6/23 - Back to Glasgow

On Thursday morning we boarded the coach for the last morning and headed to a ferry that took us back to the mainland at Oban, We drove down the coast, stopping at Loch Lomond for pictures and then back to Glasgow

Our last look at the Isle of Mull on the way to the mainland.

One of the many very old (or restored) stone castles - mansions all over Scotland.

It was very scenic, going from the Isle of Mull with about 3,000 people to Glasgow, with a population of 750,000.  What a contrast, and just a short distance apart.

More scenery.  There are some forested hillsides but by and large the hills are covered with heather or rocks and some grass.

This is our group.

Barb and I by Loch Lomond.

Typical building in Glasgow.  The stone was guarried in the local area.  This is normal for all the towns, cities, and buildings in Scotland.  Stone buildings.  We saw only one wood frame house in two weeks.  Friday morning we boarded our flight for home,

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6/22 isle of Mull=Torosay Castle

On the evening of June 22, we went to Torosay Castle.  We were given a private tour of this msnsion by the Fifth Laird of  Torosay, Christopher James.  He inherited the mansion from his grandparents who restored much of it, and it is a full time job running the farm lands and cattle surrounding the mansion.  

This is the main entrance into Torosay Castle.

Part of the exterior stone walls.  The family (James, wife and three children) live on the second and third floors during the tourist season and the first floor is open to the public.

This is the entrance immediately inside the main doors. 

The dining hall.

One of the sitting rooms.

The view of the outside landscaping from a first floor window.

There are several walled off areas for outside grounds, gardens and walkways behind the castle.

There are nineteen life size statues along this walkway on one side of the garden,

Looking back at Torosay from the outer grounds area.  The gardens were beautiful, with trees from many different countries.

Another area of grounds, walls and statues. Mr. James was very personable as he guided us thru the first floor of his home and the gardens.  When reloading on the bus there was a woman (pretty stout) standing by our door.  She was Russian, and argued with Mr. James that he should take her family through the castle as he did for us.  That was refused and he walked back into the private grounds by the castle and shut the steel gate behind him.  However, he did tell us that by law he couldn't stop anyone from walking, or camping, on his fields and pastures. 

6/21/11 Isle of Mull

Part of the ruins of Clan MacDonald stone mansion on the Isle of Skye.

Going back to the mainland on the ferry.  This is looking back at the Isle of Skye.

At Glenfinnen.  Statue and memorial to Bonnie Prince Charlie.  This is where he escaped from Scotland and returned to France after his failed attempt to take the throne of England.

On the Isle of Mull. Human population below 3,000.  Livestock plentiful and on the roads at times.

On the Isle of Iona, which is only about one mile long by half a mile wide.  This is part of the ruins of a nunnery.  This was built several hundred years after the death of Columba, near the rebuilt ruins of his abbey.  Columba didn't allow either cattle or women on Iona during his lifetime.

More ruins of the nunnery.

Overall view of the abbey of Columba.  Several parts of it are the original stonework from the sixth century.  The small roofed room (just to the left of center) is called the Shrine of Columba an is all original.  Columba landed on Iona with 12 others in 563 AD & started this work that became the foundation of the Scottish church in its early years.  Kings of the Vikings, Celts, Scots, and French are all buried in the cemetery at Iona.

One of the two stone crosses in front of the abbey. This one, St. Martin's cross, is the original built around 800 AD. 

A closer look at St. Martin's cross with part of the Abbey in the background.

An inside view looking from the entryway down through the sanctuary, which is still holding regulary services today.  A number of the stones in the floor have crosses carved in them, noting someone is buried at that spot. 

A couple of the small side rooms that run off from the sanctuary.

The inner courtyard of the Abbey grounds.

Rhododendron bushes grow everywhere in Scotland, they are huge bushes , much like lilac bushes are in Ohio.

View of some of the hillsides on the Isle of Mull.