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Our Celtic Adventures<br />
with Nearly Normal Tours
Itinerary<br />
Land in Edinburgh- Airbnb Leith near the Firth of Forth<br />
09<br />
Start the morning with cappuccino and avocado toast. Local double decker<br />
10<br />
bus to the hop on hop off city tour, Edinburgh castle and a stroll down<br />
Princess Street (Royal Mile) to Holyrood Castle. Home to Mary Queen of Scots and<br />
all that drama that took place there (see the movie). Stopped in gi shops and at<br />
the Tollhouse pub for beers on the way. Visited the castle and grounds. Back to Leith<br />
for dinner in a quaint pub.<br />
Brekkie at Mimi’s and off to Ocean Terminal for tour of Britannia. Parked car<br />
11and took the bus to the city. Popped into Jenner’s Dept. Store and walked<br />
to Oxford Pub, drinking hole of the ficonal and famous Rebus. Strolled to Dean’s<br />
Village. Had a tour of Norma’s childhood neighbourhood, school and flat! Walked<br />
back to Mary King’s Close, 17th century streets hidden under Edinburgh that were<br />
once a breeding ground for the black death. Home to a variety of dinner choices<br />
from Marks’nSparks courtesy of Norma.<br />
Ocean terminal coffee and then headed to Ellon to stay at cousin Lorraine’s.<br />
12Stopped in Cramand, the home of Miss Jean Brodie and ABC (Another Bloody<br />
Castle!). Next stop delicious scones in Scone. Toured the Scone palace, home to<br />
crowning of all the Scosh kings. Home to Dido (see the movie). Glamis Castle<br />
next but it was too late to tour. Stopped in a ny fishing village at the Inverbeverie<br />
Chippery for great fish and chips! Met Lorraine and seled in at Ellon. Norma<br />
presents a Scosh meal with haggis (vegetarian!), neeps and black pudding.<br />
Golf in <strong>Scotland</strong> at Paul Lawrie. Off to Aberdeen Beach for lunch and then<br />
13a walk to Footdee, a ny old fishing village built with thick wall protecng<br />
the homes from the ravages of sea. Went to see the new Downton Abbey movie.<br />
Drove through Aberdeen to an old roman bridge then to an ancient church near the<br />
university. Walked through the ancient graveyard. Home for spags ad wine.<br />
Return to Glamis for the tour. Castle was inspiraon for Shakespeare to write<br />
14Macbeth and was the early home to the Queen Mother, Anne and Elizabeth.<br />
Mary Queen of Scots also spent me there along with a cast other important<br />
historical characters! Looked at a wee Gin Bothy near the castle and bought<br />
some gin as a gi for Lorraine. Enjoyed a pint in a quaint lile coastal town called<br />
Johnshaven and Joanna bought her sweet hat at the gi shop. Stopped at the ruins<br />
of Dunnoar Castle out on the cliffs overlooking the sea but it was closed because<br />
of the winds. Back for dinner with the locals at the hotel in Ellon.<br />
-Went to Ronnie and Nicki’s for coffee then off on a road trip to the highlands<br />
15in search of a highland coo. Beauful countryside. Photos of a huge statue of<br />
Rob Roy then a quick ABC stop - Crathar Castle. Saw a salmon or two climb the falls<br />
at the Falls of Feugh footbridge, just another example of Roman architecture lasng<br />
over the centuries! Lunch in a 1720’s pub in Aboyne called the Boat Inn. Went up to<br />
Balmoral Castle but it was closed. Visited the railway staon used by royalty that has<br />
been converted to restaurant and is owned by Prince Charles. Alas not coo to be<br />
found anywhere! We must return!<br />
Norma drives us to the airport - off to Dublin! Arrive in <strong>Ireland</strong>, the rain clears<br />
16and it was SUNNY unl the last day! Comic taxi driver provides an orientaon<br />
to the Irish! Dropped our luggage and toured Dublin, vibrant city. Went to Trinity<br />
College and saw exhibit on the Book of Kells. The library was most impressive.<br />
Stopped for lunch at a pub and went to the Archaeology Museum. Checked<br />
into our large Airbnb. Went to Murray’s Pub for dinner, music and Celc dance<br />
performances.<br />
Took a walking tour with an excellent guide and backtracked to visit a library<br />
17exhibit of spiritual books aerwards. Went for fish and chips (oldest shop in<br />
Dublin ) and ate on a bench at Trinity Church in the sunshine! Walked back to the<br />
Natural History museum which was recommended to us but found it creepy! Home<br />
for a siesta and then out later to the Temple Bar district. Had a pint at the Stags<br />
Head then dinner at the Elephant and Castle (not impressed). Dropped back into<br />
Murray’s on the way home for a nightcap and more music.<br />
Paddywagon Tours. (Grumpy driver) Drove to Cong (famous for John Wayne<br />
18 film, The Quiet Man) Great squash soup at the Puddle Duck Cafe. Toured<br />
through the Connemara Naonal Park region and to Ashford. Looked at the castle<br />
that is now a hotel for the rich and famous. Arrived at Galway, a town with Spanish<br />
influence, ny European-like pedestrian streets. Adequate BnB, walk to town, to<br />
the waterfront area and out onto the pier. Back to a pub to people watch and listen<br />
to the street performers. Dinner at Italian Restaurant, amazing salad with buffalo<br />
mozzarella and pizza. Nightcap of Irish coffees on our way back to our beckoning<br />
beds.<br />
New driver today named Brian, very funny and informave. First toured the<br />
19Burren area, quite rocky and brown, then saw the contrast of Atlanc Ocean<br />
vistas. Visited the impressive small and then large Cliffs of Moher. As the weather<br />
was calm and sunny we took a boat out to view the cliffs from the sea and later<br />
walked along the top. Toured the Dingle Peninsula then went back to Doolan for<br />
lunch. Home to Fungi the dolphin believed to be a Canadian import! Stayed on the<br />
Dingle Peninsula at Annouscaul House BnB. Invited for dinner and music at the<br />
local pub, the Randy Leprechaun - fun! We had a secret sign of making an L on the<br />
forehead to communicate a leprechaun sighng. There was one in the bar!<br />
Beauful beaches, beehive houses and lunch in Dingle. This was the furthest<br />
20western point of the country. Films made in the area were Ryan’s Daughter<br />
and Far and Away. Drove to Killarney and stayed at another BnB. We took a carriage<br />
ride through the Naonal Park courtesy of Sam, the horse. Then off to warm up<br />
with Irish coffees. We did not have me to visit the town other than a woolen<br />
shop. We enjoyed a dinner of pad thai and salad then saw an excellent Celc dance<br />
performance called “Celc Steps.” We were the only guests who chose to get<br />
dropped off at the pub for some local music and a nightcap.<br />
Back to Dublin, stopped at Blarney castle to kiss the Blarney stone and spent<br />
21me walking through the gardens. We also saw the ruins of Donamase Castle,<br />
another destrucon courtesy of Oliver Cromwell. We parked our baggage and<br />
walked about Dublin, pints in the pub and then had the best burgers ever! Taxi to<br />
hotel, prepared for early flight to London.<br />
Made many aempts to me travel through the stones to find Jamie with<br />
no luck!
Leith<br />
The district of Leith rests on the shores of the Firth of Forth, at the mouth of the Water of Leith. Having<br />
served as the port of Edinburgh for hundreds of years, the area’s original harbour dates back to<br />
the 14th century and has been visited by many travelling kings and queens, including Mary Queen of<br />
Scots and King George IV.<br />
Today, Leith is a vivacious area jam-packed with delicious delis, chic drinking spots, and top restaurants<br />
boasng some of <strong>Scotland</strong>’s finest chefs. The district asserts a jovial atude and hosts an eclec-<br />
c mix of people and cultures, making each a visit a unique experience.
Edinburgh Castle<br />
Set upon its mighty rock, Edinburgh Castle’s strategic advantage<br />
is clear. Seeing the site’s military potenal, Iron Age<br />
people built a hill fort on the rock. Early medieval poetry<br />
tells of a war band that feasted here for a year before riding<br />
to their deaths in bale.<br />
As well as guarding great moments in history, the castle has<br />
suffered many sieges. During the Wars of Independence it<br />
changed hands many mes. In 1314, the Scots retook the<br />
castle from the English in a daring night raid led by Thomas<br />
Randolph, nephew of Robert the Bruce.<br />
The castle defences have evolved over hundreds of years.<br />
Mons Meg, one of the greatest medieval cannons ever<br />
made, was given to King James II in 1457. The Half Moon<br />
Baery, built in the aermath of the Lang Siege of 1573,<br />
was armed for 200 years by bronze guns known as the<br />
Seven Sisters. Six more guns defend the Argyle Baery, with<br />
its open outlook to the north.
The Palace of Holyrood<br />
Palace of Holyroodhouse is a sumptuous royal residence with atmospheric<br />
period rooms, scene of the notorious murder of David<br />
Rizzio, secretary to Mary Queen of Scots, and sll used by the present<br />
monarch Queen Elizabeth, at the foot of the famous Royal Mile in<br />
Edinburgh.
The Royal Yacht<br />
Brittania<br />
Britannia was the first Royal Yacht to be built with complete<br />
ocean-going capacity and designed as a Royal residence to<br />
entertain guests around the world. When she was decommissioned<br />
in 1997, it marked the end of a long tradion of Brish<br />
Royal Yachts, dang back to 1660 and the reign of Charles II.
Dean’s Village<br />
Mary King’s Close
Cramond<br />
For many people Cramond is associated with The Prime of Miss Jean<br />
Brodie, where Mr. Lowther has his home and Miss Brodie spends<br />
much of her me. Cramond is also where the House of Shaws is<br />
located in Robert Louis Stevenson’s Kidnapped. The town is also<br />
menoned in Ian Rankin’s Fleshmarket Close.
Lauriston Castle<br />
Lauriston is a late 16th-century tower house, extended in 1824. The<br />
interiors hold a collecon of 18th-century Italian furniture, Derbyshire<br />
Blue John, carpets, clocks, porcelain, tapestries, and decorave art. The<br />
castle is set in 30 acres of parkland and gardens, offering wonderful<br />
views across the Firth of Forth.
Scone Palace<br />
Built on the site of Scone Abbey and incorporang the medieval bishops’<br />
palace and Moot Hill, place of coronaon for Scosh Kings, and extended in<br />
gothic style from 1803. Superb collecon of objets d’art, including items of<br />
Marie Antoinee bought by the 2nd Earl of Mansfield. The 1st Earl (a notable<br />
lawyer) freed his own black slave and in 1772 declared slavery ‘odious’ and<br />
unacceptable in Britain.<br />
Home of the portrait of Lady Elizabeth Murray and Dido<br />
Elizabeth Murray, by the Scosh arst David Marn.<br />
Also a great place to have scones.
Glamis Castle<br />
Home to the Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne, seng for<br />
Shakespeare’s Macbeth and beloved childhood home of<br />
the Queen Mother, Glamis Castle has witnessed over 1000<br />
years of history.
Reputedly the best fish and chips in <strong>Scotland</strong>!<br />
The beach at Inverbervie<br />
Our cozy house in Ellon ... thanks to Norma’s cousin!<br />
Ellon on the River<br />
And of course, all the Scosh delicacies ...<br />
Haggis (veggie, naturally), neeps,<br />
and taes<br />
Blood pudding Spags And wine from the corner store
Paul Lawrie Golf Course So many lost balls! But someone got a birdie!<br />
A visit with old friends ...<br />
Followed by a walk along Aberdeen Beach
Footdee
Brig of Balgownie<br />
St Machars<br />
Cathedral
Gin Bothy
Johnshaven
Dunnottar Castle
Rob Roy on the Rocks<br />
(but no ice)<br />
Cathar Castle<br />
River<br />
Feugh
Balmoral Castle<br />
One of the many hundreds of castles we didn’t get to see<br />
Ballater Station<br />
The Queen’s Waing Area<br />
The Queen’s Commode
And something else we didn’t get to see ...
Dublin<br />
Temple House North<br />
Our accommodaon for 2 nights
Ashford Castle, Conk
Galway<br />
Lonely Planet describes Galway as “brilliantly bohemian” and arguably <strong>Ireland</strong>’s “most engaging city”.<br />
The city will be European Capital of Culture next year and the guide adds: “vivid and vibrant, brimful of<br />
imaginaon, Galway in 2020 is home to a year-long, city-wide, arty party”.
Cliffs of Moher
Our BnB - Annouscaul House<br />
Free dinner and a few leprechaun sighngs!
Coumeenoole Beach
Dingle
Inch Beach
Dingle Valley<br />
They don’t call it the Emerald Isle for nothing.
Killarney National Park
Celtic Steps Show
Blarney Castle
Blarney Castle Gardens
Dunamase Castle
It’s been a slice ... until the next time!
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