Scotland - Day 3

On our third and last day I thought it would be fun to take a hike.  I was told that it was a beautiful hike up Arthur's Seat.  It is 820 feet above sea level.  It is an ancient volcano.  This is one of four hill forts dating from around 2000 years ago.

AJ and I getting ready to hike up to the top!

To help motivate them up the hill, I let them play Pokémon Go on  the way.

The four of us having a wonderful morning!!!!!

There was a little lake about 1/3 of the way up the hill.  It was pretty!

This was the start of the really steep part.  AJ said he was going to stay there and we could get him on the way back, but we told him he had to come with us.

Michael decided it would be a good idea to sprint ahead.  I am not sure if you could see him on the left because he is so far ahead of us.

A view of the city from about half way up.

You can see so much of the area from up here.  It was beautiful!!!!

The boys at the top of Arthur's Seat.  Salisbury Crags were formed when the remains of the volcano from which all of the hills in Holyrood Park were made, was eroded by a glacier.  The volcanic action responsible for these hills and the one on which Edinburgh Castle stands took place about 350 million years ago.

This is an old 15th century medieval chapel called St Anthony's Chapel.

David and I on top of Arthur's Seat!!!

The boys took off ahead of us and this scene just warmed my heart.  Seeing them sitting there side by side, talking, enjoying being brothers and being together.

They beat us to the lake as well - another great brother picture!!  I sure do love these boys!!!

So we by passed this place every time we went too and from our apartment.  He LOVED the word Haberdashery.  How many of you know what that means?!?!  It means clothes maker.

We were all pretty hungry so we headed to find something to eat.  We decided milkshakes were in order since we weren't going to have time to find gelato.

After getting everything ready to go from the apartment, we decided to go and visit Craigmillar Castle which was about 5 minutes down the road.  It is one of Scotland's most perfectly preserved castles.  For around 250 years the place served as a comfortable fortified residence for the Prestons, a prominent Edinburgh family in late medieval times.  Mary Queen of Scots stayed at this castle twice during her reign.  Back then there weren't all the streets and houses in between here and Holyroodhouse.

As David and I are walking towards the entrance what do we see?  Yep the boys climbing!!  They were given permission to climb all over the castle and they took it seriously!!!

The boys climbing on the gate!!!  They are such monkeys!!!

Michael running through the outer courtyard.

This is looking in the other direction!!  It was HUGE outer courtyard!

Michael and AJ up a tree!!!!  These pair of Yew (Taxus baccata) tress of considerable age and has important historical connection to Craigmillar Castle.  The trees were planted to create an entrance feature to the castle.  Historically they are believed to have provided wood for bows and arrows.  You can see above the entrance door, there is a smaller door which is a guard room.  If thieves were able to get past them, there was a hollowed out 3ft drop between the level of the entrance and the  outside lip at the door (it has now been filled in for safety reasons).

Not to be outdone by the boys, David trying to scale the wall!!!

You can see here remnants of an old stairwell that lead to the hall in the towerhouse and the first floor of the west range.

This room was used for family dining room and a general withdrawing or reception room.   There were two large windows overlooking a formal garden to the west.  This fire mantel still has the small, carved stone shields and scrolls - once painted with the family arms and mottos.

This is the bedchamber of the Gilmour apartment built in 1661.  The fireplace incorporates reused elements from about 1500.

AJ showing how tall he is and strong!!!!

Michael finding any place he can climb!!!!

The boys doing more climbing on top of an old closet.

The boys climbing in the basement.  It was divided in two by a wooden floor with both rooms used for storage.  Rents were often paid in produce so lots of space was required.

Michael in an old oven, that was converted into a fireplace when the kitchen was converted into a bedchamber in the 16th century.

Behind the boys is the Laird's Hall.  It was used as the main dining place and a warm, secure accommodation for the family.

This was a principal bedchamber.  It had its own fireplace and latrine closet.  When they say latrine closet, they mean a hole in the ground in a small, small room.

You can see the other side of the castle from above.

I am not sure if you can see it, but in the background is the Salisbury Craigs and Edinburgh.

AJ playing a little hide and seek and decided to get cooked as well.

Here is the size of a latrine closet.

Michael and AJ decided to try and run on the uneven ground on the roof.  Thankfully they both made it with no injuries.  LOL

The boys said this was their favorite castle of all the ones that we have been too!!  They call it the climbing castle!!!

The boys attacking their dad from their hiding place.

David coming up the stairs.  Both sets corkscrew in a clockwise direction, widely thought to have given advantage to the defenders - assuming they were right-handed!

This is the jail of the castle.  You can see how short the ceiling was.  I am sure that it wouldn't be comfortable at all.

These were a few family crests that were on the castle walls.

The boys showing off their muscles!!!  I love their poses!!!

Brotherly love!!!!!  This was a great end to another wonderful vacation!!!  We all really LOVED Scotland and the time we were able to spend there.  We would have loved to have taken more time to visit more areas, but we feel blessed to have been able to see what we did.