Scotland day 1

After Switzerland, Boet went off to Barcelona, which he loved, and I came back to work for 4 days, before meeting him in Scotland for a 3 day drive around the country.
After meeting him in Edinburgh, first stop was Stirling.

 Robert the Bruce, at the Battle of Bannockburn memorial.
The Scot in me is a big fan of Robert, for beating that fiend King Edward 2nd at this battle.
Those who are keen students of my blog will remember that Robert the Bruce fled to hide in a cave in Rathlin Island, off the north coast of Northern Ireland. A spider's persistence in constantly rebuilding his web after it being destroyed by winds and rain, inspired Robert to return to Scotland to fight the English.
You would also likely remember that Robert the Bruce was called Braveheart (not William Wallace), as his will dictated that his heart be cut out and carried by his troops, to inspire them in battle.

 Bannockburn memorial

 Interesting pyramid mausoleum in a Stirling graveyard.

 Ooh shiny!

 Stirling castle in the background

 After Stirling, it was off to drive around Loch Lomond.

 In our fancy merc

 On the bonny, bonny banks of Loch Lomond, as sung by the delightful Runrig.

 We stopped at a funky old roadside inn, nicely decorated in preparation of Halloween

Hmm, darn, I can't remember the name of these falls, but I do remember visiting here on my 5 day MacBackpacker tour of Scotland years back.

 Lock Tay - was spectacular in the gloamin. In case you do not was "gloamin" is, it is apparently "the tid o day whan it is nae fell daurk thareoot, but the sun is nae up. This stairts whan The Yird fare frae day tae nicht. The sky leuks the lit oranger while in Gloamin."