Homecoming... Sort of....
Today looked to be much the same as yesterday... Different day, Different Castle.
We wanted to leave a bit earlier today, we had to find something.
Crichton Castle is about 15 miles south west of the centre of Edinburgh. The plan was to get as close as possible using the bus, rent a car, then go find it. This put us near the end of a bus line, WAY outside the city, in a little community called Dalkieth. Our goal was Condor Self-Drive, which was just across the street from our bus stop.
So my father asks about renting a car, and in the process tells the lady at the counter the whole story about why we want to get out to Crichton Castle. She doesn't have any cars available, and besides, she says, from there it would be cheaper just to get a taxi! So she puts in the call for us while we head down the road to find an ATM. My dad grabs some cash, and as we're turning around to head back to the car rental place (easily 1/3 mile up the road) a cab pulls up. The taxi driver's name, we have learned, is Tony.
"Are you the chaps who want to go out to Crichton?"
He found us.
So we get in and get to talking to him. He knows right where we're talking about and brings us right to the Castle. The 'village' of Crichton, by the way, is about one block wide in the middle of nowhere. I saw a church, but I didn't see any houses. Down one further road (following the signs) we come to a Medieval church, Crichton Collegiate, which was built by William Crichton (or rather his money) and is still in use today - And just beyond the church is the castle that I've been seeing in pictures for nigh on 15 years. The cab fare came to £13, and my father gave him an additional tip of £5. The driver gave us his company's card so we could call for a ride back to the bus route, offered to snap a photo of us, and was off.
Crichton Castle lies a further 300 yards or so up a walking path. There's an old stable next to the castle. The sandstone quarry where all the stones that built the castle and stable were cut is behind the stable. And then there is of course the Crichton Castle itself and all the surrounding countyside - Much unchanged from how it looked when the castle was in use. There's not a whole lot to say about the castle of interest to anyone who's not particularly interested, but I enjoyed walking around. It's completely unrestored, and one is free to walk about for a tiny admission fee of £3.50. Oh, and the guide, Robin, was exceptionally knowledgable, friendly and keeps the castle spotless!
Once we were done exploring 'our' castle, we walked on back up the path, hoping to be able to get a cell phone signal to call the taxi company back. But just as we get back there, the cab is pulling up. It's Tony again! He appreciated the tip and all, so he brought us all around the surrounding region, free of charge. He had a lot to tell us. Every site he seemed to know about had some connection with the Freemasons... Old temples an churches. And old abbey, which is now a college. A building currently occupied by the University of Wisconsin... All sorts of things. Then he tells of an old ruined temple that still in use for a special ceremony once per year. He couldn't go into the details, but he was going to be at the ceremony. At one point he also suggested that the Scots beat back the English at the Battle of Bannockburn through the assistance of the Knights Templar. Well, ultimately he tells us that he knows all this local history because he is a Templar. Our taxi driver, Tony, is a Templar! The Masons made him a templar in that old abbey. I can't prove it, though when I shook his hand after the drive, he was wearing a gold Freemason's insignia ring...
Interesting afternoon. Though it was also quite cold and windy.
After that, it was a bus or two back up to out little apartment here, which my fathe says is bigger than his first apartment. Then I cooked some pizza and pasta. Then we walked on out to a pub called The Cask and Barrel. They had real cask ales. Tasty stuff. I had a blonde ale called Peroxide Punk as well as some strange Scottish summer ale.
Happy Birthday, Sarah!
Pass Out Time, and off to the famous Loch Ness tomorrow!
We wanted to leave a bit earlier today, we had to find something.
Crichton Castle is about 15 miles south west of the centre of Edinburgh. The plan was to get as close as possible using the bus, rent a car, then go find it. This put us near the end of a bus line, WAY outside the city, in a little community called Dalkieth. Our goal was Condor Self-Drive, which was just across the street from our bus stop.
So my father asks about renting a car, and in the process tells the lady at the counter the whole story about why we want to get out to Crichton Castle. She doesn't have any cars available, and besides, she says, from there it would be cheaper just to get a taxi! So she puts in the call for us while we head down the road to find an ATM. My dad grabs some cash, and as we're turning around to head back to the car rental place (easily 1/3 mile up the road) a cab pulls up. The taxi driver's name, we have learned, is Tony.
"Are you the chaps who want to go out to Crichton?"
He found us.
So we get in and get to talking to him. He knows right where we're talking about and brings us right to the Castle. The 'village' of Crichton, by the way, is about one block wide in the middle of nowhere. I saw a church, but I didn't see any houses. Down one further road (following the signs) we come to a Medieval church, Crichton Collegiate, which was built by William Crichton (or rather his money) and is still in use today - And just beyond the church is the castle that I've been seeing in pictures for nigh on 15 years. The cab fare came to £13, and my father gave him an additional tip of £5. The driver gave us his company's card so we could call for a ride back to the bus route, offered to snap a photo of us, and was off.
Crichton Castle lies a further 300 yards or so up a walking path. There's an old stable next to the castle. The sandstone quarry where all the stones that built the castle and stable were cut is behind the stable. And then there is of course the Crichton Castle itself and all the surrounding countyside - Much unchanged from how it looked when the castle was in use. There's not a whole lot to say about the castle of interest to anyone who's not particularly interested, but I enjoyed walking around. It's completely unrestored, and one is free to walk about for a tiny admission fee of £3.50. Oh, and the guide, Robin, was exceptionally knowledgable, friendly and keeps the castle spotless!
Once we were done exploring 'our' castle, we walked on back up the path, hoping to be able to get a cell phone signal to call the taxi company back. But just as we get back there, the cab is pulling up. It's Tony again! He appreciated the tip and all, so he brought us all around the surrounding region, free of charge. He had a lot to tell us. Every site he seemed to know about had some connection with the Freemasons... Old temples an churches. And old abbey, which is now a college. A building currently occupied by the University of Wisconsin... All sorts of things. Then he tells of an old ruined temple that still in use for a special ceremony once per year. He couldn't go into the details, but he was going to be at the ceremony. At one point he also suggested that the Scots beat back the English at the Battle of Bannockburn through the assistance of the Knights Templar. Well, ultimately he tells us that he knows all this local history because he is a Templar. Our taxi driver, Tony, is a Templar! The Masons made him a templar in that old abbey. I can't prove it, though when I shook his hand after the drive, he was wearing a gold Freemason's insignia ring...
Interesting afternoon. Though it was also quite cold and windy.
After that, it was a bus or two back up to out little apartment here, which my fathe says is bigger than his first apartment. Then I cooked some pizza and pasta. Then we walked on out to a pub called The Cask and Barrel. They had real cask ales. Tasty stuff. I had a blonde ale called Peroxide Punk as well as some strange Scottish summer ale.
Happy Birthday, Sarah!
Pass Out Time, and off to the famous Loch Ness tomorrow!