A DAY IN LINLITHGOW:
Surprisingly the Sleep Monster must have bit me as I actually slept almost 12 hours. I normally sleep 4-6 hours. All the hub bub just catching up with us and we must be settling in.
The skies are still overcast and there is a good wind blowing. The clouds are not as thick as yesterday so we may see the sun.
This morning the kettle is on for tea and scones. Mind you they are not Mrs. McCarthy’s AWARD WINNING STRAWBERRY SCONES, but still nice.
Before I forget, I must mention that along the union canal runs the John Muir Way. The John Muir Way traverses the heartland of Scotland – a unique journey through the country’s natural, cultural and industrial heritage. This route opened in April 2014, and is named after John Muir (1838-1914), the famous conservationist and co-founder of our (America’s) National Parks. It runs from Helensburgh on the Firth of Clyde to Dunbar on the North Sea, taking in Scotland’s first national park, its historic canals and its capital city Edinburgh. It features a wide range of scenery – from upland paths in the west, through rolling farmland, canal towpaths, woodlands and country parks, to beaches and cliff-tops on the east coast.
The plan for the day is to explore Linlithgow as there is a lot of history here along with shops and pubs.
Linlithgow is a small town in The Lothians in central lowland Scotland, 20 miles west of Edinburgh. It's a commuter town for the city, with a population in 2020 of 12,840. Its main attraction is the ruined palace, birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots, overlooking the town and scenic loch.
The town was founded as Lithgow, llaith cau, the damp hollow, and lynn llaith cau was the lake causing the dampness; eventually Linlithgow came to mean the town itself. It was astride the route from Edinburgh to Stirling, Perth and the Highlands so it became a stop-over and acquired a medieval palace. Mary Stuart was born at the palace in 1542 and just five days later became Queen of Scotland when her father James V died. The country was therefore ruled by regents and at age six Mary was sent to France for safety and to contract a dynastic marriage with the heir to the French throne.
St Michaels Parish Church, One of Scotland's finest medieval churches, completed in 1540. It fell into disrepair in the 19th century and the crown steeple (resembling St Giles, Edinburgh) had to be dismantled, but in 1964 an aluminum crown was installed. It remains in use as a Church of Scotland: it's not to be confused with St Michael's Roman Catholic church nearby, one of Pugin's Gothic creations completed in 1893.
Small museum of town life: local industries and features. The prolific Tam Dalyell's typewriter is among the historic artifacts, amazing it didn't melt in a white heat of keys. The nearby Annet House museum has closed.
There is also a plaque commemorating the birth of Montgomery Scott the Star Trek character Scotty.
We secured Lyra and headed into the Town of Linlithgow. We found High Street as it is the main street in town. Here you find many small shops, tea rooms, bakeries etc.
Our first stop was going to be the Museum but alas it was closed but were able to acquire a photo of the plaque commemorating the birth of Montgomery Scott. Scotty from Star Trek.
Just across High Street is The Cross, the center of Linlithgow. Here we find a most ornately carved structure. What makes it so special is it was hand carved by a man with just one hand.
Next we continued on to the Palace, birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots. Restoration work continues and rightly fully so as this is a rather impressive building. We did climb the 144 steps to get a great view of the loch.
Next we visited St Michaels Church. I was quite taken by the stained glass.
Back on High Street we found a post office and mailed some post cards.
Now it is time to start a Pub Crawl. Our first stop was the 4 Marys named for the handmaidens of Queen Mary.
In-between pub stops we went to Linlithgow DIY. This is a small hardware store with lots of fun items. I enjoy getting kitchen gadgets from such places. We found some dog treats and a Duck Toast Tong. A pleasant chat with the owner.
Our next Pub was the Old Post Office. Here we ordered the Steak and Ale pie along with Haggis Bon Bons. This was a very filling meal.
Then a quick stop at TESCO for some good bacon, more crackers and some digestives.
Then we made our way back to Lyra. Time top up our water and take showers.
After our heavy lunch I think we will snack on some nice cheese we found at a local deli.
I will say the warmth of all the people we have encountered has been a true joy. Chatting with the Deli owner, the school crossing Guard, dog walkers and people in the church, has really been a blessing.
I should mention after watering up we moved Lyra to the other side of the canal. I think we will have less wind here. I did the evening maintenance chore and the weed hatch was clean of weeds.
I deserved an IRN-BRU after all that work
Tomorrow we will continue on towards Edinburgh, maybe stop in Ratho, we will just have to see.
Thanks to all for reading about our journey. Do share if you wish.
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