Clan Douglas is the oldest
and most famous of the Scottish Border Clans. Much of their homeland was
in the area to the south of Edinburgh and as such witnessed many battles
and skirmishes as the English and Scottish fought for the border lands.
This itinerary takes you into the story of the Red and Black Douglases
and offers you a chance to see the rolling hills, forests and countryside
of the Borders, the rugged cliff tops and beautiful beaches of
Berwickshire and the distant Scottish mountains.
Days 1 - 3
Day 4
Travel west following the River Tweed to Melrose.
The town is overlooked by the beautiful and imposing
Melrose Abbey. "The Good Sir
James" founder of the Black Douglases was killed in battle in
Spain, where he was carrying a casket containing King Robert the
Bruce's heart, to be buried in the Holy Land. Both the body of
James and Robert the Bruce's heart were recovered and it is here
in Melrose Abbey that the heart is interred. Travel onwards to
Lanark on your way west to the heart of the Douglas homelands.
Lanark was the place where William Wallace began his fight for
Scottish independence in 1297, this story was dramatised in the
film "Braveheart". The Good Sir James was the greatest captain
under Robert the Bruce and is held as the third of Scotland's
finest patriots after Bruce and Wallace . Lanark Castle was a
timber construction and so of course no longer exists but Lanark
itself grew as an important livestock market. Cattle bred in
Scotland would have been taken by drovers to the English markets
via Lanark. New Lanark was built in a narrow gorge on the River
Clyde to harness the hydro power to run cotton mills in 1785. With
the demise of many British manufacturing industries in the 1960's
New Lanark suffered greatly but is now a World Heritage Village
and attracts visitors interested in the industrial and social
history of the last two hundred years. A few miles to the south of
Lanark is an area encompassing Douglas Water,
Douglas Castle, Douglas
West and the town of Douglas, which grew to serve Black Douglas in
his castle on Douglas Water. From here he controlled the southwest
approaches to the Clyde Valley. The castle was established by 1300
but was occupied by the English during the Wars of Independence.
In 1307 Sir James Douglas burned the castle while the English
garrison were there. Following this the castle was rebuilt but was
sacked by King James II in 1455 to suppress the Black Douglases.
The Red Douglas Earls of Angus lived here in princely style in the
1630s. Unfortunately mining subsidence in the 1940s undermined the
castle and all that remains is a ruined stump, (signposted as
"Castle Dangerous" from a Sir Walter Scott novel). Also in Douglas
is St Brides Church, parts of which date back to the 1300's. This
is the final resting place for the Black Douglases in a mausoleum
and three canopied monuments including one to Good Sir James can
be seen. The
Douglas Heritage Museum in the castle dower house and exhibits
include six stained glass windows showing the coats of arms of the
Douglas Earls, (opening times are restricted).
Day 5
Travel down the A74M to Lockerbie and turn off to
the west to find
Castle Douglas . The town was planned and built by Sir William
Douglas in 1789 as a cotton town and it prospered as an important
regional centre for the large area of rural Galloway. Today it is
marketed as a "Food Town" offering the best of Scottish food. To
the west of the town is
Threave Castle, built on an island in the River Dee and
accessible by way of a footpath then a ferry. It was built by
Archibald the third Earl of Douglas who succeeded to the Lordship
of Galloway, to secure his hold on Galloway and to resist the
marauding English. Now we need to travel north to
Stirling, bypassing
Glasgow to find out about the stories of
Robert the Bruce, William Wallace and the important part
played by the Douglases in the Wars of Independence.
Day 6
Travel a mile or so southwest of the historic city of
Stirling to visit the very poignant site of the
Battle of Bannockburn (1314) Sir James Douglas commanded the
left wing of the Scottish army at the battle. Time should also be
made for a visit to the impressive
Stirling Castle, a favoured royal retreat for the
Stuart dynasty and the childhood home of
Mary, Queen of Scots. It was also the setting for another
young Douglas murder. Following the murders at
Edinburgh Castle in 1440, King James II who being only ten
years old himself at the time, was horrified at the murder of the
two boys. In 1452 however, it was he who invited their cousin the
eighth Earl to
Stirling Castle with the promise of safe conduct. And it was
he who struck the first blow at his murder. (The ninth Earl spent
much of his life in England but died in 1491, the last of his
line.)
Day 7
Return to
Edinburgh to embark on your journey home. Take with you some
souvenirs of Scotland and lots of memories of a place steeped in
the myths, legends and heritage of your ancestors.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To search over 8,000 quality assured accommodation, from bed and
breakfast to castles log on to
www.visitscotland.com.
The information contained in
this itinerary is as supplied to VisitScotland and to the best of
VisitScotland's knowledge was correct at the time of publication.
VisitScotland can accept no responsibility for any errors or
omissions.
VisitScotland is committed to ensuring that our
natural environment and built heritage, upon which tourism is so
dependent, is safeguarded for future generations to enjoy.
Day 5
Travel down the A74M to Lockerbie and turn off to the west
to find
Castle Douglas . The town was planned and built by Sir William Douglas
in 1789 as a cotton town and it prospered as an important regional centre
for the large area of rural Galloway. Today it is marketed as a "Food
Town" offering the best of Scottish food. To the west of the town is
Threave Castle,
built on an island in the River Dee and accessible by way of a footpath
then a ferry. It was built by Archibald the third Earl of Douglas who
succeeded to the Lordship of Galloway, to secure his hold on Galloway and
to resist the marauding English. Now we need to travel north to Stirling,
bypassing Glasgow to find out about the stories of Robert the Bruce,
William Wallace and the important part played by the Douglases in the Wars
of Independence.
Day 6
Travel a mile or so southwest of the historic city
of
Stirling to visit the very poignant site of the
Battle of Bannockburn (1314) Sir James Douglas commanded the
left wing of the Scottish army at the battle. Time should also be
made for a visit to the impressive
Stirling Castle, a favoured royal retreat for the
Stuart dynasty and the childhood home of
Mary, Queen of Scots. It was also the setting for another
young Douglas murder. Following the murders at
Edinburgh Castle in 1440, King James II who being only ten
years old himself at the time, was horrified at the murder of the
two boys. In 1452 however, it was he who invited their cousin the
eighth Earl to
Stirling Castle with the promise of safe conduct. And it was
he who struck the first blow at his murder. (The ninth Earl spent
much of his life in England but died in 1491, the last of his
line.)
Day 7
Return to
Edinburgh to embark on your journey home. Take with you some
souvenirs of Scotland and lots of memories of a place steeped in
the myths, legends and heritage of your ancestors.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To search over 8,000 quality assured accommodation, from bed and
breakfast to castles log on to
www.visitscotland.com.
The information contained in
this itinerary is as supplied to VisitScotland and to the best of
VisitScotland's knowledge was correct at the time of publication.
VisitScotland can accept no responsibility for any errors or
omissions.
VisitScotland is committed to ensuring that our
natural environment and built heritage, upon which tourism is so
dependent, is safeguarded for future generations to enjoy.
Day 6
Travel a mile or so southwest of the historic
city of
Stirling to visit the very poignant site of the
Battle of Bannockburn (1314) Sir James Douglas commanded
the left wing of the Scottish army at the battle. Time should
also be made for a visit to the impressive
Stirling Castle, a favoured royal retreat for the
Stuart dynasty and the childhood home of
Mary, Queen of Scots. It was also the setting for another
young Douglas murder. Following the murders at
Edinburgh Castle in 1440, King James II who being only ten
years old himself at the time, was horrified at the murder of
the two boys. In 1452 however, it was he who invited their
cousin the eighth Earl to
Stirling Castle with the promise of safe conduct. And it
was he who struck the first blow at his murder. (The ninth
Earl spent much of his life in England but died in 1491, the
last of his line.)
Day 7
Return to
Edinburgh to embark on your journey home. Take with you
some souvenirs of Scotland and lots of memories of a place
steeped in the myths, legends and heritage of your ancestors.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To search over 8,000 quality assured accommodation, from bed
and breakfast to castles log on to
www.visitscotland.com.
The information contained in
this itinerary is as supplied to VisitScotland and to the best
of VisitScotland's knowledge was correct at the time of
publication. VisitScotland can accept no responsibility for
any errors or omissions.
VisitScotland is committed to
ensuring that our natural environment and built heritage, upon
which tourism is so dependent, is safeguarded for future
generations to enjoy.
Day 6
Travel a mile or so southwest of the historic city
of
Stirling to visit the very poignant site of the
Battle of Bannockburn (1314) Sir James Douglas commanded the
left wing of the Scottish army at the battle. Time should also be
made for a visit to the impressive
Stirling Castle, a favoured royal retreat for the
Stuart dynasty and the childhood home of
Mary, Queen of Scots. It was also the setting for another
young Douglas murder. Following the murders at
Edinburgh Castle in 1440, King James II who being only ten
years old himself at the time, was horrified at the murder of the
two boys. In 1452 however, it was he who invited their cousin the
eighth Earl to
Stirling Castle with the promise of safe conduct. And it was
he who struck the first blow at his murder. (The ninth Earl spent
much of his life in England but died in 1491, the last of his
line.)
Day 7
Return to
Edinburgh to embark on your journey home. Take with you some
souvenirs of Scotland and lots of memories of a place steeped in
the myths, legends and heritage of your ancestors.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To search over 8,000 quality assured accommodation, from bed and
breakfast to castles log on to
www.visitscotland.com.
The information contained in
this itinerary is as supplied to VisitScotland and to the best of
VisitScotland's knowledge was correct at the time of publication.
VisitScotland can accept no responsibility for any errors or
omissions.
VisitScotland is committed to ensuring that our
natural environment and built heritage, upon which tourism is so
dependent, is safeguarded for future generations to enjoy.
Day 6
Travel a mile or so southwest of the historic city
of
Stirling to visit the very poignant site of the
Battle of Bannockburn (1314) Sir James Douglas commanded the
left wing of the Scottish army at the battle. Time should also be
made for a visit to the impressive
Stirling Castle, a favoured royal retreat for the
Stuart dynasty and the childhood home of
Mary, Queen of Scots. It was also the setting for another
young Douglas murder. Following the murders at
Edinburgh Castle in 1440, King James II who being only ten
years old himself at the time, was horrified at the murder of the
two boys. In 1452 however, it was he who invited their cousin the
eighth Earl to
Stirling Castle with the promise of safe conduct. And it was
he who struck the first blow at his murder. (The ninth Earl spent
much of his life in England but died in 1491, the last of his
line.)
Day 6
Travel a mile or so southwest of the historic city
of
Stirling to visit the very poignant site of the
Battle of Bannockburn (1314) Sir James Douglas commanded the
left wing of the Scottish army at the battle. Time should also be
made for a visit to the impressive
Stirling Castle, a favoured royal retreat for the
Stuart dynasty and the childhood home of
Mary, Queen of Scots. It was also the setting for another
young Douglas murder. Following the murders at
Edinburgh Castle in 1440, King James II who being only ten
years old himself at the time, was horrified at the murder of the
two boys. In 1452 however, it was he who invited their cousin the
eighth Earl to
Stirling Castle with the promise of safe conduct. And it was
he who struck the first blow at his murder. (The ninth Earl spent
much of his life in England but died in 1491, the last of his
line.)
Day 7
Return to
Edinburgh to embark on your journey home. Take with you some
souvenirs of Scotland and lots of memories of a place steeped in
the myths, legends and heritage of your ancestors.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To search over 8,000 quality assured accommodation, from bed and
breakfast to castles log on to
www.visitscotland.com.
The information contained in
this itinerary is as supplied to VisitScotland and to the best of
VisitScotland's knowledge was correct at the time of publication.
VisitScotland can accept no responsibility for any errors or
omissions.
VisitScotland is committed to ensuring that our
natural environment and built heritage, upon which tourism is so
dependent, is safeguarded for future generations to enjoy.
Day 6
Travel a mile
or so southwest of the historic city of Stirling to visit the very
poignant site of the Battle
of Bannockburn (1314) Sir James Douglas commanded the left wing of the
Scottish army at the battle. Time should also be made for a visit to the
impressive Stirling Castle, a
favoured royal retreat for the Stuart dynasty and the childhood home of
Mary, Queen of Scots. It was also the setting for another young Douglas
murder. Following the murders at
Edinburgh Castle in 1440, King James II who being only ten years old
himself at the time, was horrified at the murder of the two boys. In 1452
however, it was he who invited their cousin the
eighth Earl to
Stirling Castle with the
promise of safe conduct. And it was he who struck the first blow at his
murder. (The ninth Earl spent
much of his life exiled in England but died in 1491, the last of his
line.)
Day 7
Return to
Edinburgh to embark on your journey home. Take with you some souvenirs of
Scotland and lots of memories of a place steeped in the myths, legends and
heritage of your ancestors.
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