A great nights sleep and off we go again

Stop 1. Hit a bakery for sausage rolls and scones to start the day. My HS friends will appreciate this...☺️

Stop 2. A hike through Abbey Craig to the Wallace Monument . A lovely start to the day following the path of carved wooden structures.

Stop 3. William Wallace National Monument. We climbed all 246 tightly spiraled staircase steps to the top. Beautiful views! The Wallace sword is longer than I am tall by several inches!!! Seriously, this thing is 5'6"!! How does one even lift it?

Stop 4. Old Stirling Bridge
Built in the 1400s or 1500s. The bridge played a part in the Jacobite Rising of 1745, when an arch was removed to forestall Bonnie Prince Charlie’s forces as they marched south. The bridge today remains one of the best medieval masonry arch bridges in Scotland.

This stop I enjoyed bird watching...a grey heron, some crows perstering the poor heron, seagulls in the River Forth, and ducklings trying to out paddle their elders!

Stop 5. Stirling Castle
Built by King James V of Scotland for his new wife, Mary of Guise. Their daughter, Mary Queen of Scots was born 6 days before her father, the King, died.
As a 9 month old, Mary, Queen of Scots, was brought to Stirling Castle for safety, and crowned in the chapel royal on Sept 9, 1543. She lived here until she was 5.

Most of the main buildings date from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. A few remain from the fourteenth century, with the outer defences facing the town date from the early eighteenth century. This castle and grounds are enormous!!

Stop 6. Shopping for essentials
Love going into the local stores! Jacobs, CurlyWhirlys, the most delicious strawberries, and making new discoveries!

Stop 7. The Battle of Bannockburn and a picnic.
Before going in to learn more about the Battle of Bannockburn during the First War of Scottish Independence. This battle was led by Robert the Bruce for the Scottish against King Edward the II of England. While the Scottish triumphed, the battle did not end the war although it did eventually result in the "de jure restoration of Scottish independence under the Treaty of Edinburgh–Northampton." It can be somewhat compared to American Civil War battles at Antietum, Gettysburg or Vicksburg.

Stop 8. Culross and The Red Lion Inn. Culross was once prominent port city on the Firth of Forth. It is now known for its well-preserved 17th and 18th-century architecture, steep cobbled streets, and red-tiled roofs. Dinner at the Red Lion was wonderful, especially the Sticky Toffee Pudding! -- for those who don't know: Sticky toffee pudding is a moist sponge cake which contains finely chopped dates and often lightly flavoured with nuts or spices such as cloves. The toffee sauce is usually made from double cream and different dark sugars. Yum!!Read more