Scotland - Day 5

Sob Sob, the last day :o(

First on the list of things to do was hunt hairy coos, but we had to have a slight break for some of the hungover lads to "get some fresh air". Emily takes over while Yoouu-in sorts them out.

Yay!! Hairy Coooos!!

Hairy Coos, we love you!!

Scenery on the bus.

After the coos we stopped off at St Conan's Kirk (church). This church was built by some fellow who felt sorry for his dear mother having to walk 5 miles to church. Has lots of Knights Templar symbology. Didn't get a decent photo of the outside though.

Errr, a cherub with a boat strapped to its back? Interestingly the roof of the church is made of an old Viking longship hull I think.

Robert the Bruce. Not actually his grave, but a piece of his leg bone is displayed below.

Kilchurn Castle. This castle used to be haunted by the ghost of a piper, and you could hear the bagpipes playing at night. As I recall, it stoppd when they found the body and gave it a proper burial.

Michael, dispenser of the sweets!

Barbara from Germany

Und Nina from Germany - nice pose.

A wee stop at a river.

Ah, Scotland's most famous hairy coo, Hamish. He has opened the highland games for the last 17 years. Go Hamish! Hamish is nice and tame and you can feed and pet him. Check those horns out!

Hamish the hairy cooo, we love you tooo! Moooo!

Hooray another fantastic treat!!! Castle Duone, scene of the most vicious French Taunting to ever beset poor King Arthur and his noble nights. Now go away, lest I taunt you a second time!

For those of strong disposition, you may view this uncalled for abuse here

Sadly, there was no time to go inside and run up and down clapping coconuts together.

Final stop of the trip was Stirling to see the William Wallace Memorial. He of Braveheart fame. Wallace beat the English in a fine victory at Stirling. Our guide went into such detailed description of his gruesome execution, I nearly fainted on the bus, and came over all a-twitter. Down with King Edward!!

What many of you might not know, is that William Wallace was not Braveheart. Braveheart was actually Robert the Bruce, who defeated the English at the battle of Bannockburn after Wallaces death, and ruled Scotland for a fair while after. He was called braveheart, as when he died he asked that his heart be removed and taken into battle to inspire the troops, or something to that ilk.

Check out the famous scene - They can never take away our FREEDOM!

Walllace Monument.

What I also did not know, is that the Scottish anthem, Flower of Scotland is about Robert the Bruce and how he defeated the English. err, or was it about Wallace?

Have a listen here.

Back in Edinburgh alas, and just time for a taste of Haggis down the pub before going home. Quite tasty actually. Amy and Morgan. Oh, and the Haggis was tasty too!

Farewell Clan MacBackpackers!

Click here for a rousing song to send you all off.

We'll be coming down the road, when you hear the noise of the Tartan Army boys, we'll be coming down the road!