got to a safer place, the fence was not enough for him.

Before our lunch break we stopped in a small village where a river is going through and being able to take a look at the waterfall. Well after Iceland this was a tiny waterfall and more like rapids. At least it was a stop not being listed in the guidance, the driver told us, maybe it was only to let the people think they get something real special.

Next after the break we stopped for a moment at Loch Awe to see one of the most famous Scottish castles, Kilchurn Castle ( -> wonna know more ?) . Due to it's location on the Loch and again the problem with the guided tour we did not get closer to it. At least we have seen it. Feel like I've seen that castle in thousands of movies.

We had a longer stop at Inveraray Castle located at Loch Fyne. In this castle still the owners live but they have a big area available for tourists to take a look around and see all the old things they keep inside. Some very old things. A lot of rifles, halberds and swords, the clans have been fighting a lot in the past.

Ohh and of course we have seen the beautiful landscape and had the chance of taking some pictures. So from that point of view it was absolutely worth getting on the trip. And also getting some closer informations about the Scottish history and about the movies made there. Braveheart, only few things true, novels left Sir Wallace and his soldiers alone, Wallace got captured and killed. Robert the Bruce was not involved and became king and also fought the Englishman and won. The Highlander, we have seen some places where the immortal was around.
And a more unknown Rob Roy McDonald. Who was good at stealing. He got betrayed by his clan leader Alistair McDonald, who disappeared with a lot of borrowed money, Roy got to take responsibility for the loss. Our guide told us that no one found him, but the Scottish say he went to north America and opened a restaurant. Maybe there would still be his restaurant.

And before we bot back to Edinburgh we stopped for some minutes at Sterling castle, it was already to late to get in, so we could only see the big walls. Our guide offered us to get there, also when it's not on the route.
Bernd and I thought of never taking such a trip again, next time we'll keep our trips as usual exploring as we want to.