Callander
It was on a trip back from Callander when I managed to stop off at the David Stirling Memorial mentioned in part 111, so thought I’d give this a mention. It’s a small town, with not much to see, but given its location it is very busy with tourists and acts very much as a stopping off point if intending to travel north or indeed if going back down south as one of the main routes runs through the centre of it.
Great for walks along the river Teith and beautiful surrounding countryside. There is also a good walk uphill through forest overlooking the town. A few cafes and pubs so no problem getting something to eat and drink. There is a Rob Roy centre at the back of an antiques shop in the main street which I haven’t manged to visit yet so can’t say more on that just now.
I did find an old sundial, a picture of which I’ve used for this blog. There is a tourist information board beside it and I took a picture of that for reference, but unfortunately it’s a bit weather-beaten and some of the text is difficult to read despite enlarging the photograph on my phone. The sundial, made from pale limestone, dates from 1753 and has the following caption engraved on the column:
“I mark not the hours unless they be bright, I mark not the hours of darkness and night, My promise is solely to follow the sun. And point out the course his chariot do run.”
If you enlarge the photograph you can make out some of the words. In recent years Historic Scotland have carried out restoration work, and it’s looking good for having stood out in the Scottish weather for two hundred and seventy-one years at the time of writing this blog post.
The Fiction Factory 