Journey No 16 – 21st to 22nd February 2011
21st February 2011
We departed Carrick Castle at 09.30 hrs to go to the Motorhome Workshop in Carstairs to have a new 50 bar gas regulator fitted as, when we bought the van, it had a 35 bar regulator that was incorrect for this European model of the 1992 Hymer B534 and was only discovered when the Habitation Certificate was being updated for the van in October 2010.
Travelling with one stop in Glasgow, refuelling also in Dumbarton with 35.00 litres diesel (£46.16) mileage 118152 km, we arrived in Carstairs at 12.30 in time for our 13.00 hrs appointment. The work was carried out replacing the gas regulator with one purchased in Germany. The gas system was then checked over and the Habitation Certificate was updated to being fully checked and completed.
We left Cairstairs and drove over towards Bathgate stopping at Cairnapple Hill by Torphichen near Bathgate. Cairnapple was used from about 3000 BC to 500 AD – firstly as a ceremonial site then, for centuries later, as a burial site. The walk up the hill should have had terrific views for many miles around but as it was very misty so we just had to look at the mound, ditches and burial sites plus views locally. The Historic Scotland visitors centre was closed for the winter however the noticeboards explained the origins of the site very well.
Not far from Cairnapple we came across a small car park below The Knock on the way towards Bathgate. We decided to stay there for the night. We climbed up the path to The Knock, that is a small hill, again with views all around the area. From the top we noticed a modern stone circle nearby of 50 stones but there was no mention of it on the map.
22nd February 2011
In the morning we left to go into Edinburgh. We decided to park Harrie at the Ingliston Park & Ride near the airport and take the X48 bus into the centre of Edinburgh. In under 30 minutes we were at North Bridge in the centre of Edinburgh and then walked up the Royal Mile to Edinburgh Castle.
Edinburgh Castle was our 30th Historic Scotland property visit over the last 12 months. We were fortunate to have arrived at the start of a guided tour so despite having audio systems with us we completed that tour which gave us a lot more insight to the visit than just listening to an audio commentary. We visited everywhere in the castle with the exception of the army museums that we were not particularly interested in. Castle rock is 134 metre above sea level. Edinburgh Castle contains Scotland’s most priceless treasures.
We visited the Scottish National War Memorial, St Margaret’s 12th Century Chapel, the Honours of Scotland (Crown Jewels) with the Stone of Destiny, the Royal Palace, the Great Hall and the building where the prisioners of war were kept. Unfortunately you are not allowed to photograph the Honours.
Outside we saw Mons Meg, a six-tonne siege gun made in 1449 that fired gunstones that each weighed 150 kgs. The gun could travel three miles in a day hauled by 100 men. James V took it out of service in 1550.
We really enjoyed our visit to Edinbugh Castle having spent a few hours there…
As it was now lunchtime we walked down the Royal Mile to Mary King’s Close to see if we could go on one of their “What lies beneath the Royal Mile?” tours. We got the last places available for that day at 16.40, so went off and had lunch. After lunch, we walked down the Royal Mile and Canongate, passing the Scottish Parliament to the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
The Palace of Holyroodhouse is the official residence in Scotland of Her Majesty The Queen. We were able to visit fourteen magnificent historic and State Apartments and the ruins of the 12th century Holyrood Abbey.
Unfortunately photography is not permitted inside the Palace so we can only show the outside. A visit to the Palace is recommended to see the beautiful State Apartments.
Following out visit to the Palace, we by-passed the Scottish Parliament as we had been to it in previous years, so we took a bus up the hill to the upper part of the Royal Mile for our visit to Mary King’s Close. Each tour has twenty people – quite tight in places. Buried deep beneath Edinburgh’s Royal Mile lies the city’s deepest secret – a warren of hidden streets that have remained frozen in time since the 17th century. You explore this unique site of underground streets and rooms in semi-darkness. Whilst the guide explains the history as you walk round, the best is kept for last when you see Mary King’s Close as it used to be, virtually untouched by time…
Following this last visit of the day, we caught the X48 bus back to Ingliston just after 18.00 hrs and then departed the Park & Ride car park at 18.35 for home. Douglas had a good drive back stopping at Dumbarton again for diesel – 32.00 litres (£41.89) – mileage 118402 km, arriving home at 21.00 hrs.
We had had a very full and extremely interesting day – we were quite tired on reaching home.
Total mileage for the trip was 387 km/242 miles.
Total mileage to date – 118470 km/74,044 miles.
