November 6, 2011

I can’t believe it is November already.  The last two nights we have had frost on the windows of the car though.  That was the first.  In the house this morning it is 66.7 but we still do not have the heat on.  Yesterday was a beautiful sunny fall day and it looks like today will be the same. Leaves are falling and we see lots of orange, but also still some green and still flowers.  Days are getting a lot shorter.  I start noticing it is getting dusky about 4:45 and by five it is dark.  Last night we sat in the living room and watched the fireworks for Guy Fawkes Night.

"Guy Fawkes Night is annually held on November 5. It is sometimes known as Bonfire Night and marks the anniversary of the discovery of a plot organized by Catholic conspirators to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London in 1605. Many people light bonfires and set off fireworks"

We celebrated the gorgeous day by going to  Tantallon Castle, Hailes Castle, and Dirleton Castle. 

Dirleton Castle is one of the oldest surviving castles in Scotland.  It has a beautiful formal traditional and contemporary garden and the longest herbaceous border as recorded in the Guinness Book of Records.  The gardens are beautiful. 

Castle entrance

Formal garden with herbaceous border

Tantallon Castle is surrounded by water on three sides and looks out across the Firth of Forth.  There is a huge rock called Bass Rock there that a Lighthouse is on.  It is sitting on the cliffs. 

Entry way to castle

Looking out to the sea

Bass Rock with lighthouse

Hailes Castle was built for a nobleman.  It has a small stream running through the grounds and a river right below it. 

These are all built three centuries ago.  Are you getting the idea there are lots of castles here?  We are just getting started exploring them.  Thanks to a Historic Scotland membership card we get in free.