It's been a few days since we last checked in and we've been very busy again. We're staying with Geoff and Marjorie Martin in a beautiful village called Newport-on-Tay on the Tay River opposite Dundee. The train from York was great fun again getting to see a glimpse of places we couldn't fit in such as Newcastle and Durham. It was sunny and very picturesque.

Today Geoff took us to Stirling to see the Wallace Monument and Stirling Castle. On the way we saw the farm where they were setting up for "T In The Park", like Falls Festival but with even bigger names like Beyonce and Coldplay. I guess it's like Glastonbury but slightly smaller and its even being broadcast on TV from when it starts on Friday. The Wallace Monument was very striking and you can see it from miles and miles away as it is a tower situated on top of a huge hill just outside Stirling. The hill is is where Wallace and his men waited to ambush the English at Stirling Bridge so it's very appropriate considering Edinburgh and Glasgow were desperately fighting for the monument. It was also interesting and tiring. I was finally able to learn about and understand the story of William Wallace or "Braveheart" as he is also known. He was a great warrior and his sword was just enormous, 66 inches tall, and they say he'd have to be 6 foot 6 to wield it! It was a hard walk up the hill and then up the monument but well worth the effort!

Next was Stirling Castle. Built by Henry IV, Mary Queen of Scots grandfather, it's recently been refurbished and all the better for it. Indeed a day after we visited, the Queen herself visited to see the newly restored old Royal Apartments of the castle. The King's waiting chamber has is beautiful, the ceiling covered in beautiful wooden carvings, replicas of the original carvings (which are now in a display room). They are stunning work, depicting the King (James V), his wife, King Henry VIII and ancient figures. James VI (James I of Britain when they united Scotland and England) and his first son Henry were baptized there in huge 3 day celebrations by Mary Queen of Scots (for James) and James himself for his son. In fact Mary borrowed £12,000 for the festivities, over £3 million in today's money! We even saw weavers doing the finishing touches on a tapestry to hang in the apartments, a copy of an original which is now in the US.

We then drove through Perthshire, past the beautiful Loch Earn and towns such as Doune, Callander and Crieff.

It was a great day, Tom's favourite so far.