Onwards and downwards, but not before breaking up the trip to see a friend near Edinburgh. Loch Leven's Larder is a lovely place to stop for a coffee and a shop and just a few minutes off the M90.
Also planned was a trip to Inchcolm Island. I think it's known as the Iona of the east. It's name comes from the Scottish Gaelic "Innis Choluim" meaning Columba's Island, though i'm not sure why because it wasn't 'til King Alexander I of Scotland (1107–24) was sheltered by a resident hermit on the island (his boat had been blown off course) that he promised to build a priory there. It was built some time later after that, and then for Augustinian cannons.
The remains of the priory are pretty potent. Stirring. But laughably mixed with humour. Some medieval clever cannons have seen to an inscription carved above the Abbey's entrance: Stet domus haec donec fluctus formica marinos ebibat, et totum testudo permabulet orbem, which means "May this house stand until an ant drains the flowing sea, and a tortoise walks around the whole world". Also there are several comforting sentences in Latin painted on to the wall of the warming room. One translates as "It is foolish to fear what cannot be avoided".
I'm a little mesmerised by the Firth of Forth. The boat trip out to the island revealed some really beautiful sites nestling in and around it's shores. In particular, the totally unexpected and emotive aspect of Barnbougle Castle.
