We set off for Newark Castle on the outskirts of Greenock today, we had discovered last week at Dumbarton Castle that there was to be a pirate adventure at Newark today. We were late in setting of, usually are when David is about but the weather looked promising, promising a down pour that is !!. As I sped along the M8 towards Glasgow my son asked if anyone had a hanky... which could only mean one thing, he had one of nose bleeds. So we had to detour down into Buchanan Street Bus Station to get to a toilet and some hankies....... now we were very late.

Newark Castle was a bit difficult to find, it wasn't where we thought it was and it was totally hidden from view. It wasn't even what one would expect a castle to look like, but then it was a late castle, not built till the 18th century.

What was excellent though was the fact the castle was complete. It was built by the Maxwells and the first owner was a wife beating and murdering swine who escaped prosecution time after time and when things did start to catch up with him he escaped by dying. Horrible man even hit his wife with a sword in the face.

The presentation was put on by my old friends " The Alba Adventure Company"
they are featured on a few of my other photie pages. The story was set around Captain Gow who really was a pure excuse for a pirate and ended up being hung ( twice) in London circa 1720.

The presentation was excellent but in this instance the performance was indoors and the lighting was difficult for photographs.

My son was recruited into the pirate army and gave a fair account of himself making pirate noises and wearing the Jolly Rodger.

There was something different about this castle, apart from the fact it was intact and it had indoor water closets. There were places on the stair ways that were colder than they had a right to be, a feeling that you weren't alone. At one stage I opened myself up to this and I got the distinct impression I was in the presence of a woman, but not just any woman, this one was a witch and she was nice, she was a warm person. The feeling left me and I decided to go and find out if I could find out anything about this woman.

We left and headed to Loch Lomond for a coffee, across the Erskin Bridge, It was a lovely day, and rained only when we were in the car but most of the time sun shone and the trees were almost over whelming in their new summer cloaks, every shade and variety of green you can imagine. Some drooped yellow laburnum while others shone copper. Everywhere you look now Scotland is blooming and glorious and full of colour.

My old guest buik

All graphics and content of this web site are © rableather Scotland 2000 ( unless otherwise stated) all dialogue is free to schools or teachers