Day 2

All Onto a bus for a whole day's trip. We had a Danish guide who's lived so long in Scotland that she speaks a language that could loosely be called Scandinavian.Our first stop was the Forth Bridge, which was pretty exciting for me because all my life I've heard it said of a job that's never finished:- "It's like painting the Forth Bridge", and apparently it's true - as soon as they get to the end it's time to go back to the beginning and start all over again.

Next to the Falkirk Wheel, which was a millenium project. Instead of opening and closing 11 locks to go from one of the Scottish canals to the Union canal, you sail your boat into one of the gondolas on the wheel, and it lifts it up to the next level. We did this in a tourist boat, sailed 100 metres, turned, went back and got lifted down again. We saw all this lovely yellow gorse from the boat.

On to Stirling Castle through lovely green countryside, with lambs, bunnies and cottage gardens.

Susanne guided us around the castle, up steeply sloping wet cobbles, spiral staircases and all over the place. I was so glad I'd taken my walking-stick, because my wonky knee was playing up by then. Hobbled back down the very steep hill to Hermann's Restaurant, where we had our lunch, which was delicious salmon - probably the nicest food we had the whole trip.

On again to Crieff, where we were guided around the Famous Grouse Whiskey Experience.

Although we spent most of the day sitting on a bus, it was good to be able to relax at the hotel before marching forth once more in search of supper. Friday evening is not the easiest time for 10 people to get a table, but we managed it, and reidar and i enjoyed our fish and chips at the Beehive Tavern, another very old pub.