Swamp Castle Window

The old glass panes give a strange effect of the battlements looking out from the window of ‘Swamp Castle.’ I think the leading is relatively modern but the glass was possibly the original on this late 14th century castle when only the very rich would have glass windows. Below in the castle courtyard today were medieval wooden shelters and huts typical of the medieval period with straw covering the cobbles and it was not difficult to imagine being back 700 years.

However through modern technology I listened on headphones to the sound of Terry Jones describing the castle and recounting words and scenes from Monty Python and the Holy Grail as I toured Swamp Castle. It was filmed in 1974 almost entirely at Doune Castle near Stirling with the castle also being used for Camelot, the Castle of Guy de Lombard and Castle Anthrax and so is a popular visit for Monty Python fans. During the last month it has also been used for filming Outlander based on the bestselling novels by Diana Gabaldon which tell the story of time-travelling couple Claire and James Fraser.

Doune Castle is one of the best-preserved medieval castles in Scotland, and was built in the late 14th century for Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany, who ruled over all of Scotland while King James I was held captive in England. After Robert’s death the castle, and the regency of Scotland, passed to his son Duke Murdoch but when the king returned from exile in 1424 he arrested and executed Murdoch and his sons because he believed the duke and his father had done little to secure his release. Consequently Doune Castle was confiscated and used as a royal hunting lodge.

We had intended a quick visit to Doune Castle and were amazed to discover how long we had been there before we went to the magnificent Stirling Castle which was considered the finest palace in Europe in the mid 16th century. The Palace which has recently been decorated as it would have been then. is well worth seeing. It has been a day of many potential blips but I liked the simplicity of the old window glass at Doune Castle. However the enjoyable visit was marred as we watched the flags at the Stirling Castle being lowered to half mast in tribute to those injured and killed in the helicopter crash in Glasgow and thought of the grief of their family and friends.