Castles and dragons and moats

Spent a delightful day today with my folks in search of castles and dragons and moats. Given this brief, Mam and Ian planned a surprise trip to Threave Castle in Dumfries and Galloway.

To get to the castle you have to follow a short nature trail and then ring the old bell for the ferryman to take you across the river. The castle is on an island - and it does also have a wee protective moat too. Don't worry, we didn't pay the ferryman until we got to the other side.

Threave Castle is one of the largest and strongest towers in Scotland, unadorned by architectural fripperies (so the sign tells us). Built to withstand any siege, it was entirely self sufficient and could house the men at arms. Of course it has long been a ruin now, so we spent our time exploring it's nooks and crannies and spiral stone staircase.

And of course, any castle worth it's salt will have a dragon. Here you can see Theodore flying around the grounds. Theodore is a dragon kite that hatched just as we approached the castle. There were a few children with wooden swords, but they were no match for Theodore the Dragon Kite.

A marvellous day, with great company, great exploring, a delightful picnic lunch and plenty of sun. What more can you ask for on your birthday? Thank you Mam and Ian for putting it all together!