Castle Leoch

AKA Doune Castle, nr Stirling.

A good evening last night with lovely food but maybe I ate too much as I didn’t sleep too well. Always amazed that you can eat so much and then get up for a cooked breakfast!

Headed out of the lovely Eden Valley and on to the M6 to cross the border into Scotland and the M74, stopping just once at services for coffee nr Moffat with a lovely view over a lake.

I’d made a booking for around lunchtime at Doune Castle - Historic Scotland to break our journey further north.
I knew of Doune Castle as it was used as Castle Leoch in Outlander. We had an audio tour included in our reduced admission ( we are members of English Heritage which reciprocate with Historic Scotland). Lots of foreign voices amongst the visitors,  I’m sure the connection with Outlander will have helped it’s popularity.  
The audio gave you historical details in each room but there was also commentary for those interested in how the castle was adapted for filming. Chris knows nothing about Outlander but the commentary was witty and included extras from Monty Python as Doune Castle was ‘Swamp Castle’ in Monty Python and the Holy Grail hence the commentary was done by Terry Jones so all were happy - Sam Heughan did the commentary for Outlander. I listened to all three!

Thoroughly enjoyed the visit and then we went into the village to find a cafe for tea and cake, yes more eating, it was packed so the castle visitors are doing well for the village too.

We headed north then and drove via Crieff and Loch Earn to Killin where we are staying two nights. We decided we’d spend a bit of time in an area of Scotland we often bypass on the A9.
We are staying in the Falls of Dochart Inn overlooking the falls - extra.

A lovely sunny evening so we’ve had a wander around visiting a mill across the river with lots of arts and crafts on display. We left the Heritage exhibition for tomorrow assuring the lady we would return. 
Just enjoyed a drink sitting outside before coming in to do this blip and getting ready for dinner. Must try not to eat too much!