After a huge breakfast at our B&B, that included me trying (and quite liking) black pudding (blood sausage), Helen and I headed out for the day. We started at the Graveyard at the Old Clachan Church. We spent quiet time there. While Helen went to pay her personal respects elsewhere, I wandered around the beautiful weathered stones, reading inscriptions and loving the whole atmosphere of the place.
We then drove into the village and Helen took me to the jewelry shop of an acquaintance to look around. I'd admired her jewelry she'd bought there and was hopeful I might find my own special souvenir. (I found three!)
Helen took me past the memorial to the Arran Clearances. The clearances took place in the 1800's when the English lords of the highlands forced the native Scots off of their ancestral land by means of terror. The displaced starved to death, froze to death, were packed like sardines onto ships bound for America and Australia and sold into slavery. Those who survived suffered.
Our last big stop for the day was at Brodick Castle. We had a lovely tour of the place (no pictures allowed) and then walked the picturesque grounds before stopping to buy some souvenirs.
It was disappointing to have to go to the ferry to return to Glasgow. I now understand why Arran is so special to Helen. She has strong family ties to the place, but even without those ties, Arran is a magical place and I fell in love with it.
Back in Glasgow, Helen and I were welcomed back with a rainbow.
We then drove into the village and Helen took me to the jewelry shop of an acquaintance to look around. I'd admired her jewelry she'd bought there and was hopeful I might find my own special souvenir. (I found three!)
Helen took me past the memorial to the Arran Clearances. The clearances took place in the 1800's when the English lords of the highlands forced the native Scots off of their ancestral land by means of terror. The displaced starved to death, froze to death, were packed like sardines onto ships bound for America and Australia and sold into slavery. Those who survived suffered.
Our last big stop for the day was at Brodick Castle. We had a lovely tour of the place (no pictures allowed) and then walked the picturesque grounds before stopping to buy some souvenirs.
It was disappointing to have to go to the ferry to return to Glasgow. I now understand why Arran is so special to Helen. She has strong family ties to the place, but even without those ties, Arran is a magical place and I fell in love with it.
Back in Glasgow, Helen and I were welcomed back with a rainbow.