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The entrance to the Bannockburn Heritage Center |
Falmouth
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| Ramblings
Our fourth tour was by far our most anticipated one. It was titled "Braveheart Country & Stirling Castle". As you can tell by the name it concerns the liberation of Scotland in the 1300's. First we went on a ride to see the Bannockburn Heritage Center which detailed the fight for Scotland's freedom By Robert of Bruce.
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The entrance to the Bannockburn Heritage Center |
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Karen wears a helmet with chain mail |
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Chuck tries it next |
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A display about Robert The Bruce |
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The Robert the Bruce memorial |
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The Robert the Bruce statue |
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Zoomed in on Stirling Castle |
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The Scottish Lowlands |
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The Bruce statue with Stirling Castle just to the right |
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Scottish ponies |
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Karen at the Bruce memorial |
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Steps to somewhere? |
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More of the Lowlands |
From the Bannockburn Center we traveled up to Stirling Castle. The castle sits on a natural rock outcropping several hundred feet above the surrounding countryside. This made it nearly impregnable by enemy forces.
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The left side of the moat |
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The right side of the moat |
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The Entrance to the castle |
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Up on the front wall |
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Karen on the front wall |
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The front side of the Royal Apartments |
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A gargoyle |
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The entrance to the Royal Apartments |
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A tower outside of the castle walls |
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Karen in an archer's turret |
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The outer courtyard |
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The inner courtyard |
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The gardens outside of the castle walls |
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The outside of the castle and cliffs |
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The modern road up to the castle |
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A modern town outside of the castle |
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The King's apartment |
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The Roayal seal |
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The inner courtyard |
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The Royal Throne Room |
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Karen looking if the coast is clear |
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The "queen" sits upon her throne |
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A tapestry weaver |
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More of the lowlands |
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Opposing Statues |
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More of the courtyard |
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These cottages housed important shops |
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The rear walls of the castle |
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Looking over the rear wall |
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The cemetery outside of the walls |
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The Stirling Village |
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More of the surrounding village and back wall |
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The side wall |
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Another shot of the cemetery |
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Another picture of the side wall |
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Another shot of Stirling Village |
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The inner courtyard cannons |
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The hallway to the throne room |
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From the other end of the hallway |
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This is the start of the lower courtyard |
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More of the lower back courtyard |
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Part of the back wall looking back |
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Part of the back wall looking foeward |
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From the very back corner of the castle wall |
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Showing the rear of the shop area |
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The path to the kitchens |
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The "Nobles" quarters |
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The royal bakery |
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Making bread |
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An archers defensive station |
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The baker |
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The hallway to the royal apartments |
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The Royal apartments, King's on the left, Queen's on the left |
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An old tree in the flower garden |
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More of the flower garden and royal shops |
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The flower garden inside the walls |
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Spooky old tree |
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Karen leaving the castle |