"The best thing to come from England is the road to Scotland"

Train from London - Kings Cross to Edinburgh Waverly

Some sights from the train

Back at Borthwick ( our honeymoon castle) .. We arrived at the castle just as it was getting dark... We settled in and explored the inside with the girls and jack.. very fun!

The twin towered fortress of Borthwick Castle was built in 1430 by the first Lord Borthwick, whose sepulchre can still be seen with that of his Lady in the old village church. A charter to build the Castle was awarded to Sir William de Borthwick by King James I in thanks for his part in bringing the King home to Scotland after 18 years imprisonment in England.

The Great Hall at Borthwick ( or as Hannah says Borfwick)
Fire place in the State Room
The State Room
The Chapel

Mary Queen of Scots room.. Where Tim and I would sit and have tea on our honeymoon!

Mary Queen of Scotts Room - the room that we stayed in on our honeymoon

Kids Dining in the Great Hall

Hannah and Emilie at the front entrance to Borthwick

Borthwick Castle with our little family!

The stonework today...

In 1650 Oliver Cromwell laid siege to the Castle and delivered the following letter to the ninth Lord Borthwick, on 18 November 1650:
"Sir - I thought fit to send this trumpet to you, to let you know, that if you please to walk away with your company, and deliver the House to such as I shall send to receive it, you shall have liberty to carry off your arms and goods and such other necessaries as you have.
You have harboured such parties in your house as have basely and inhumanly murdered our men, if you necessitate me to bend my cannon against you, you may expect what I doubt you will not be pleased with. I expect your present Answer, and rest your servant.
O Cromwell"
Lord Borthwick did not respond immediately, but after bombardment by cannon which destroyed the east parapet and tore a large cavity in the stonework, he came to terms with Cromwell, leaving the castle with his wife and child and moveable goods. The scars on the stonework can still be seen today and a copy of Cromwell's original letter hangs in the Great Hall.

The road leading to the castle

Going for a drive

Creighton Castle

Girls on the trail to Creighton Castle - Chapel in the backround

One of Jack's favoirite new phrases..."I see sheep"

View just past Creighton Castle More sheep - they are everywhere of course

Dalhousie Castle
The Ramsays of Dalhousie have reason to be proud of their heritage and their long links with Scottish history. They held possession of Dalhousie longer than any other family has retained possession of a castle in Scotland. The Castle, which is situated in the parish of Cockpen, eight miles south of Edinburgh, dates from the 13th century, although only the enormously thick walls at the foundation level and the vaults remain of the original building. The main parts of the present structure were built about 1450 from red stone quarried from the opposite bank of the South Esk River on which the Castle stands. In the succeeding centuries there have been various additions and modifications, but the essential form of the Castle which had an L-shaped keep surrounded by an outer curtain wall can still be clearly discerned
The Falconry at Dalhousie

Rosslyn Chapel

Rosslyn Chapel, or the Collegiate Chapel of St Matthew as it was to have been, was founded in 1446 by Sir William St Clair, third and last St Clair Prince of Orkney.

Back at the Castle

Trying to get a photo by the fire - we failed!

Both nights that we spent at Borthwick they served ( fully served) the kids at 5:30...we then bathed them and put Jack to sleep and a movie on for the girls and we were served alone at 8pm.. Our room was attatched to the great hall so we were within hearing distance from the girls...It was wonderful! Almost like a date (granted I checked them every 15 to 30 minutes - but still )

I think we have an older photo exactly like this ( ok we are older and have how many children now ?) My how times have changed!!

When we got back to the castle from our drive Kerris was there.. Her mother and Aunt work at the castle and she spends the weekends there.. Emilie was instantly taken with her! They spent a few hours playing and exploring.. She had breakfast with us.. She was completely adorable... Now Emilie has a friend in Scotland!

So sad to be leaving... Do you like a European minivan?

Bye Kerris!

We returned our car ( Tim does so well driving on the "wrong"side of the road! I would have crashed immediately!) and headed out to the streets of Edinburgh! Our first stop was lunch (Emilie has to eat every half hour) and what better place than the Balmoral hotel - where Tim and I stayed 8 years ago!! It was exactly the same!

Chips from a silver bowl..too funny!

Lobby of the Balmoral Hotel - Edinburgh

The Balmoral Hotel

Sounds of Edinburgh

Jenners Department Store

Edinburgh Castle at night

Our hotel in Edinburgh... It also had two bedrooms and two bathrooms

Jack on the Royal Mile

Walking up the Royal Mile

Front of Edinburgh Castle Emilie with the city and the ocean behind her...does not look like it but it was FREEZING

"The Thin Red Line" yes this is hanging in our house! ( well smaller)

View from the Castle

Dog Cemetary... the girls found this interesting

The girls with a "King"...they were very excited that he thought that they were princesses and wanted to kiss their hands

Having lunch in Edinburgh

Check out Jack in the backround

Our bed !! In the two bedroom Hotel!

Cab Ride to Waverly Train Station!

Jack's first Cab ride Train journey back to London.... The best thing to come from Scotland may not have been three little American children - as we were standing and waiting to exit the train Hannah said repeatedly and very loudly for the ENTIRE train to hear "I did not fart"!