The 2025 Morgan Europe Trip

May 27, 2025 Doune Castle and Dunblane Cathedral

Doune Castle and Dunblane Cathedral were two big destinations today that were only a short drive from Stirling. Let's start with Doune Castle. What do Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Outlander have in common? They were both filmed, at least some portions, at Doune Castle. We weren't aware of this fact before we arrived, but it was a little bonus to our adventure.

Approaching Doune Castle.

The courtyard (or bailey) of the castle looking one direction. Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany had plans to add to this wall, hence the windows, but died before his project was complete.

The bailey of the castle looking the other direction.

Let's go inside starting with the kitchen.

The kitchen with arched pass through windows on the left where food would be taken upstairs to the Great Hall.

Clare and Paul standing in the enormous oven!

We went up these stairs and they felt like one way stairs to me! So narrow! The food servers must have been sure footed!

We are in the room above the kitchen. Paul, on the left, just walked through the door to the room.

The ensuite bathroom. The toilet is in the corner under the window.

The toilet.

Bomb's away! Nature's plumbing system.

The room contained a large fireplace.

Another small room off the same wall as the bathroom. Perhaps a closet of some sort?

Let's move into the destination of the kitchen food, the Great Hall. This was truely a multipurpose room.

The Great Hall.

The bathroom for the head table.

In this large room, was a display regarding the filming of Outlander episodes that had occured in the castle. I will include them in case there are some Outlander fans out there that would recognize Doune Castle from them.

On to the next room.

There are two alcoves off this room. The one where the person is standing is where Mass would have been offered for the Duke and his family. The second alcove would have been a place for servants to hear Mass through the window in the wall (at the back of the person's neck).

Inside the alcove for Mass. The telltale signs of a tabernacle and holy font.

There would have been a wooden floor with more rooms above this more intimate hall space.

Looking through a baracaded window at the duke's walk. It is unsafe to walk it now.

Off of the more private hall, is a bedroom for the Duke. It's small, but so much easier to keep warm and comfortable.

Down a few stairs and on to the next room.

The innovative idea of two fireplaces allowed for one fire if you wanted a little heat, and two if you wanted more heat. Also, it was mentioned, that one fireplace might have an active fire in it while the second could act as a food warmer.

Let's say goodbye to Doune Castle. From this vantage point, you can see that the left side of the castle would have been taller in its prime.

We grabbed some lunch before heading to Dunblane Cathedral.

A sandwhich and chips.

Macaroni and cheese with garlic bread.

Lentle soup and a gooey cheese, I forgot the name, but it was amazing!

A ham and cheese bake and chips.

Note the name of the store. Paul showing his charisma!

A street in Dunblane, a short drive from Doune.

Dunblane Cathedral.

Standing somewhat in the middle of the church looking at the nave where the people would worship. My back is to the current rood screen (the original is gone).

At the beginning of the Reformation, the church would have been scraped clean of all art and decoration and the nave in the above photo stood roofless and bare for 300 years. The Church of Scotland would have only maintained and preserved the chancel, or front half of the church, for their services. The nave wouldn't have been roofed and restored until 1889.