Callander, Doune Castle and Allanwater Brewhouse

Today was out second day visiting Kirsty and David in Scotland and they took us out to visit Callander and Doune Castle.

Then, later in the afternoon we visited the local brewery - the Allanwater Brewhouse.

Here are a few of my photos from today.

Callander is on the River Teith. It was a bit drizzly when we arrived and we had a few light showers now and then, so we couldn't see Ben Ledi looking west.

Callander is often described as the gateway to the Highlands. It lies immediately south of the Highland Boundary Fault which is historically a meeting point between the Highlands and the Lowlands.

Just next to the car park is the old walled churchyard. This graveyard is a very peaceful one, snuggling between the river and the old town of Callander, the Parish church is long gone. But there is a small building in the old graveyard wall, that tells a gruesome story. In the 1820s  grave-robbing was rife.  Graverobbers dug up fresh corpses to sell them to universities and surgeons, providing “material” for anatomy lessons and research. Watchtowers were built all over the country, including here at Callander.  Guards were on duty at night in the years between 1820 and 1830. The tower supplied shelter and warmth for the watchmen.

Read all about it here.

The River Teith looks very peaceful here but it is one of the fastest flowing rivers in the country.

We did a little walk about the town.

We spotted this East German Travant car parked in the main road and bumped into the owner. He had restored it and had driven it all the way from Germany.

The old Dreadnought Hotel dates back to the 17th century.

While Kirsty and Dawn did some shopping, David and I took a short walk along the river....

...to the start of the River Teith - where the tributaries Garbh Uisge (River Leny) and Eas Gobhain meet.

Then it was on to Doune Castle. It is remarkably well preserved and is a popular filming location. It has featured in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Game of Thrones and Outlander. 

We followed the audio guide narrated by Terry Jones with additional clips from the soundtrack of Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

The way the castle looks today is largely down to ‘Scotland’s uncrowned king’. Doune was the seat of Robert Stewart, the 1st Duke of Albany and Governor of Scotland. He acquired the castle in 1361, when he married Margaret Graham, Countess of Menteith. Read more about it here.

There were plenty of swallows flitting about. Some of them perched on the battlements every now and then. Can you spot this one?

Some of the rooms were restored  by the 14th Earl of Moray in the 1880s.

The gift shop included some Monty Python memorabilia including these coconuts.

As we left, Dawn asked the guides about the portcullis.

After lunch and a bit of a break we headed to the  the Allanwater Brewhouse. for a drink or two before dinner.

The interior of the bar is crammed with memorabilia and bottles.

We were well looked after by Emma (seen behind the bar above). The Pot Black Stout wasn't on tap, but I had a bottle of it.

Other beers that were available included the curious Scottish Thistle 900 beer, brewed with a selection of roasted malted barley, Thistle Roots & Heather tips. It is a medieval recipe brewed to celebrate the “STIRLING 900” - the 900th anniversary of the founding of the Royal Burgh in 1124 by King David.. David had a pint of that. Very interesting.

A great day out and good to visit Kirsty and David's local and taste their beers and gin. Thank-you Kirsty and David.

You can find more of my photos from today here on Flickr