Scotland Trip

TRIP TO SCOTLAND - July 4-18, 2007

Itinerary for Scotland

July 4 – leave for Scotland, Wed, 3:20 pm (Regina, Calgary, London, Edinburgh)

July 5 – arrive in Edinburgh, Scotland at 1:45 pm

Edinburgh Airport to Melville Castle - Edinburgh Airport - City of Edinburgh bypass

Edinburgh - The city is built on seven hills of which the most dominant is Castle Rock on which Edinburgh Castle is perched overseeing the town in all directions. Edinburgh Old Town and New Town are both World Heritage Sites and contains some of the most stunningly beautiful architecture from the 15th, 17th and 18th Centuries to be found in all of Great Britain.

Apart from Edinburgh Castle another imposing features on the skyline is Calton Hill on which are built the Nelson Monument, the Burns Monument and the National Monument. But towering above all is Arthur’s Seat a 251-metre hill, which rewards the hardy walker with stunning views across Edinburgh, the Firth of Forth and across the Lothians.

Melville Castle - Accommodations: Melville Castle situated just 8 miles south east of Edinburgh city centre. (20 minutes)

Head for the City Bypass (which is well signed) and follow it eastbound. Exit at Gilmerton Junction and follow the road signs for Eskbank. The gates to Melville Castle will appear on your right hand side about 1km from the bypass slip road.

Melville Castle Hotel, Melville Gate, Gilmerton Road, Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH18 1AP

July 6 – travel from Edinburgh to Braemar (just before Balmoral) Edinburgh to Braemar map

Accommodations: Gordon's Bed and Breakfast (at Braemar – just before Balmoral) - http://www.gordonsbraemar.com/

Sites to See:

Balmoral Castle – Royal family residence

Braemar to Balmoral maps and Admission Information for Balmoral

Opening Times: Grounds, gardens and exhibitions:
1st April to 30th July Daily 10.00am - 5.00pm. (Last recommended admission 4.00 p.m.)

July 7 – July 12 - travel from Balmoral to Aberdeenshire County (NE Scotland)

Accommodations: Millcroft Cottage

Sites to See:

Parley Family Tree

Mundell Family

Aberdeen

• Banff

• Cruden Bay

• Ellon

• Inverurie - Archaeolink - Travel 10,000 years in one day from the Mesolithic to a Roman Marching Camp, with indoor and outdoor exhibitions, featuring hands on activities, workshops and guided tours everyday, Archaeolink is a dynamic historical experience for all the family.

Directions to Archaeolink

• Maud – Station Hotel

New Pitsligo- John Parley and Elizabeth McRobb were married 12 Nov 1772 at Pistligo

• Old Deer – where Mary Ann Simpson married George Parley (great-grandparents) who came to Canada

Ardallie – Alexander Parley buried there (son of George Parley and Mary Jaffray) -Ardallie map
Deer Abbey – abbey where the Book of Dee rwas written (oldest written Gaelic)
New Deer
Aikey Brae (Stone circle) - http://www.bbaf-arts.org.uk/sites/bbaf/art-in-env/artefactdetails.asp?ArtefactNum=222 and http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=2 - This wonderfully sited circle is on top of Parkhouse Hill which would give a 360 degree panoramic view (were it not for the trees to one side).It is easily reached off the road from Old Deer to Maud. Turn left up the minor road to Scroghill and park in the track entrance at the third bend. Follow the track up between the fields and then turn right on the path through the field into the wood.
Aden Country Park

• Peterhead

Slains Castle near Peterhead

Stuartfield - The village of Stuartfield was founded in 1772 by Mr. John Burnett, an ancestor of our present laird. He named it in honour of his maternal grandfather Captain John Stuart who had purchased the estates of Crichie and Dens from Earl Marischal Keith around 1700. Crichie is still the byname for the village which nestles favourably in the valley formed by four small hills - the Hills of Jock, Scroghill, and the hills of West Crichie and Knock.
• Scroghill - where Mary Ann Parley was born (daughter of Mary Ann Simpson and George Parley) - great-grandma

• Strichen – where George Parley’s parents were married – George Parley and Mary Jaffray (Mary was from Strichen)

• Whinnyfold (near Cruden) – Haycroft Farm (South) and Buth Hay Farm

SCOTLAND’S Northern corner is home to more castles than any other area of the UK: Historic castles, ruined castles, restored castles, sites of castles, inhabited castles, preserved castles, Royal castles, famous castles, tiny castles, castles the size of French chateaux, castles as homes, and castles as business centres - a thousand castles or sites of castles crowd into this neck of Scotland. Some like Braemar majestically dominate their territory, while others like Findlater near Cullen successfully hide themselves away in the unlikeliest of corners.

General Castle Info and Castels in Aberdeen

July 11-16- travel from Stuartfield area east to Inverness and south to Hadrian's Wall
Accommodations: Wherever

Auchganatt to Inverness to Carlisle

Loch Ness - Loch Ness Monster and more info, near Inverness

Hadrian's Wall Info

Constructed during the reign of the Emperor Hadrian, (hence its familiar name), It survived as a formidable frontier barrier for 300 years, until the Roman legions withdrew from Britain in 410 AD, after which time it fell into decline.

Hadrian's Wall at Greenhead Lough

Carlisle to Newcastle Upon Tyne to Dalkeith

ROSSLYN CHAPEL

OPEN ALL YEAR
1st April - 30th Sept
Mon - Sat
9.30am -6pm
Sun 12 noon - 4.45pm
Last Admission
30 minutes from close
Entry Prices:
Adults £7 Concs. £6

Directions to Rosslyn Chapel

Rosslyn Chapel Rosslyn Chapel, originally named the Collegiate Chapel of St. Matthew, is a 15th-century church in the village of Roslin, seven miles from Edinburgh in Scotland. The chapel is famous both for its decorative art and its mysterious associations with the Knights Templar, the Holy Grail, and the Freemasons.

July 17 - To Dalkeith for the night

Dalkeith to Edinburgh Airport

Accommodations: Straithcairn

July 18 – Leave from Dalkeith to Edinburgh Ariport for London - Wed