Linlithgow Palace is of course the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots.
Above is a photo of Linlithgow Loch from the top of the palace, not a bad view to look out on.
It’s a long way down and it was very windy, you need a good head for heights!
Huge fireplaces abound in the palace, I dread to think how much wood and coal they must have got through.
The fireplace above is the grandest in the palace, I think it is in the great hall.
The photo above is of a small room at the top of the palace, it has a stone seat wrapped around it and with the addition of some cushions it would be a great place to sit and read or just gossip. Probably that would be the best place to go for some privacy, away from the prying eyes and flapping ears of servants. That would have been my favourite place to sit if I had been around in those days, but I don’t think I would have had a chance to sit there, I would probably have been one of those servants!
And their walls were just what we see weren’t they? They would hang large tapestry’s. It must have been so cold and damp. Gorgeous, gorgeous pictures and so high up! I might be afraid to come down.
Peggy Ann,
I imagine it would have been quite colourful inside in its heyday with the wall hangings and hopefully the thick walls would have helped keep the heat from the fires in. Going down the steps is the scary bit.
We haven’t been to this one. I love the “walk in” fireplaces – can you imagine how cozy (and sooty!) it was up close…and how dank, drafty and cold elsewise?
Probably my favorite movie of all time was Lion in Winter (K. Hepburn – the best! and P. O’Toole, with a formidable cast). I thought it was one of the first to have shown a more realistic perspective on castle life than the Disney portrayals…
Pearl,
I can imagine that people didn’t stray too far from the fires if possible. I’ve seen that film several times, I love Hepburn and quite fancy the idea of having a wimple wrapped around my neck nowadays!
This is one of my favourite castles! And what I particularly like is that it’s not been spoilt by any touristy ‘attractions’. My imagination can run wild there. I really dislike those reconstructed rooms with staged scenes such as those at Warwick Castle, but they’re amazingly popular, always packed with people!
Margaret,
I hadn’t thought about it but you’re right, it is unspoiled and I find it quite easy to imagine it as it was when it was inhabited. I was thinking that the room which it says on the wall is the birthplace of Mary Stuart was so much bigger than the room in Edinburgh Castle which she gave birth in.
I haven’t been to Warwick Castle, but I remember that the last time I was at Stirling Castle they had a large table with a couple of big throne like chairs at it. American tourists were taking turns to sit in them to get their photos taken. I was just thinking – that throne is not for me!
Katrina, Stirling Castle is much better than Warwick Castle! We went there a few years ago in October when it was half-term time, so there were quite a lot of people there and the kids (and adults) could have a go at shooting a crossbow in the Queen Anne Garden – we avoided that. It’s a spectacular castle – I’d like to go there again sometime.
Margaret,
I must say that Stirling Castle has always been my favourite even as a child, I think it’s definitely better than Edinburgh, although that is of course a must visit. I quite fancy a go with a crossbow!
of all the ones we’ve toured, warwick was the most ‘Disney-esque’ – and that’s not a compliment. my all time favorite is still eilean donan.
Pearl,
I haven’t been to Eilean Donan – can you believe that? It must be the most photographed castle. I thought Warwick would have been good as it’s such a historic place, it seems silly to Disney it up.