CASTLE CAMPBELL

After leaving Edinburgh, we crossed the Firth of Forth and headed to Dollar, Scotland to visit Castle Campbell, originally Castle Gloom. Built in 1430 it was laid to waste by the Marquis of Montrose when Cromwell visited Scotland. The sight is maintained by Historic Scotland today. The souvenir guide was my resource for the timeline on these pages. Following the paved path from the parking lot we walked up and down hill, across a burn by footbridge, past a great oak tree more than 300 years old, and entered the Castle Campbell gates. Climbing up a narrow, winding, tower staircase, we made our way up to the Great Hall, then higher to the bed chambers, and finally to the top of the castle ramparts. It was a wet misty day which added to the great Scotland atmosphere as we surveyed "our" great lands around the castle. I felt transported in time, imagining what it must have felt like to be one of the 5th Earl Campbell 's family attending the wedding of his sister along with Mary, Queen of Scots, as a fellow wedding guest! Magical!!