Royal and Ancient

Sat 17th - Up and over the Cairngorms, part of the GRampians with occasional rain - dark cloiuds but no snow though plenty was lying around. Over a steep hump bridge. Arrived at Craithie Chapel where Princess MArgaret was married then onto Balmoral Castle opposite on the banks of the River Dee and into the Ballroom and a wander of the grounds. Prince Charles and Cmilla were in residence but iunseen. Lunch in the cafeteria. We were really surporised at how remote Balmorlal is. Then over the rest of the mountains down to Dundee and the illfated Antarctic expedition of Robert Scott's ship The Discovery in dry dock there. Finally on to St Andrews and the old golf course, St Andrews is a university town and of course the home of golf and then we came into Edinburgh where we would be charged an arm and a leg for internet access so sorry for the delay.

SUn 18th - Edinburgh with Rosslyn
We woke to dricht (rainy) day and were welcomed by Keith our Scottish guide for the mmorning who took us on a colourful tour of old Edinburgh city and of the CAstle where we were nearly drookit (SOAKED) SSaw the Crown Jewels of Scotland and much of the extgensive inside area of the castle - so much bigger than we anticipated or understand from only watching the Tattoo. Went on to Rosslyn Chapel and Rosslyn felt really at home seeing her name spelt properly all around her. The CHapel has been under cover for 13 years for renovation to let the roof and walls dry out before they could be conserved - plae of many questions and much mystery. Then baclk to Edinburgh for l8unch and then a local shopping spree - bought some cashmere jumpers at half price. In the evening we went to a little village hotel about half an hour oput of EWdinburgh for dinner - a haggis entree and a piper (also Graeme) and two 13yo grils who danced for us the Higland FLing and sWORD dANCE..

Monday 19th - Back to Civilisation
Fairt weather when we rose and headed south from Ednibnurgh for a last Scottish shopping spree at Jedburgh - site of an old Abbey, then on to Carter Bar, the border between Scotland and England where we were piped out of Scotland - a delightful touch. In Newcastle-on-TYne we examined remains of Hadrian's Wall bullt by the RomaNS THE 80 MILES ACROSS THE WIDTH OF eNGLAND now running through the subuirbs. We had lunch at Durham before arriving in York' Here we have walked the walls of the city, visited the Minster and explored through bthe narrow stretets and quaint shops - especially the one called The Shambles, and the shortest street. The history of this place goes back 2000 yedars. Looking forward to our final day tomorrow and then having to somehow negoiate our way out of England on to Amsterdam as we are not yet sure of how the travel arrangements will work in this current crisis