Today was a drive through space and time. We visited a Renaissance fortress, a Church with the gravestones of medieval warriors, a Glen famous for its Neolithic sites and finished with the grand seat of the Campbell Dukes of Argyll.
After a freezing stop to take in the coastal view at Arduaine Garden we moved on to Carnasserie Castle. While Lyn spoke to a lady with a dog about bracken and bluebells (yes, really), I explored around the ruins. There were no guardians, entrance fees or rules, so I climbed to the top up stairs designed by sure-footed Scottish midgets. There were great views.
In the last two photos you can see Lyn at the bottom and me at the top.
At Kilmartin we discovered the famous medieval tombstones in the churchyard.
Just a mile down the road we stopped to hike around the Neolithic sites in Kilmartin Glen. The standing stones, stone circles and tombs were clearly explained and nobody was there to tell you not to climb into 4000 year old burial chambers. The area is now sheep fields and Lyn was intrigued by the jagged stone walls.
By the time we reached Inveraray Castle the weather gods had abandoned us. (Perhaps we'd offended them in Kilmartin Glen.) This is the main residence of the Dukes of Argyll, heads of Clan Campbell. The current duke is the 13th. The castle comes with 5 ghosts, a Victorian era love story, and this being Scotland, a murder. Lyn was thrilled to find the basement kitchens well-preserved and properly equipped with giant stoves and copper pots. The whole place seemed to be decorated with Clan Campbell's arsenal.
We completed our driving loop by cutting back up to Loch Awe and across to Oban. We plan to give ourselves a rest from driving tomorrow.
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