Linlithgow Castle

(Ned) New Years Eve Day we visited Linlighgow Castle, about 20 minutes from where we live and the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots born in 1542. In the evening we had a "lovely dinner" with a couple from the Edinburgh Ward that had invited us over. We had a fun video chat via our computer with some of our children/grandchildren who had gathered at Andrea's for New Year's and then rang in the New Year at our flat with traditional shrimp, homemade cocktail sauce (worked out well missing some ingredients), and other goodies.

The first thing you encounter entering Linlithgow Castle is St. Michael's Church, which was started under King David's protection in the mid 1100s. Nothing remains of David's church or castle. This edifice was likely built in the 1400s. It was closed while we were there, but we will likely get more info about it on another visit. Loch Linlithgow around the castle is so beautiful and this village is so close to us that we will definitely return many times.

This is a view of the "old" entrance. It had a draw bridge and the Castle's protective structure in front of the bridge only has foundations remaining, some in front are in view. A fire devastated the old castle in 1424 and rebuilding of what is seen today started immediately. Remodeling continued, with additions, for 200 years. A second fire in 1746 completely burned all the wood structures within the castle and left it standing as it is today.

Two of the caretaker's children were on their "sledge," sliding down the ice, which started out as snow some days ago. The run drops off a steep ledge and gave them quite a ride.

Inside the Castle is an open court with the oldest fountain in the UK in the center. It still works and it runs about nine days a year now, on Sundays in the summer. The Castle is built around the court. In each corner are stone stairways that took one up to the various rooms in the Castle - note the ascending windows, which are in the stairway.

Linda ascending the stairs. I think she counted 137 of them, but there were more. (See the next blog for "the rest of the story.")