Tag Archives: Falkirk Wheel

Dunmore, Dun Better Days

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20/07/2023

Very slow start, again! But we did both run. Well, slight exaggeration as J ran. I staggered. In fact, I was staggered that the last time I ran was 28th May and the time before was March. In my defence, we have walked and I’ve done Pilates, classes and at home. But, boy, my legs knew about it … legs and my per km time both definitely dun better. Great to use the Falkirk Wheel showers after.

We drove to Dunmore Castle and the more famous Pineapple, another Atlas Obscura. We stopped at a narrow opening to the car park, leant out of the window to ask if big Jez could get to the car park. Yes, says she. A few pot holes but the car park isn’t too busy. We slowly set off. Pot holes weren’t the problem. Low hanging branches were! And when we saw the parking, there was no way we would have fitted, or been able to turn around. Really should know better than to rely on someone else’s opinion about our size and roads!!! So ivreversed to the sound of branches scraping side. Asked a lady sat outside her Gatehouse garden if she knew where we could park. She kindly offered the spot in front of her house and she was rewarded with a 500ml of Spiros’ Cretan olive oil.

Dunmore Park was a great place to meander. The Pineapple was built as a folly one side of the walled gardens at a time when pineapples were a novelty. Originally, glass houses fanned either side. Now, it is under the care of the National Trust for Scotland and is holiday accommodation.

Next is Elphinstone Tower. Elphinstone was the one-time family name. Now, a ruin it sits to one side of the graveyard for family and servants.

The piece de resistance was the Castle and stables. During the war it was a hospital. Then a private school. In the 1970’s it was abandoned and the roof removed to avoid paying property tax.

It doesn’t take long for nature to take possession.
Two large wine cellars, would love to have done a tasting in it’s heyday.

Having run and walked, my legs were definitely heavy. We had intended to clean Jez at an award winning 5 pitch CL called Carr’s Hill,

but all I managed was 2 loads of laundry through the twin tub and some restorative wine!

I was all Dun In!

Not Underwhelmed!

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18-19/07/2023

I’ve read a ton of blog posts of travellers raving about the Kelpies and the Falkirk Wheel and fully expected to be underwhelmed. I wasn’t. We were wowed. We stayed the night at both sites (£10 and £15 including use of showers at the Wheel) so we could enjoy them lit up. Really worth doing.

After leaving the Kelso meet, we filled with LPG in Melrose and stopped off at Callender Park … not to be confused with Callander the town … all of one vowel change.  It was a busy park and not worth a detour. Perhaps my walk was tainted by having to wash Corrie in the car park.  She rolled in horse shite just as the words … “leave it” left my mouth.

The Forbes Mausoleum is listed in Atlas Obscura, hence the visit. Spoilt by graffiti  and litter surrounding it. If you hunted, there were remnants of head stones around it.

We walked 3 times from the permitted overnight parking to the Kelpies.  Daytime, at night and again in the morning to get our free coffee … the parking included a bogof, so we did … and breakfast! 

They are modelled on two Clydesales. Really they impart the sense of grace and power.
Being so far North, it doesn’t get properly dark till long past our bedtimes.

We hadn’t planned to overnight at the Falkirk Wheel, but an enthusiastic Scot bounded over … he’d stayed for 2 nights, sleeping in the back of his car. Staff had cottoned on to his lack of facilities(i. e. Toilet) and having not paid, so he was leaving today. But he did tell us the Wheel being lit at night was worth staying for. So we did.

We had booked online the boat ride where you are carried up 30m from one canal to the next.  Just as well we had tickets, as folk were being turned away.   A nice trip with an amusing commentary from the staff and an audio fact filled one.  The Wheel was a Millenium project to replace 11 locks which took boaters 6 hours to navigate. It’s free to canal traffic and will take canoes and paddle boards …should have brought my board!

All aboard
Corrie didn’t much care for the boat engine, so did the trip on my lap!

In the afternoon, Corrie and I walked along a canal to Bonneybridge, then under it, and back along the Antonine Wall and the site of Roughcastle Fort. The wall was the most northerly stronghold of the Romans, but the Scots were so troublesome that they retreated back to Hadrian’s Wall. 

The big trench is in fact, a Wall!