Surprises come in many forms when your on tour. Some from left field and need to be dealt with quietly and with discretion. Others come with the ‘WOW” factor. I endeavour to vary each day on tour which means ‘It’s Not a another Castle” everyday.
A new garden this year was just outside Glasgow, called Geilston Garden. It has been an impressive garden for more than two hundred years and the traditional walled garden, kitchen garden, wooded area still feature today. The azaleas were a riot of colour and the most labour intensive kitchen garden produces enough vegetables to sell at a stall during the summer months to visitors.
The stunning Highland landscape took over from the Lowlands and although the hills were covered in cloud the lochs were peaceful, calm and moody and they stole the show with spectacular reflections. Our trip today was heading to Oban on the coast but even a lunch stop in Inveraray had time for a gorgeous walk in the Castle gardens and grounds.
Surprises come in many forms and as a result of Charles having prior commitments for a few days I had to source alternative guides. Alan an ex principal on the Isle of Mull extolled his passion for Mull and Iona. He generously taught us through his is long local knowledge, telling stories and singing songs . We later found out singing was his passions and loved singing in choirs – consequently he was ecstatic to meet Sheryl and Jenny our talented choir singers.
Coincidently another Alan was our guide the following day and in light rain on a very still day he walked us through the 4000 year old pre- historic sites in Kilmartin Glen. Burial Cairns and standing stones are for some reason prevalent here. This time we had a brilliant morning with an ex Maths teacher and gained first hand information from another guide telling others about his passion.
But the biggest surprise of all was our visit to Duntrune Castle. I planned a visit to the garden and the son of the present laird of of the Castle said he might be able to arrange for us to go into the castle. The garden was magnificent and was set away from the damaging salt blasts behind tall hornbeam hedges. Surprise Surprise…. the most beautiful glamorous drift of Blue Meganopsis poppies. They are so hard to grow and to see them in this blue profusion was so special. After a little hiccup we were met by Robin – Laird of the Castle and Clan chief of the Malcolm clan and his partner Trish. This delightful pair invited 13 random New Zealanders into their castle home, showed us around and freely chatted about themselves and life in a castle. Of course stone lines the walls, in a castle, even the new bathroom !!, stone spiral staircases go from one floor to another and although from the outside it looked enormous, the rooms were relatively small, very cosy and comfortable. It is built on high rocks above the water line and in a perfect defensive position, For two well in their 80’s the castle is home and we felt very humbled and privileged to peak into their private life for an hour.
