Dunrobin Castle & Gardens, Scotland, United Kingdom
This mornings planned stop was at Dunrobin Castle on the four hour train ride from Inverness to the northern tip of Scotland at Thurso. Dunrobin Castle is a request stop station (see previous entry). I had arrived at 9.20 and the castle does not open until 10am. The station is right at the castle gates so not far to walk in. It was also starting to drizzle on cue with my arrival.
The French Canadian from the train and myself were early visitors but then more cars and groups started to arrive. We were the first ones in when they opened the doors.
Entrance was 14.50 pounds and I could leave my bags behind the counter. There was a roaring fireplace as we walked in.
I wanted to walk around and take all my pictures while I had the place to myself as the other groups were still paying for their tickets.
This was a private residence not a Royal Castle though Royals have visited and stayed.
They had fur animal carpets in the study and there was a children's play room and nursery
There was a collection of gowns from the coronation I think of Queen Alexandra (Elizabeth's Grandmother)
I was now lead out into the gardens. It was maybe 10.30 and I had lots of time before the Falconry show at 11.30am
It was starting to drizzle again and I didnt want to stand in the gardens for one hour. There were signs to a Museum which was in the top left corner of the gardens from the Castle
There were warnings for those faint of heart or devotees of animals as this was a very large collection of stuffed animal heads of all kinds. Deers, Elephant, Zebra, there was every kind.
I can see how this can be upsetting or offensive to some people but that was the norm of the time how the wealthy made use of their time, spending their wealth travelling on safari to Africa and bringing home hunting trophies aside from looting treasures
The lower floor had some interesting exhibits of stone carvings, crystals, and marine life. I was killing time till the falconry show staying out of the rain
By 11.30 a crowd had gathered on the lawn for the falconry show. Many more buses must have arrived for there to be this many people now
First was the hawk display which was similar to my trip to Warwick Castle last year. You have to try to be fast with your camera as if swoops in to land and takes off quickly
The falcon was much harder to photography as it flies very fast and at high altitude. This is how it hunts is prey. The show was done by 12 noon which gave me lots of time to get back to the station to connect to the 12.48 onwards train. I had timed the visit as the trains are about 3 hours apart
See aslo Vlog of visit to Dunrobin and other Scottish Castles (17 mins) - https://youtu.be/Jrmmo68t5qM
2025-05-23