Another casual exploring day with the main attraction being Scone Palace pronounced Skoon -I thought it was a castle but evidently not. A pleasant drive via Perth again - just north east of Perth. Lovely day and spent a lot of time exploring the gardens - peacocks wandering around with their plumage on full display and lots of colour and beginnings of autumn showing.
One of the most famous things in the grounds is the Stone of Scone - also known as the Stone of Destiny (The Coronation Stone) - used for centuries in the coronation of the monarchs of Scotland. Some say it was brought from the Holy Lands in the 9th century or it could have been a old Roman altar stone or a royal stone belonging to the Scots from Antrim. It was seized by the English in 1296 and used for all English's and UK monarchs. Lots of stories re whether the 'real' stone was taken or not. It was returned to Scotland in 1996 and now resides at Edinburgh Castle with the Crown Jewels.
John Louden laid out the garden - the pinetumbegun in 1848 and has a conifer collection and the original Douglas fir was grown from seed sent in 1826 from America.
The house was built on the site of Scone Abbey. It was the focus of struggles for power over the centuries - from the Romans to the Picts and then the early Christians. Then Macbeth and the Malcolm both ruled in the 11th century, Robert the Bruce was crowned here. It was also an important religious centre - an Augustine Priory turned into an Abbey. Eventually it came into the hands of the Murrays who ruled from then on. Large art collection including items of Marie Antoinette. The 1st Earl of Mansfield who was a lawyer freed his own black slave and in 1772 declared slavery as 'odious' and unacceptable in Britain.
It was a lovely day wandering around and seeing history. Quiet late afternoon and evening because of a busy next few days.