The last trip from Loch Earn...

Hiya,

today is the last day here at Loch Earn. Tomorrow we head to Glasgow.

This morning also started with a beautiful sunrise, but it was only 4° Celsius....brrrrrrr.... but our little Scottish friend predicts sunny weather with light clouds and little rain.

Our final excursion for this vacation takes us to the 'Scone Palace'. Googlelotta squeaks: 1 hour and 2 minutes! So we step on the gas and set off.

Historically, Scone was considered the center of the Scottish Kingdom. It was first mentioned in writing around 906 AD, when a pact was made between the Scottish Church and the then Scottish royal house. However, the Scone Palace was only built in the early 19th century (by the Murray family) and sits in a very expansive estate.

However, as early as 1100, a monastery was established on this site, which gained more and more importance, as it housed the Stone of Destiny, the coronation stone of the Scottish kings. Scottish kings were crowned sitting on this stone. Today, only a replica stands in front of the chapel, which itself was only erected in the 18th century.

The inside of the palace is very impressive, but filming and photography are prohibited.... and I understand why. In the many rooms there is much to see, from paintings, dishes, tapestries to elaborate furniture, vases, clocks, etc.

The extensive gardens are also more than worth seeing. Peacocks roam freely, and you can still see the remnants of Old Scone. To have more space, the Murrays did something many large landowners did at that time. They relocated the nearby village to make more room for the park. Today, you can still see the entrance gate to the village and shortly after that, the Old Market Cross stands where traders used to meet. Parts of the old cemetery are still present as well.

All in all, the Scone Palace and its adjoining garden are definitely worth a visit.

On the way back, we grabbed something to eat and had a little picnic by Loch Lubnaig :o))

Now we are back at the hotel and will pack our bags later so that we can head straight to Glasgow early tomorrow morning.

We wish you faesgar breagha (a lovely evening) and see you tomorrow in Glasgow.