Stirling castle

Day 3 

We started early with a wonderful breakfast at the hotel and then boarded the clan bus. Seamus sorted and paired us, much like the Scottish sheepdogs, to make sure no one was left behind in our travels. Yet another sneaky way to strengthen those clan bonds. Our destination that morning was Stirling Castle, home to the Stuart Kings. As always, as part of the Rick Steves group, we skipped the lines and made our way to a knowledgeable tour guide who enriched the tour by the many anecdotes not found in the history books. After the tour, we had free time to wander among the rooms and gardens of the castle, snapping copious pictures that in the end did not begin to capture the beauty of the castle grounds. As we wandered about, MG commented on the sense of mysticism that clung to the site, almost as if we were walking with the ghosts of the Stuart Kings.  

We made our way back to the bus and headed for our lunch destination, Dobbies Garden Center. Think Home Depot on steroids with a wonderful café. I am ashamed to say that we all 3 felt like Dobbies ranked right up there with the high-end shops on our tour. After lunch our tour bus meandered towards Loch Lomond. Seamus regaled us with local folklore accompanied by traditional Scottish folk music. I think the whole bus felt weepy at times as we gazed upon the beauty of the lake humming along to the lyrics of Loch Lomond. 

We rolled into Oban, a beautiful costal town, in late afternoon. Seamus gave us a quick orientation around town, pointing out the best local eateries. Then we were set free to explore the quaint cobblestoned town facing the magnificent Oban bay. As the day wound down, we found ourselves back on the hotel patio enjoying a nightcap, watching the beautiful sunset over Oban Bay.  The patio quickly filled up with our traveling companions sharing experiences of the day punctuated by lots of laughter. I looked over to see MG talking and laughing and was so grateful to “our clan” for including my granddaughter in the camaraderie.