Sunday, 10 June 2012 - Scottish Graveyards in the rain

It was time to leave Pickering, and the sun came out.  We knew it wouldn't last and so left anyway.  We were off to our next 'cottage ' in Stirling (that's in Scotland for you Sassenachs).  Went out and took a few pictures of Pickering in the sun and marvelled at the new goods being stacked in the Baker's shops.  We then packed up the car, fired up TomTom and set off.

Pickering in the sun!

I had expected that our route would take us to a Motorway and on off to Scotland, but no.  We drove over the moors, dodging wandering sheep, went through some interesting villages and made our way northwards.  Surprisingly (to me) we ended up on the outskirts of Newcastle.  We drove past the 'Angel of the North' which I had always wanted to see.  Then headed off towards the border with Scotland at Coldstream.  We stopped for lunch at a place along the way - there weren't many.  This one was fine, although the service was a little slow.  No idea now where it was now, despite searching Google Maps along the road we took.

On through Coldstream and on towards Loanhead (near Edinburgh).  The reason for the Loanhead destination was the Old Pentland Kirkyard just out of Loanhead where some of my ancestors were buried in the Gibsone Mausoleum.  We had a bit of trouble finding this as we had no address for TomTom, and had to navigate from my memory of a map.  We almost gave up, but came (for the second time) to an intersection where we turned in the opposite direction and found ourselves on the right road.  Of course by now it was raining, so we slowly drove along the road and found the place.  Spent a while reflecting on my heritage, and getting wet, then climbed back in the car and headed for Stirling.

The Gibsone Mausoleum, Old Pentland Kirkyard

Got to Stirling and found the place OK.  It was a fairly new house in a block of four, spacious and beautifully fitted out.  Luxury, especially after the confines of the quaint, tiny place in Pickering.

Tricia's diary said:

Left Pickering to come to Scotland.  Arrived late afternoon.  Lovely house, very posh.