And because the two bumps were now babes, the newer babe could still be wrapped, and it was at least 5 degrees warmer than two years ago, we managed to extend our walk across, along and even up a tributary of the River Tay:
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| Looking up river |
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| Looking downriver - which was about as much of the hills as we saw all week! |
Dunkeld has been a religious centre for more than 1,000 years. In 849, the arrival of St Columba's relics made Dunkeld an important destination for pilgrims. Work on the cathedral itself began in the 1200s and flourished until the Protestant Reformation of 1560 when the nave roof was destroyed. Today, the medieval choir serves as Dunkeld's parish church.
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| Choir: the earliest and holiest part of the cathedral, where clergy conducted services. It was restored in 1814. |
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| Nave: The congregation stood here during services. Bishop Cardeny laid the foundation stone in 1406 though it wasn't declared sacred until 1464. |
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| Bell Tower: Bishop Lauder began building this in the late 1400s. Today you can enjoy the stone display and surviving wall paintings. |
We even made it as far as the famous Hermitage (albeit only on the final day!):
The Hermitage pleasure grounds is one of the oldest tourist attractions in Scotland. For over 200 years it has been a stopping point on the grand Scottish Tour, including for Wordsworth, Turner, Mendelssohn and others.
It was originally an extension to the landscaped pleasure grounds of Dunkeld House, designed to contrast the wild gorge of the River Braan with the gentle banks of the River Tay. Right from the start, in 1757, successive Dukes of Atholl planted trees to enhance the landscape.
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| Rumbling Bridge and Black Linn Pool |
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| View from Ossian's Hall: This 18th Century hall once sat in the centre of a wild garden and deliberately sited to give a dramatic view of the waterfall below. |
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| Ossian's Cave |
And that was about enough walking! The rest of the time we ate, talked, ate, talked, cuddled cute babies, gurgled to cute babies, were sicked upon by cute babies, took family photos and generally competed for the coveted Most Favourite Cousin and Most Favourite Aunt prize. Clearly I and mine won by a mile, ha!
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| Boxing Day Lunch for 23! |
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| Favourite Aunties!!! |
Oh, but the highlight on Christmas Eve, other than the opening of oodles of presents of course, was Tiger and Lightning having the opportunity to play on the church's organ after the Christmas Eve Service. The kind organ player was thrilled to have interested children and adults hanging off his every word, and note, and welcomed the kids back any time.
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