Cruise Highlights

It was a dream to take a Cunard cruise and this did not disappoint. My girlfriend and I wanted to go to Scotland to visit her family. This last minute cruise into Southhampton was almost as inexpensive as flying with the added bonus of 7 days of excellent food, accommodations, entertainment and, best of all, meeting some great people.

At Cocktail Hour one evening we went a little crazy by “trying” to imitate the scenes from the movie pictures in the Veuve Clicquot Champagne Bar. We had met some crazy new friends from Birmingham, England the first night during Sail Away and the four of us spent many a fun hour together over the week. Why they wanted to spend so much time with us two old girls I’ll never know but we shared many laughs.

Do not miss the outstanding treats at the small Godiva chocolate counter in Sir Samuel’s café, stocking an assortment of chocolate truffles and pralines. My friends went nuts for the ice cream masterpieces.

We were very fortunate to team up with a very intelligent couple from Melbourne, Australia for trivia 2 or 3 times a day. You might think that with our diverse backgrounds (Australian, Canadian, English and Scottish) and wide range of ages we might have been able to win a game or two but nothing! Still great fun.

Scotland Highlights

The Kelpies

Falkirk in Scotland is home to The Kelpies, the largest equine sculpture in the world, free of charge. Since April 2014, these 30-metre high horse-head sculptures near the M9 Motorway are a monument to Scotland’s horse-powered industrial heritage.

But what are ‘kelpies’ you may ask? A kelpie is a shape-changing aquatic spirit of Scottish legend. Its name may be derived from the Scottish Gaelic words ‘cailpeach’ or ‘colpach’, meaning heifer or colt. Kelpies are said to haunt rivers and streams, usually in the shape of a horse.

We enjoyed viewing these amazing sculptures from all around the park, from all sorts of angles. Very impressive. We left at dusk and they were just beginning to be lit from within. The setting within the canals is very beautiful. Worth the drive out of Glasgow.

We were too late in the day to take in the Falkirk Wheel but I’ve heard it’s well worth the visit.

A Coastal Drive From Ayr to Dumfries

We didn’t take the highways, which would have been much quicker deciding to enjoy the scenery along the way. Off the ragged coast we say Ailsa Craig, an island where the blue honed granite comes from to make the worlds curling stones. It’s now a bird sanctuary and is known as Paddy’s Milestone. This road also passes Culzean Castle which is well worth a stop and walk about.

We stopped and walked around Girvan. What a lovely fishing town.

Surprise! We were hungry so we stumbled into a sort of dodgy restaurant for lunch. But what a surprise…it was some of the best fried fish I have ever eaten! This is known to locals as Fish Tea…fish, chips, peas, bread, butter and a pot of tea.

Then travelled further south through the forests of Glenapp to reach Dumfries.

Auchentoshan Distillery, Clydebank

We drove a short distance from Glasgow, seemed like we never left the city limits, and took the offered tour for approximately 10 £. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The guide was very entertaining, encouraged questions and informed. The tour lasted approximately an hour and was well worth the money.

Auchentoshan is a single malt whisky which many people love. The distillery is also known as “Glasgow’s Malt Whisky” due to its closeness to Glasgow and “the breakfast whisky” due to its sweet and delicate flavour. Unusual for a Scottish distillery, Auchentoshan practices triple distillation. Generally the final stage of Scotch whisky production involves distilling the fermented mash in two copper stills. In Auchentoshan, a third still helps to give a final spirit strength of 81% (162 proof). This triple distillation, in addition to an unpeated malt gives Auchentoshan a more delicate and sweet flavour than many Scotch whiskies. Maturation is mainly in ex-bourbon or ex-sherry barrels, though some Auchentoshans will mature in French wine casks.

In the tasting room we had some instructions on whisky drinking and enjoyment. We walked away with a nice little souvenir glass. I, of course, purchased a bottle. Slainte!

IKEA Entertainment

What do old girls do when your out for a day of shopping and eating…IKEA, of course.

Kilwinning Abbey

On a crisp, cloudless Sunday morning we headed to Kilwinning to poke around the Abbey. Kilwinning is about 20 miles south of Glasgow and is known as The Crossroads of Ayrshire. It’s also known for establishing the first Freemasonry Lodge in Scotland and is know for being Lodge ‘0’ or Number Nothing.

Kilwinning Abbey is a ruined abbey smack in the middle of town and worth a visit if you’re in the vicinity. It was founded sometime between 1162 and 1188 by monks. It’s hard to imagine now but historians say it was one of Scotland’s grandest abbeys, even compared to Glasgow Cathedral. There has been a church on this exact site since the early 600’s. This abbey has been on the decline since the early 1600’s.

The Alton Inn, Kilwinning

https://m.facebook.com/The-Alton-Inn-130778983635951/

There are lots of pubs to choose from, in the area, but this wee, great pub belongs to a friends parents. What a great night we had. I was the designated driver so I stepped up and served.