This would be the last day of our tour. I always have mixed feelings when my trip ends. I feel bereft and need to plan my next adventure. Fortunately, I had two more travels planned within the next few weeks. This allowed me to live in the moment and enjoy my final day in Glasgow.
Glasgow
Glasgow has a different vibe than Edinburgh. Where Edinburgh has that old city feel throughout, Glasgow has both Victorian and art nouveau architecture. It’s more spread out than Edinburgh. The city seems to attract younger people due to the arts, culture, food, and vibrant nightlife. After walking around the town, we were headed toward an ambitious itinerary.
Stirling Castle
The area where Stirling is located is Castle Hill. It is believed that there were inhabitants back to 655 AD. Most of the architecture today was designed during the Renaissance, with several structures existing from medieval times. There have been major restorations to duplicate the castle back to its original grandeur.
Stirling was built in a craig and tail formation, which made for natural fortification. Inside the Royal Palace are the King and Queen Suites. The Queen’s bedchamber is well decorated with hung tapestries. The King’s Inner Hall is decorated with replicas of Stirling Heads. The Great Hall was used for feasts and celebrations. There is also the Chapel Royal, which was reserved for royal services.
Throughout its history, there were at least eight sieges noted. The last was a failed attempt in 1746 by Bonnie Prince Charles. There has been a long history here and still is a symbol of Scottish independence.
https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/stirling/stirlingcastle/index.html
Clydesdale Distillery
When you’re in Scotland it’s safe to say you assume whatever you’re exploring has a long history. That is not the case here. Clydesdale opened its doors October 15, 2021. However, the building is historical. It was a Pumphouse that pumped hydraulic power to work the swing bridge.
The crafting of the single malt liquor is made by hand. Old and new techniques were combined to create what the family describes as an exquisite single malt. Another connection to the past is the soft water used in the whisky. It comes from Loch Katrine, which was raised by great–grandfather John. The tour was fun, and the tasting was a treat.
Craufurdland Castle
You may be thinking of two castles in one day; that seems like a lot. This is a special experience that is quite rare. Simon Houison Crauford, wife Adity Priyadarshini and daughters Indra and Manisha all live and work at the castle. Simon is the current laird who runs the estate. His brother Alex is residing too.
The estate is over 600 years old. As one can imagine, the buildings require restoration. Simon and Adity have backgrounds in engineering and architecture. As a historical structure, any changes made require critical oversight and hefty expense. What we saw was not as extravagant as the other castles we’ve seen. However, this is a home, not designed for tourists’ eyes.
Simon and Adity are motivated to continue the costly restoration. To pay for the materials and labor, they offer activities on their massive land. A sampling tree top trails, archery, crate stacking, mud runs, corporate, and wedding events. You can stay at the castle as well.
The Laird’s Table is a restaurant on the grounds. We had our farewell dinner there and enjoyed speaking with Simon during our meal. There are also beautiful waterside views. The food was a finalist for Best Eating Experience at the Scottish Thistle Awards 2025. It is quite impressive how hard the family works to realize a dream. The location is only a 25–minute drive from Glasgow, so if you want to stay at a castle, Carfurdland is a good choice.
Conclusion
This was our last touring day, tomorrow we will fly home. I wanted to address why I chose to take a tour of Scotland? Although I travel independently, touring where one drives on the other side of the road was a contributing factor. Neither my husband nor I desired to do that. I liked Trafalgar’s itinerary and pricing. Our group was very nice and viewing the Scottish countryside while on the bus was meditative. Although we were with a group, once we got to a we could explore on our own. Our tour guide Kate was informative and Keith our driver is wonderful.. I truly loved Scotland and hope that my writings have motivated my readers to visit too.
