Today was Brodick Castle. We timed our trip around its opening after a two year closure for renovations. There has been some sort of fortification on this site for time immemorial. The right side in this photo is the more original, ie, 14th century, with the left side an addition in the 18th century.
For years the castle was used as a hunting lodge; every stag killed on the property was documented and the heads, apparently, hung in the grand hall, ie, the grand entrance.
Three stories of deer heads with antlers in a row. I MAY not have wanted to be a guest here, even though Queen Victoria had been.
Chairs for the footmen to sit in while serving dinner.
A fireplace in the drawing room.
The dining room. With all the opulance we were surprised at the "plebian" look of the dining table.
Just off the dining room, and down an extremely steep and narrow set of stairs, was the kitchen. What a trip to tote dinner up to the lords and ladies from this depth.
Look closely. These are wine carafes shaped like animals.
While eating our lunch we were visited by this brave beggar. It took a piece of bread right out of my fingers, ate it, then jumped up and asked for more!
More rhodedendrons in the garden! Some of these were from the stock at the estate on Gigha. These are trees, not bushes.
These bundles of blooms are as big as my head.
A pretty path with blooming and blowsy rhodies.
We followed a path down to the ocean and discovered Arran Brewery. We were invited to crash a tasting with some folks following their tour. Then things get bit hazy - Blue ordering tea and scones, making purchases at some tourist shops, then back to the B&B. Aaaaah, vacation!