So it's time to leave Tigh Mor and we have to vacate the apartment by 9.30 am. We awake at 6.00 and realise packing will take time. We still have quite a lot of fresh food left over and we will not be heading directly back home. My partner manages to convert most of the food into ready meals which we can warm in the food warmer later.
As mentioned, there will be a stopover, for 2 nights, actually. On the way today there are a possible three locations we wish to visit. Time wise we should be at our destination around 5.00 pm.
We head east from Tigh Mor for the last time amidst steady drizzle. Weather wise there is nothing to write home about, but the planned visits should brighten things up. We continue towards Stirling where we were on Wednesday to work on some unfinished business.
Stirling was a stronghold for early English kings in the early 14th century and I'm off to a particularly important battle site where the Scottish achieved a memorable victory of Edward II's army at the famous Battle of Bannockburn. Today on the site of the battle are memorials and an informative visitor centre. I simply must take a look around the site despite the weather. The centre is free to visit, but guided tours are available for £9. The Battle of Bannockburn visitor centre opened in 2014 to mark the 700th anniversary of the battle.
The Battle of Bannockburn was fought on 23–24 June 1314, between the army of Robert the Bruce, King of Scots, and the army of King Edward II of England, during the First War of Scottish Independence. It was a decisive victory for Robert Bruce and formed a major turning point in the war, which ended 14 years later with the de jure restoration of Scottish independence under the Treaty of Edinburgh–Northampton. For this reason, the Battle of Bannockburn is widely considered a landmark moment in Scottish history.
With this important box ticked, we head a bit further south to Falkirk where there is something unusual. The Falkirk Wheel is a rotating boat lift in Tamfourhill, Falkirk connecting the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal. It opened in 2002 as part of the Millennium Link project, reconnecting the two canals for the first time since the 1930s. There is a visitor centre on site and a paid car park, Concerned about the time and quite a long journey ahead, I only wish to take a photo. I'm sure the centre is quite informative, but I opt for the 5-minute free drop off time and that will have to be enough. The journey across country has been most time-consuming. It's time to get serious and gobble up the rest of the Scottish miles. Unfortunately, we run into a storm which slows us up and there is a race against time. Heading closer to the border it brightens up and we cross over heading into Carlisle where we stopped a week ago.
The reason for this return trip is the same. There is a charter train due but due to delays it's touch and go whether I will catch it and in the end 5 minutes is all that I need. After the train departs, I can continue my journey to the coast.
We arrive at Seacote Hotel at St Bees and make a pig's ear of checking in and locating our room. I will describe it later, but there is something else pressing. I've known for a while there is another special train today which I can see at St Bees. The timing of these special trains today is most fortuitous, but my timing not so as for the second time in hours, I just make it, this time with hardly any time to spare, Being a steam special too, just makes it a super end to the day.
Back at Seacote Hotel I have mixed opinions. Taking the downs first, the room is let's say compact, but cozy. It's not really practical for my laptop or our attempt at self-catering. The hotel is a character building that has expanded over time and occupies three sides of a courtyard. Access to some rooms is difficult. It's like a rabbit warren with passageways and safety doors making it difficult to carry luggage. On the plus side, there's the view of St Bees Bay which at the moment is pretty dreary, St Bees is just a hamlet with traditional and holiday homes; the Seacote Hotel, the only significant accommodation in the bay, However, it does have a train station which is quite handy for some. We chose this hotel based on price and it seems fair value all things considered. Parking is in the community car park which is free for hotel residents.
It's been a long but rewarding day with all objectives completed. Tomorrow I'm hoping for better weather as we takes a tour around the lakes.

Source: Visit