British Isles Cruise: Day 6--Glasgow Scotland and Military Tattoo

Wednesday, August 21

Today the ship ports in Glasgow, (Greenock) Scotland.  Our small Cruise Critic group departed the ship for Balmaha on the shore of Loch Lomond.  We pass Dumbarton Castle, which has a long and bloody history.  It has been attacked by Northumbrians, Vikings and home to the infant Mary, Queen of Scots before she was taken to France for her own safety.

We head north into the Trossachs known as “The Highlands in Miniature” as it is a region of craggy hills and sparkling lochs and the meeting place of lowland and highland Scotland.  Writers including Sir Walter Scott have been inspired here and the area is associated with Scotland’s folk hero Rob Roy MacGregor, who was portrayed in the movie “Rob Roy” by Liam Neeson.

Lunch is in a small town named Aberfoyle.  It’s known for The Lady of the Lake by Sir Walter Scott in 1810.  We enjoyed a pub meal with 2 other cruise critic members.

Leaving Aberfoyle we stop and see “Hamish” – the famous and much photographed Highland Cow!  Looks like he owns a woolen mill. 

Next stop is Stirling Castle, a great symbol of Scottish Independence and a source of national pride.  The castle’s long, turbulent history is associated with great figures from Scotland’s past, such as William Wallace and Mary Queen of Scots.  “He who holds Stirling, holds Scotland”.  These fateful words have proven to be true.  Stirling Castle’s strategic position high over the River Forth, has long been the key to Scotland.  

This castle of the Stuart kings is one of Scotland’s most historic and popular.  We certainly enjoyed touring this castle.  It’s unique in that there are six apartments done up as they might have looked in the mid-16^th century.  Costumed performers play the role of palace attendants, and they love to chat about castle life. 

The Great Hall is Scotland’s biggest medieval banqueting hall.  It was built by the great Renaissance king James IV. 

The Stirling Heads was a wonderful exhibit by the image makers of the king.  It included wood carvings of heads depicting all classes of castle life from the kings and queens to the court jesters.  Painted versions decorated the ceiling in one of the castle rooms.

Painted versions of the heads on ceiling

Close up of painted version

In the Great Kitchens, mannequin cooks oversee medieval recipes.  It was very interesting to see what life was like centuries ago.

Our final destination is Edinburgh where we had a typical Scottish dinner (even tasted haggis—look it up!)  at the Hub Café and then entered the castle grounds for the Military Tattoo.  Thousands of spectators gather to experience Scotland’s most popular attraction that feature military precision drills with massed bands, bagpipes, and drums, all representing various international Scottish Regiments.  There is traditional Scottish dancing and enactments of historical events. 

These were kids...the youngest was 6 years old!

We thoroughly enjoyed the performances.  We had always heard that if you are in Edinburgh, Scotland in August, you must not miss the Tattoo.  We had 2 energetic cruise critic rollcall members volunteer to take care of obtaining tickets to the Tattoo (they sell out fast), make the dinner reservations at a restaurant  at the base of the castle, and arrange the transportation bus/driver from the ship to include a day of siteseeing.  They did a great job and saved us a lot of money since we didn’t have to book through the cruise ship, but this all does come with a little stress….

After the show, it was back on the bus for a 2-hour drive back to Glasgow and our ship. We left Edinburgh at about 10:30 pm and shortly into our ride the van experienced some engine trouble.  We heard the driver calling his office to report that we had an “emergency and needed a replacement van”.  Our poor cruise critic tour organizer, Jo, just about had a meltdown as she was sure we were going to miss the ship.  After the phone call, the driver assured us that we would be fine continuing on in the van, but we would be driving slower.  It was a tense ride until we actually arrived at the port about 1 am.  We knew we were ahead of the Princess excursion buses so that was good.  The ship sailed at 2 am and we collapsed in bed after a very busy but enjoyable day.