Day 24 – Road to Stirling

After a leisurely breakfast I drive down to the docks in preparation of leaving Islay, the ferry has not arrived so I park the car by the jetty with its fishing boats and listen to the waves lap against the key, the sun is out but the wind is cold but reclining in the car it is nice and toasty.

The ferry journey takes 2 1/4 hours it leaves Port Ellen and turns and sails past the 3 distilleries of Laphroig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg before making its way up the sound past the bottom of Jura to Kennacraig. It is a smooth crossing and i am soon on the road to Stirling.

The road winds over the Highlands and then down past lochs it is 3 hours before the Stirling castle comes into view. This is also the first time I haven’t pre booked a room so the next task is to find an expectable hotel, after a lot of trouble not being able to find a true hotel district I am put onto a great hotel, the golden lion, by some locals. It is a short walk to the castle and this will be my firsts port of call in the morning.