Arthur's Seat and the Kelpies

The next day of our holiday we ticked off two more of our Thirty in Thirty.

 Number 6 was walking to the top of Arthur's Seat.  It wasn't a difficult climb, just a little steep.

Trig point at the top

and some great views!

Holyrood Palace below

and the Scottish Parliament Building.

Time to head back down.

We stopped to look at the ruins of the medieval chapel of St. Anthony, at the base of Arthur's Seat.

Number 6 on our list was a short drive away to see the Kelpies, but first some much needed lunch and a cup of tea after that climb!

The scale of the majestic sculptures only really becomes apparent as you stand beside them.

Echo the great beasts that work among us,

unbridled in this kingdom between canal and firth,

here to harness the river 

carry each weary traveller.

Bow down your strong heads to taste the water

Stretch up your long necks to face the sun.

Poem by Jim Carruth.

We had seen that the Falkirk Wheel was nearby, so stopped off to see it.

The timing was perfect as a boat was about to enter the lift.

These were miniature versions of the Kelpies in the boat lift car park.

"Honey, I shrunk the Kelpies!"

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A Castle, a Cathedral and some Cats

On our second full day in Edinburgh we decided to visit the castle as #4 of our Thirty in Thirty.

We approached the castle via a steep path through the gardens below, stopping to admire the view and catch our breath! ;)

Through the portcullis gate.

The new town below.

Looking towards the old town.

We wandered around the castle

and looked inside one of the military museums.  My eye as always was drawn to the examples of needlework on display.  The Union flag of Scotland and England, prior to Ireland joining.

 

Detail from the Edinburgh Regimental flag, early 1800s.

Inside the Great Hall.

The Scottish National War Memorial.

The Royal Palace.

We waited for the one o'clock gun.  I couldn't see the gun through the crowd and although I was expecting it, I still jumped when the gun fired! :) (Photo courtesy of my husband.)

After lunch in the Redcoat Cafe we walked around the old town.

In the afternoon we ticked off #5 of our Thirty in Thirty with a visit to Maison de Moggy, a cat cafe in Edinburgh.

The cats were gorgeous and beautifully looked after.

There was a stopper on the milk bottle for a reason! :)

Afterwards we headed to look inside St Giles cathedral.

















The Robert Burns Window