Day 9, July 10th: Being About My DRIVE to Caerlaverock Castle & INFO about the Castle

After breakfasting with Ann and Hugh at “half-seven,” I left Carlisle about “half-eight,” and headed
back north into Scotland. The map above shows part of the route that I DID end up taking,
although it’s not the route I set out to use! HEY! I did NOT get LOST!

As you can see, just like any other area in Scotland, this area is LOADED with lots of different sites to see! THIS TRIP I only was interested in Caerlaverock!

To avoid going back north so far (to Dumfries), I left the motorway after crossing over the River Sark,
and scooted east on a little road that (sort of) followed the northern coast of the Solway Firth.
Unfortunately, halfway to the Castle, a BRIDGE was OUT! So, I ended up having to back-track to
a road that went north … drive up to Dumfries, and then back south to Caerlaverock from there.
(So much for my scenic short cut!)

ANYWAY, I finally got there! It was a misty, cool day, with occasional drizzles.
But, it DIDN’T RAIN while I was actually exploring the castle. So, color me happy!

However … I know that not everyone is as gaga about stuff like this as me. (I don’t UNDERSTAND IT!
But, I know it!) So, if you only want to check out the pix I actually took, Click Here

Some scanned pix and text on my Caerlaverock Castle pages are from the guide book I bought while there.
Some text and incredibly gorgeous “snagged” pix (coming up on another page option)
are from a very nicely done Caerlaverock Castle Website that NO LONGER EXISTS!
But, HERE is another great Caerlaverock Castle Website

The FIRST Caerlaverock Castle was built sometime in the 1220’s, and located about “200 meters”
closer to the coast. All that remains of that castle is a grassy mound and “the occasional stretch
of stonework.” (I didn’t take time to visit these ruins.)

It was apparently abandoned within 50 years, when it was replaced by the current Caerlaverock Castle. “It seems likely that the site was found to be entirely unsuitable, perhaps being located too near the salt marshes of the Solway.”

Caerlaverock Castle as it (probably) looked by the end of the 16th century! Note the TWO moats! The castle faces North, and the “Salt Marshes” lie to the South – between the castle and the northern coast of Solway Firth.

Caerlaverock Castle as it looks today. “The round towers which flank the entrance originated in the 13th century, but were largely rebuilt in the 15th. About 70% of the western tower is 13th century work.”

Here’s a “Castle Plan” of the ground level. The pix coming up are shots I took of a couple kool signs posted on the ruined south wall of the castle. Just SCROLL PAST THEM if you’re not interested!

I’ve snagged some “DEAD BRILLIANT” pix o’ Caerlaverock from the Internet. To see those pix (they REALLY are great!), CLICK HERE!

(Links to the NEXT Day Nine Pix Options are at the end of that page, too!)

Next DAY NINE Pix Options (in order of trip occurrence):

MY Caerlaverock Pix

Caerlaverock MINI-VIDZ (IF you can PLAY them, I took 7 of them!!!)

Glastonbury Arrival – Finally Meeting Steve & Rachel!

If you have suggestions for The Miller Fandamily Web Site,
OR contributions to the photo gallery!
please Email WebMistress Chas!
c-d-miller@neb.rr.com
That’s: c-d-miller@neb.rr.com –
those are hyphens/dashes (-) between the “c” and “d” and “miller”