Urquhart Castle has stood on
its promontory overlooking Loch Ness since the 13th century.
After seeing a short movie on the castle in the visitor centre, the
curtains pull back to show this panorama of the castle and the loch. |
Joe was our Instant Expert for the castle, and let the Scouts know
what we'd be seeing as we waited in the car park for the castle to
open. |
The Scouts entering the castle through the ruined gatehouse. |
Justyn, Andrew and Aidan going through one of the towers. |
Justyn tries out a Claymore sword offered by a Castle staff member as
Aidan waits for his turn. The two-handed medieval sword was truly a
fearsome weapon. |
After lunch we visited the Loch Ness Monster Exhibition, which
scientifically proved there couldn't be a Monster - before ending at
the gift shop, where you could buy them in every possible size and
color. |
Our next stop was Culloden Battlefield for their "In the
Footsteps of the Prince" program. The Scouts started out doing
some role playing, here as a group of the King's Redcoats. |
"Lady Lude", the Jacobite who fired the first shot at the
siege of Blair Castle, and three "Jacobites". |
"Hurrah for the Prince and the True King!" |
Andrew and Butcher Cumberland, suspiciously friendly... |
We then went out on a guided tour of the battlefield. |
Our Scouts at the Memorial Cairn. |
Back in the museum, the Scouts were given the opportunity to hold 18th
century weaponry, including this Brown Bess musket, as well as a sword
and targe. |
After Culloden we stopped off at the Clava Cairns, a group of
prehistoric burial mounds just a few miles away. |
The Cairns complex was built about 4,000 years ago. |
We drove from Clava Cairns
to St. Andrews, with a stop for a great Indian dinner at Pitlochry.
That let us arrive in St. Andrews early enough to enjoy the sunset
over St. Andrews Castle. |
The Scouts relaxed in the 8th Fife Scout Group's Scout Hall on the
waterfront, halfway
between the castle and the cathedral (and thanks to them for the use
of it!)... |
... while Andrew, Pete and I walked into town to pick up juice, milk
and cereal for breakfast for the next day. |
The West Sands at sunset - the beach-running scene in Chariots of
Fire was filmed here. |