SCOTLAND Monday May 26th We visited the castles in Jedburg, Kelso and Melrose. We stayed in Edinburg at the Premier Inn. (70 lbs.) Rudy had Shepard’s Pie!! Tuesday May 27th It was a 20-25 minute train ride into the city of Edinburgh and the train station was a three minute walk from the Inn. We took two bus tours and enjoyed Edinburgh and its history very much. We got back earlier than we anticipated so we traveled to St. Andrews which was very, very windy!! To get to St. Andrews we took a bridge over the Firth of Fourth and watched the very green fields go by which were divided by beautiful hedge rows. Since there was a Golf Tournament, I checked over 20 B&B’s before I found one of the last rooms in the town. (The Arran House 70 lbs.) It was one of the better B&B’s we stayed at and the people were very friendly. Wednesday May 28th We kept going north along the North Sea to Aberdeen and fond St. Andrew’s Cathedral, St. Nicholas Kirk, Marischal College, Provost Skene’s House and much more!!! The architecture was very impressive…..stone building piercing the sky everywhere. After lunch in a Real Pub Ploughman, we were off to see Drum Castle and Balmoral Castle. Now it was time to look for a place to sleep. After trying in Grantown on-Spray, we decided to go on to Nairn just pass Dundee. It started to rain and the cows were parading across the fields to get cover. There we found a room for the night at the Albert Inn. At dinner we tried Sticky Toffee Pudding with Custard for dessert which was very good!! Thursday May 29th In the last several days, the houses are newer and have less stone. We were told there has been no rain for five weeks!!! We went to the Kyle of Lochaish, Ceol-Na-Mara, the castle of Inverness which was on a hill overlooking the town and Urquhart Castle at the edge of Loch Ness. The monster wasn’t out today!!!! We stayed the night at a B&B in Loch Carron overlooking Loch Alsh. (60 lbs.) Ross was very helpful with info on the sights to see. Friday May 30th Another sunny day!!! We visited Eilean Donan Castle which is the most photographic castle in Scotland. We were told by the caretaker to see both the Eilean Donan Castle and the Brochs which were over 2,000 years old. The first time we passed right by it…it was a small circular brick structure. We then went across to the Isle of Sky and went on the oldest Swing Bridge in the world. We now were driving on the right hand side of the road and on a road that was barely wider enough for our small car and it was two way road. They would have some cut out places to stop and let the other car pass. Everyone was very polite and waited for each other….I guess you had no choice!!!!! We notice that each area has its own beauty and character and the grass is so green and the flowers beautiful. I guess if you have sun from 3:30 am to about 10:30 pm anything will grow!!! Tonight we waited too long and could not find a place to stay for the night. We back tracked to Ft. William and found a reasonable priced B&B. The cost is usually 50 lbs. Saturday May 31st Today we went “Castle Hopping” and here they are: Inverlocky Castle, Barcaldine Castle, Dunstaffrage Castle, Oban, Inverary Castle, Dumbarton Castle (lawn bowling) and then we went to Glasgow. A very busy day!!! Sunday June 1st We visited the Dunur Castle and Culzean Castle. The Ardwell Gardens had a very long entrance with ferns and palm trees. The Gulf Stream has a very beautiful effect not only for the plant life, but also the beautiful aqua marine color of the water!!! The rolling hills are manicured and beautiful. We also visited the Cross Raquell Abby and as we left there was a sign that said, “Haste Ye Back!” We stayed Saturday and Sunday at Prestwick at Golf View Hotel which was really a B&B. We asked if we could not have breakfast, she said that we were the first people to ask that question. She did take off 10 euros which was about $25 US each night!! This was the best B&B so far with Alison Ferguson making it special!!! (55 lbs.) CRITIQUE OF SCOTLAND We have traveled 1,600 miles from the plane in Rotterham and we have seen more Scottish Terriers….I think everyone has one!!! The houses here are mostly made of stone and the newer houses were white stone or beige stone. You can see chimneys on slate roofs everywhere and as far as the eye can see!!! They also have huge farms and more round-abouts then you want to think about!!!! The highlands on Thursday were more rugged and we even saw snow on the mountains. Here the hills are rockier and less green, but sheep are spotted everywhere and in the strangest places!!!