Drumlanrig

Set off early today for a few days in S W Scotland. We stopped over here last year when heading to the highlands but we wanted to spend a bit more time in a few places.

We stopped at Tebay for a coffee and a breakfast bap and then arrived at Drumlanrig Castle by lunchtime. We tried to visit here a few years ago when staying down the road at Friars Carse. We sat in the car, I believe it was wet and there just didn’t seem to be anyone around. Today I had pre booked but despite lots of cars we thought we were going to have the same problem. The door indicating reception and tea room was locked and a lady opened it saying it was closed today! Turned out it was just the house that was closed, the gardens and another tea room was just down the hill but there were no signs to say that in the car park!
No matter, the gardens were lovely and we spent a good couple of hours in the sunshine enjoying them, including watching a young man using a remote mower to cut the grass on the sloping areas - extra. The Azaleas and Rhododendrons were just in flower and there were Iris and some lovely dark red Candelabra Primulas. The man formal bed was created out of different coloured foliage plants in the style of the famous bed in the botanical gardens in Madeira.

I love these blue meconopsis poppies set against the wall below the house, I just had to use them for my blip, we see them so rarely, though I know there are some at Harlow Carr,  we failed to grow them ourselves.

We are now in Mauchline which seems to be a centre for Burns related sights. There are blue plaques everywhere.   Apparently his wife, Jean Armour was born here. We’ve seen his house museum and a memorial tower; the house where he started his address to the Haggis and our hotel was an Inn where he came for a reading club and is now the headquarters of the Mauchline Burns Club, even the rooms are named after Burns related people, ours is Tam O shanter!

I’m afraid I only know his very well known songs but have learned a bit more on this visit. When we stayed at Friars Carse, just north of Dumfries, there was a place in the grounds where he came to write and there are sign posts for Burns trails everywhere. I think he got about a bit!

Lovely day today hope it lasts.