I promised to do back entries to let you all know what I had been up to... so here it is!
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After an extended period of grumbling that I've yet to visit Stonehaven (Julia gushed that it was beautifuuuul, absolutely have to visit!), Stephanie and I decided to make the trip before she left for the States for summer.
Took a day off from my attachment specially for this trip but the weather was not on our side. Ended up trudging through the countryside, cold and wet. But the trip was not all bad! Photos below detailing the picturesque journey of 2 crazies...
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Ha! And you thought I was lying!
Town centre of Stonehaven - check out the side of the bench!
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Our intended destination was
DUNNOTTAR CASTLE
According to the guide book,
the walk from town centre to the castle and back:
Distance - 3.5miles (5.7km)
Allow - 1hr 30mins
Determination personified...
If you're wondering what determination has to do with anything,
I'd say it's necessary to help psych oneself up
to walk almost 6km
in miserable Scottish weather for 90minutes
to see ruins of a castle.
See the link now?
2 coats/jackets each.
We're well-prepared.
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10 minutes into our walk
I recognised an establishment...
YEAH!
I was complaining day and night that I HAVE NOT been to Stonehaven
and now I realised I've actually BEEN to Stonehaven before!
*hides faces in hands*
You know you have a problem when you only recognise
places because of the pub.
*Reminds self to check into alcohol rehab programme*
But for now, the journey must continue.
Starting at sea level...
(what I think is sea level, anyway)
Ascending up a steep muddy path...
Top of steep path (no way near the mid-point of ascent though)
Possibly mid-point of ascent...
friends spotted!
Destination in sight!
Dunnottar Castle: top left of photo...
The "hill" doesn't look very steep here
but I assure you it IS very steep
and the path is narrow.
Tread carefully, lots of rabbit holes.
Walking 2-abreast is not recommended
unless you like living life on the edge.
Literally.
The power of the "ZOOM" function.
We're getting closer!! *excited*
See how
Came across this "cave" before the entrance of the castle.
It opens out into the great open sea...
It was so quiet... so isolated...
Not a single soul in sight.
Steph and I decided to give back to nature...
*and then when we got to the top of the castle
and looked down, we realised we could see
the cave clearly... Oh gaaawddd!*
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Entrance fee: £4
But thanks to Stephanie (Queen of under-the-table dealings)
we got in for a discounted "poor-students" price.
At this point, I'm tempted to end this blog entry.
Not going to post pictures of the interior
(if the insides of a collapsed and ruined castle can be called an "interior" in the first place).
Because I PAID money to go in, ok?
(Please e-mail me personally for pictures.
A token donation guarantees a reply)
BUT I decided I will put up 2 pictures of the "interior" for promotional purposes.
Even blockbuster movies need a trailer, yeah?
A room in commemoration of the defence of the honours of Scotland
Looks like a historically significant table
where important individuals gathered to
discuss war strategies,
sign treaties,
and...
enjoy tea and biscuits.
*Slight self-conciousness is compulsory when others enter and take photos around you or wonder if you are indeed something leftover of a past era, until they notice your modern clothes... and then they wonder WTH you are doing eating at the table*
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With that, we return to the EXTERIOR of the castle...
(this part is free)
... and the long walk back.
2 comments:
my home town.....amazing
It is beautiful... postcard perfect...
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