LEJOG Day 14 - Sunday (Martin)

We awoke to find ourselves basking in Mediterranean conditions in Bridge of Allen. This being our morning off, so we set off after breakfast to visit Stirling Castle (without Stewart who was staying with his friend Rory Williams - see below). It is a wonderful monument to the past and present glories of Scotland, beautifully presented and full of historical interest. We also visited the museum of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in the Castle, full of mementos of their extraordinary feats of arms over the centuries. Memorable.

Then to Dunblane, a very attractive town just 6 miles or so outside Stirling. We lingered briefly in the Cathedral where we stood before the simple and moving monument to the victims of the Dunblane massacre. We then went to visit Rory. After school with Stewart and Peter, and Oxford where he was a distinguished classical scholar, Rory went on to become a professional epidemiologist. But his main interest in life has been religion, and in particular the Orthodox Church of which he became a priest some 10 years ago. He and his wife Judy have converted a small cottage at the back of their house into the most northerly Orthodox Chapel in Britain, and it was there that we joined them for the closing moments of their Sunday morning service together with a small congregation including some locals, 3 Polish and one Eritrean Coptic visitor. There followed a light lunch in the garden, which provided 4 Guys on Bikes the unexpected opportunity to discuss the finer points on the Great Schism of the 12th Century and the intricacies of Synodic governance. A unique interlude in our adventure.

Then on through the fine Scottish countryside to our overnight stay at the fine 18th Century Atholl Arms Hotel in Dunkeld.