Dunblane, Scotland
Taking an afternoon away from the computer, I took the advice of my partner and spent the afternoon wandering around Dunblane, hoping for some inspiration to strike.
For those of you who haven't had the opportunity to visit, dismissing it as merely a small town with little to do, honestly, I don’t blame you. It is much more “local” than Stirling, and while it’s walks and parks are beautiful, if you're not inclined to spend a few hours walking in circles and simply exploring, then it might not be your cup of tea. But I’d say, if you’re a stones throw away or visiting from further afield, give it a chance.
Whether in rain or shine, walking along the river and exploring the different paths is a good way to unwind and slow down. And if you’re interested in history, it has a few stops a long the way for you to indulge.
I never had the chance to visit the museum, though from what I’m told it is a local exhibition that it definitely worth a nosy. For me, alongside the trails, I included a visit to the Cathedral – a rather unusual but interesting addition to my adventure.
Dunblane to Ashfield Riverside Walk
While I only ventured just beyond the first stage of the Dunblane to Ashfield Riverside Walk, there was a part of me that wanted to just keep going until I reached the end – the only thing that stopped me was the unpredictable weather.
The rain determined the distance, but every so often the drizzle and downpour would clear up and I’d be able to sit and just watch the world go by. It is an easy walk, and you frequently are passed by locals, tourists, and dog walkers. You feel like you’re lost in the middle of nowhere, but every so often are reminded that civilisation is not too far away.
The Pictish Stones
This is something I wanted to comment on separately just for a moment as seeing Pictish carvings and stones is always interesting because it always sparks the question: How did it get there?
The stones in the Cathedral were found beneath the chapter house in the 19th century likely during the restoration project – one is a broken carved slab and the other is a more typical cross-slab. But while it does suggest that there may have once been more stones in the area, out of my curiosity, I found a piece that discussed these stones as being some of the last examples we have of Pictish carvings. This isn’t something I know a lot about in terms of the development and timeline of how the carvings evolved, but it is certainly worth going to see.
Dunblane Cathedral
Built in the 13th century, it’s a building that I never knew much about. I didn’t think that it had much significance, but upon my visit, I learned that the Cathedral has a rich history. Now it seems like outside of being a place of worship and pilgrimage the Cathedral was largely in the background of Scotland’s history until the Protestant Reformation in 1560. However, from what I was told on my visit it was given royal patronage and was frequented by James IV during his reign, even holding enough significance to have been the burial place for his mistress, Margaret Drummond.
But in the 16th century, much of the Cathedral was left to ruin, in particular the nave. In 1622, the roof was said to have collapsed and, in the ruins, the local community buried their dead. The thing that surprises me about this instance, is the fact that during the Reformation the building was left to ruin it wasn’t destroyed. Icons of Catholic worship were removed and the bishop was imprisoned, but the building itself suffered no large-scale damage.
The Cathedral was restored in the 19th century, leading to the variations not only in the stonework but also in the stained glass, and is, unsurprisingly, still in operation by a local congregation.
