UK Trip - Day 4

Today was the chaos day. We were supposed to pick up our car at 10 and head over to Oban today which was only 1.5 hours drive with a few stops to check out the Linlithgow Palace (birth place of Queen Mary of Scots) and Blackness Castle on the way. Everything is paid for and done.

Easy peasy, lemon squeezy, right? 

Wrong!!!

We were dropped off at the station at 10 o'clock sharp. But then we found out that while the car parking is on one corner, the booking office is all the way in platform 2. So I opted to wait with our luggage and sent Greg to pick up the keys thinking that it will take him 10 mins max. 

One hour later he returns with the news that the insurance we bought along with the car we booked through Expedia won't be accepted here. So we had to buy insurance from them which cost us $500 (initial insurance was $160). 

Then we spent another hour calling up Expedia while they were calling Europcar to get one insurance refunded while having the first awful meal in Scotland. Nope, it was not any European restaurant. It was frigging Burger King. Looks like Burger King sucks everywhere. 

However, did I mention that we didn't get the car (Skoda Octavia) that was promised and got "equivalent" Honda i30 which in no North American definition can be called a "midsize" car (more of a bigger sedan if you ask me)...

Finally we got into the car and got on our way around 12 o'clock thinking this is it. We are on our way, everything will be fine.

Hell no. We reached Linlithgow Palace and found out that it's closed thanks to a shooting on the way. Aaaarrrgghhh...

But the shooting crew recommended Doune Castle instead which was a slight detour. They raved about the beauty of the castle so we thought might as well take a look at it.

So we walked by the water where we were allowed and then walked back to the main town centre where they had a vintage car festival going on. If we had time, we would have handged around there. But since we had the Doune Castle penciled in, we thought we will head out of town instead.

We reached Blackness Castle around 2:30 and as per our calculations, we had one hour to spend here. We'd rather spend more time at Doune. 

Blackness Castle is built in the shape of a ship or so that say. I didn't see it. But if they say it, it must be true. After all, Outlander was filmed there.

I didn't waste my time there and instead browsed internet. 

Then we headed to the Doune Castle. When we reached the town Doune, I knew that this won't disappoint. Situated in rolling highlands, Doune Castle is built by the "uncrowned King" of Scotland - the Duke of Albany, Governor of Scotland.

The castle had the look of a home of a very wealthy lord of the realm. The Great Hall - impressive, Dining Hall - spacious, Kitchen - efficient, Duchess's Hall - majestic (also included a private washroom). 

After the castle trip, it was time to grab dinner. The Castle Guard recommended Woodland Restaurant. Apparently they make Sunday Roast and today is Sunday. Woo hoo!!!

We found the restaurant, I looked at the menu and danced a jig right there in front of the restaurant and danced my way inside. My husband, by now used to me, just shook his head and followed me in.

We ordered a soup and the roast while eyeing the dessert menu. But after eating dinner, none of us had any space to stuff dessert. So we made our way to Oban.

Oban is in the Highlands which means every other corner of the road is one gorgeous view after another with stunning lakes, majestic mountains and rolling hills. Needless to say, the 1.5 hour journey took us almost double the time. 

Tomorrow we will explore Oban...