Yesterday evening we decided not to go out for supper…too much restaurant food is never good….especially when it’s all much the same….PLEASE someone teach our hospitality businesses that there are more vegetables in the world than just peas and carrots!! So an earlier in the day, trip to Tesco had precured two lasagnes for the boys and a Paella for me, some bananas and some cheesecake for the boys. I used the hotel staff microwaves to heat everything up and they provided us with additional chairs so we could all eat together in our room……a good option…we’ll do the same tomorrow with some different ready meals before resuming our eating out regime….its the first time we’ve ever done this but it worked very well and we were all happy.
Day 5 – Out and about around Falkirk
I dropped John at Falkirk high station and then returned to the Premier Lodge for breakfast in out room with Dad. Cornflakes, Albran and a yoghurt…. great for the constitution !!! We then went to Tesco and selected meals for lunch and the evening. After which the good old Waze Sat. Nav. got us to Callendar House.
Callendar House has a 600 year history and, during these years, it has been host to many important historical figures, including Mary Queen of Scots, Oliver Cromwell, Bonnie Prince Charlie and Queen Victoria. The mansion is set within the grounds of Callendar Park. The current building is by far the most historical in the area. It has an impressive 300ft frontage. It was redesigned and extended, in the style of a French Renaissance Chateau, fused with elements of Scottish Baronial architecture, during the 19th century. The main core of the building is a 14th century tower house.
The House is completely free to visit. On Entering you are greeted by some extremely friendly staff who issue you with a self guide brochure and point out where the lift is to allow you easy access to the 2 higher floors. We wandered around the ground floor which was covered in information boards and displays.
The guide book took us on to the Kitchen…what a place..
The breakfast menu brought back fond memories… i reminded Dad of how my Grandpa had liked to have Devilled Kidneys, Ham and Eggs for his breakfast and Dad said that it was his favourite whilst he was doing his National Service.
Next to the kitchen was a small snug where an interactive film brought you into the kitchen and taught you what it was like to be a kitchen maid…
We took the lift upstairs and encountered a few more displays.
By now we were ready for the coffee shop… scones with butter and jam and Americano coffees were the order of the day….
After refreshment we decided to leave Callendar house…a bus trip had arrived and it was getting very busy.
We drove into Lanarkshire and enjoyed the beautiful countryside. The gorse was in full flower as far as you could see was amass of bright yellow…..
For those of you who know me you’ll know I have a strange sense of humour and I had it in my head I wanted to see Fannyside Loch !!!!No explanation offered…. The route took us along some very narrow lanes surrounded by peat bogs and moorland….little lambs frolicked in the fields and on the scrubland….small hamlets with impressive farmhouses and beautiful scenery across the horizon…Finally we came across a small sailing club on Fannyside Loch…however that was the only view of the loch and there was nowhere to park to enjoy the view…
Having appeased my curiosity we headed back …it turned into a “Sumner” mystery tour, because waze had gone on strike and Dad was on the map. With us both a bit uncertain as to where we were we suddenly came upon the outskirts of Falkirk and realised we had done a giant circle..
Traversing the town to get to our hotel, It was very busy with crowds of people mostly young men streaming along the pavements ….it soon became apparent that Falkirk had been playing at home to Rangers and as it had been a 12.30 kickoff we were catching the after match crowds…
The hotel receptionist confirmed this as she had come straight from the match, disappointed that Falkirk had lost but pleased that Celtic had won the Scottish Championship…
Another lovely day exploring the area…more tomorrow
2 J's World of Adventure 