“This is going to be my favorite part of the trip,” Laura proclaims as we blast across the Scottish country side from the left hand side of the road. Destination: Dalmunzie Castle – the first of several planned overnight stays at Castles in the Scottish Highlands and Ireland.
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| Right-Hand Drive, Yikes! |
We rely on the same rule to find the correct road from Perth as we did in France – head for the Center of town as all roads lead (and lead away) from there.
The most dangerous part of the trip was escaping Edinburgh with a rental car. “Our goal is to make it to Dalmunzie Castle, right-side-up,” I told the kids, setting the bar low. The exit from Hertz requires the counter clockwise navigation of four roundabouts each with exits to places we have never been. The barking of the Tom Tom navigation system at the same time is too much. “Turn left” isn’t helpful when there are eight of them and you’re mainly trying to figure out left handed shifting while not hitting anything. Cutting through the heart of Perth a roundabout at a time brings more of the same.
“Scone Palace?” I blurt out in my ‘are-you-kidding-me?’ voice, leaning into another roundabout. “Let’s have a scone at Scone Palace!"
Nobody thinks I’m funny, but everyone is ready for a snack so funny or not, we make the turn. After a couple of miles on the “driveway” it becomes clear Scone Palace is no rest stop. Unbeknownst to us, Scone Palace is “the place where Scottish Kings and Queens are crowned.” I may have mentioned something about swinging dead cats again.
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| Hannah crowns Joelle on the Stone of Destiny |
At the top of an earthen mound covered in lush green grass sits the Destiny Stone of Scotland, a replica of it anyway. Alexander I, II, and III were crowned at Scone and ruled until 1286. During that time the Scone Abbey existed here and the Scottish Parliament met. Moot Hill, the mound on which the destiny stone sits, is built up from dirt Nobles brought from their kingdoms across Scotland and combined with dirt brought by others from all over Scotland prior to swearing allegiance on this spot to the crown.
Scotland fell into turmoil after Alexander III and his heir died. King Edward I of England (alternatively known as “the Butcher” and “Hammer of the Scots”) seized the opportunity and attacked all over Scotland. He took the Stone of Scone and had it placed in Westminster Abbey in 1296, the symbolism of the message was clear – new dog in town.
The rest of that story plays out in the movie Braveheart with William Wallace becoming a national hero defeating the English at Stirling Bridge before being betrayed, captured, drug through the streets of London, disemboweled, and hung.
Nevertheless, Robert the Bruce was crowned King of Scots at Scone Palace on Palm Sunday 1306. Over the next nine years he recaptured all the Scottish palaces and in 1314 defeated Edward II at Bannockburn, near Stirling, a battle victory considered one of the greatest in world history. Robert the Bruce ruled until his death in 1329 as arguably the greatest King of Scots.
Notably, the Stone of Destiny (Stone of Scone) was moved to Edinburgh Castle in 1996. For the life of me I don’t remember seeing it there, but Joelle does. “It was in the display case with the Crown Jewels Dad.” Somebody has been paying attention! Indeed, it sits displayed with the Royal Honors of Mary Queen of Scots.
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| Hannah and Joelle navigate the Star Maze at Scone Palace |
Scone Palace, great find for a place that began as a (bad) joke and lunch stop. Oh, and Hannah reports the Apple Cinnamon Scones were in fact “good” and the Star Maze was the best part of Scone Palace.
Laura is about to come unglued. My lack of comfort with oncoming traffic coming at my right side results in driving awfully far to the left side of our lane. Narrow to begin with there isn’t much between Laura’s side of the car and the many stone walls that line roads only a bobsled racer could love. The tour buses are the worst. In my defense, they simply don’t fit on just one-half the road and they don’t flinch in the game of chicken that results.
A timber laden Loree finally does it. Looking up at Laura’s side of the car only last a few seconds, but the accompanying holes and bucking of our roller skate of a car betrayed my “I got this” look.
We are right-side up as Dalmunzie Gatehouse comes into view. Surrounded by 62,000 acres of lush green hillsides dotted with Sheep behind stonewalls that run straight up to the sky, the Estate of Dalmunize is everything you envision on a “Greeting s from Scotland” postcard. The rustic nine hole golf course that runs through the pasture, twice jumping the stream that runs through the valley floor is like adding a plaid tartan to the postcards borders. It is pure Scotland.
Greeted with a proper “Good day and Welcome to…” as we enter the Castle, something doesn’t sound right. Turns out Dalmunzie is owned by an Australian who hires staff from Australia on two year commitments. The dining room and tea service are most definitely fit for the Queen. Even the local whisky of choice, Royal Lochnagar, is produced at nearby Balmoral where the Queen resides when on Holiday in these parts. Poured over rocks, it is the best Single Malt Scotch Whisky of the trip (so far).
We feel about as far from home as it gets until a family from Littleton, Colorado walks in right behind us. Add that to meeting a Royce McDonald also from Littleton the night before at the Marriott in Edinburgh and we don’t feel so far away.
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| Approaching Scone Palace |
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| Dalmunzie Castle from the 6th Tee Box |
Wow, you sound like you are having a blast. Grandma and I are going to go through withdrawal when we don't see you post when you get back home. Love you
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