Loch view

Today G and I headed along the road to Kinross, to visit Loch Leven Castle and the nature reserve.  As you probably know, Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned in this castle on an island in the middle of Loch Leven for a year, before being turned over to the English and executed on trumped up charges of treason  and sedition.  

Looking at the lovely view from the island and the pleasant landscape all around the castle, I thought at first that it might not be too bad a place to be held captive.  However, further reading told that the loch has dropped in the intervening years, so while she was there the water level was so much higher that there was no green space around the buildings for her to walk in.  Also, she was mainly kept incarcerated on the top two floors of the still standing tower.  The Great Hall and the other habited parts of the castle where her gaolers lived have mainly disappeared, leaving only their outlines.

The boat journey took us just 10 minutes each way; I wonder how much longer it would have taken in those days, in some kind of vessel which would have rowed across.  I doubt she admired the view as much as we did, who were free to cross again in 45 minutes.    

We stayed until the last crossing though, and were rewarded by the sun coming out, and having the whole island to ourselves for 45 minutes.  A lovely day out. 

Off to my Mum's now to plan our journey up north on Wednesday.