Can see the sun shining over the pines on the mountains there is a slight breeze the air is crisp looks to be a lovely day to rest in Killin. Thoroughly enjoyed our roast beef and Yorkshire pudding dinner last night at the old Bridge of Lochay Hotel. Beautiful old pub with wooden beams low ceiling and fireplace.

Today we are off on our bikes to explore Killin, met a lovely Scotsman pitched next to us gave Richard all his Caravan and Motorhome magazines to read and signs to see round Killin. It was great cycling on such a sunny day across the bridge over the River Lochay by the local homes and fields to explore the ruins of Finlarig Castle.

Finlarig Castle looks more like a manor than a castle which has now decayed over many years and has almost completely collapsed. It was an early 17th-century castle standing on a mound on a peninsula between the River Lochay and Loch Tay built in 1629 by 'Black' Duncan Campbell (Donnchadh Dubh) of Glenorchy, the castle was an L-plan tower-house, formerly protected by an outer enclosure or barmekin, which is now in a dangerously ruinous condition. It was one of many strongholds built in Argyll and Perthshire by the Campbell’s of Breadalbane and the castle was visited by Rob Roy MacGregor in 1713.

Near the castle’s north wall is a stone-lined pit, which legend has it (the locals say) was used for beheading prisoners of noble blood and Commoners were hanged on a nearby oak tree. Near the Castle are the remnants of the Breadalbane Mausoleum, a mock-Tudor chapel erected in 1829 on the site of an earlier chapel and burial place founded in 1523 by an ancestor of the Earls of Breadalbane Sir Colin Campbell. Quite a vicious mob these Scots were.

Took the wrong road cycling round Loch Tay but lucky for us was a father and son fishing for cod on the lake, good excuse for Richard to talk fishing, before he pointed us in the right direction to the Falls of Dochart. Only thing was the track goes through marshland where sheep are grazing round the lake and it was boggy in parts had to dodge the muddy water. This didn’t worry us the scenery was beautiful, so peacefully standing there watching the swans on a sandbank feeding, the birds flying by, a young family kayaking on the river and people walking their dogs.

At the end of the track poor old Richard had to lift the bikes over the fence, as we couldn’t fit the bike through the turn-style gate had a good laugh as we cycled over the old foot bridge across the River Dochart, which took us round the back streets of Killin. What a glorious sight from the next bridge standing by our bikes looking at the water cascading over the rocks rapidly down the river.

As the river approaches from the west end of Killin, the bed of the River Dochart broadens out at the same time as its gradient steepens this results in the spectacular Falls of Dochart, one of Scotland's more impressive and certainly one of its most easily accessible waterfalls. Had to be very careful walking over the rocks to view the gushing waterfalls on either side of the small islands in the middle, very picturesque the views all round. One side of the falls you see the little village of The Falls of Dochart with a very old narrow multi arched bridge linking the village to Killin.

From the middle of the bridge is the entry to the burial grounds of McNab Clan (15 graves), we didn’t venture down on the island for a look instead we looked at the old Killin Water Mill by the falls which was more interesting.

Strolled through the historical preserved granite stone village of Killin stopping for a home cooked lunch at Shutter Restaurant and continuing down to the Killin Hotel on the banks of the Loch Lochay for a look at the boats and people about to kayak up the river.
What an enjoyable day we have had a truly lovely relaxing spring day cycling round Killin, we may not have seen everything but the scenery we did see will always be remember, except the laundry which needed to be done.

Joined the other Scots on the caravan park by sitting on our deck chairs enjoying the sun and a stroll by Loch Lochay.