Stones Road - Short trip and holiday experiences shared with photo's and genuine thoughts.

Bamburgh Castle  - The Last Kingdom (Bebbanburg) Third stop on our Scottish Castle Tour (by car)  If you have a passion or just a general interest in castles then Bamburgh is a must, its stunning location, history, and size makes it very appealing. Bamburgh became a royal fortress in 1095 when it was captured from the Earl of Northumberland. The keep is known to have existed by 1164.  It was besieged unsuccessfully by the Scots in 1138,1328 and 1333. It was taken by Yorkists in 1462 (twice) and by French and Scots on behalf of the Lancastrians in 1463. With its close proximity to Scotland, Bamburgh became an important Border garrison, serving as a stronghold and base for warring forays into Scotland . It became the Crown's strategic English outpost and a mighty Keep is erected. This remains the heart of the Castle today. Increased interest and awareness are due to its part ( partly factual) in the very enjoyable Netflix series The Last Kingom, there are now two exhib...

Dunnottar Castle Second stop on our Scottish 4 day Castle Tour (by car) I f you have a passion or just a general interest in castles then Dunnottar is a must, its stunning location and magical aura make it quite unique. The walk from Stonehaven (more on that later) allows you time to take in the Coast line and truly appreciate the location and scenery. It also fed the anticipation and excitement of seeing Dunnottar as we emerged over the hill. Perched atop a 160 foot crag and surrounded on three sides by the North Sea, these dramatic and evocative cliff-top ruins were once an impregnable fortress of the Earls Marischal, once one of the most powerful families in Scotland. S teeped in history, this romantic and haunting ruin is a photographer’s paradise, a history lover’s dream and an iconic tourist destination for visitors the world over. Over the turbulent centuries, it has been burned, rebuilt, and burned again. It has been besieged, visited by saints and queens, and been the setting ...