Day 120 of international places giving smiles – Remembering Stirling Castle, Loch Lomond and Scottish whisky

In 2008, we undertook our first trip to see the Scottish highlands. We were so mesmerized by the natural wild beauty of the countryside that four years later we did the trip again in detail.

At our first stop at the Stirling Castle which is considered to be the gateway to the Highlands. We were greeted with the statue of King Robert Bruce. As children, we had heard about the story of how he got motivated to continue his fight for the crown after seeing a spider in a cave, which tried unsuccessfully six times in a row to weave a web across the walls and finally succeeded.

As our guide took us around the castle and told us stories about the bravery of the Scots, we could relate to it better after seeing the story of King William Wallace, depicted in the movie Braveheart. We visited the Great hall, the Renaissance palace and the Church of the Holy Rude, all with historical stories of their own. We marveled at the ancient arms, artefacts, paintings as well as the view from the top of the Stirling castle.

We happened to be there on the Queen’s Birthday so we were luckyto get the additional treat of witnessing the live Scottish band, with all men dressed in kilts and also a 21 gun salute to the Queen, with the bonus of seeing the smoke and hearing the loud boom from the Canons!

Our next stop was at the village of Aberfoyle, where we just had to buy some authentic Scottish woolen sweaters.

We took a small trek at the Balmaha Forest trail along with another Swiss family who were with us on our Coach. The natural scenery around the lake (spelt Loch by the Scots) Lomond, seemed raw and unspoilt by the touch of modern tourism.

Our last stop was at the Glengoyne distillery where a guide in colourful pants taught us how the famous Scottish whiskey was actually made. Son volunteered for a live demonstration of how the original kilts were worn by the burly Scottish men made from one big sheet of cloth.

Our enthusiastic female guide then drove like a maniac to ensure that we return back to the city to catch our departing train on time, a memorable end to a memorable day.

So which place made you smile today?

Be grateful for the places that make you smile!