2011 Project365 (day51)
Categories: places, photography
Tags: photo, project365, Dumbarton Castle
Date: 20 February 2011 17:00:07
I asked on facebook for suggestions of a local adventure, and someone suggested Dumbarton Castle. So we went out this afternoon for an hour or two and explored just that. I have to say it was very very bracing - no cobwebs left here, that's for sure! The castle sits (like lots of Scottish castles) on a huge great block of rock, this time on the shore where the River Clyde and River Leven meet each other (the Leven heads down from Loch Lomond), so it has river on 3 of its 4 sides. It is quite a climb up (fortunately with steps) but the views are well worth it, as you can see from this picture, which is looking over to just past where the two rivers meet - in the distance is the Inner Clyde Nature Reserve. There is information about the castle here (that's the official Historic Scotland site - it's a HS property, we really ought to think about getting membership as I think we visit more HS Scotland properties than NTS ones, and yet I have NTS membership) and also at the Undiscovered Scotland site here.
I did have an idea when I first moved to Scotland of 'bagging' castles (as that would be less traumatic and uphill than bagging Munros). I think I can still just about count on one hand though the castles I've been to (Edinburgh, Stirling, Newark, Lochranza and now Dumbarton) which is just under one a year, which isn't too impressive. Some friends are doing a tour of Scottish castles for their summer holiday this year which sounds good. I think I want to concentrate on the island-bagging and keep the castles as a bit of a sideline, but it would be good to visit more, it's always an interesting day out.