Friday, September 12, 2014 - The Scotland Saga

Slept in until 7:00 this morning, but all were up and packed by 8:30. We slipped down to Peters Gate coffee shop on the ground floor to have some coffee, bread, scones and jam.  Excellent coffee shop and we hate to leave it.  Called a cab and traveled to the airport to pick up our smallish mini-van, a Kia Carens.

Left the airport around 10:15 and headed out towards Perth.  We arrived at Scone Palace just at noon and toured the castle.  This is the crowning place of all Scots Kings, back to the 9th century.  The last King to be crowned here was Charles II.  Then, the English absconded with the Stone of Scone in 1276, carrying it to Westminster Abbey, where it sat until it's return to Edinburgh (in the Edinburgh Castle) in 1996.  Its return was in an effort to appease the Scotland citizens on behalf of the UK government - pretty much didn't work.  The Stone will still be carried to Westminster Abbey for the investiture of a future Monarch.  All this may change if the Scots vote for independence next Thursday in their historic election.

The Scone Palace is the family seat of Lord Mansfield.  This is the gentlemen who sheltered Dido Lindsay, the mulatto slave daughter of his nephew - hence the book and film Belle. The portrait featured in the film is housed here in the Scone Palace.

Following a quick scone and tea in the coffee shop, followed by the obligatory exit through the gift shop, we toured the grounds, home of some of the oldest living trees in all of the United Kingdom.  Very forest-y, informal grounds, but a marvelous feeling as we walked around.

Back in our chariot we left Perth, headed for Aberfeldy, our destination of the evening.  The views of the countryside are stunning and the weather has been holding well for us - overcast today, but no rain and no fog.  After a few wrong turns, we pulled into our B & B for the evening, Brae House, our hosts, Patti and Jim.  A very charming home and charming couple.

We rested and opened a bottle of wine in our lounge area and recapped the day.  We then struck out on foot to the recommended restaurant, Ailene Cragg. The food was outstanding, with mussels, salmon, scallops, lamb shank and my personal choice and favorite, grilled chicken stuffed with haggis.

We walked back and tumbled into bed early, well before 9:00.  Some read, some watched TV, and some passed out.  All in all, a good first day on the "wrong side of the road."