BUS TRIP 2011

KIRKCALDY CIVIC SOCIETY

Date: Saturday 25th June 2011

KCS headed north for the 2011 bus trip, which left the Adam Smith Theatre at 9.30am. Our comfortable coach was provided by the Hamish Gordon bus company. We were lucky enough to have fair weather for the trip.

We were to visit two venues, first stop being the town of Dunkeld, approximately 15 miles north of Perth, on the eastern side of the A9 road, on the north bank of the River Tay.

There was enough time to explore the small town and it’s beautiful Cathedral.

All aboard !

Innerpeffray Chapel

Chapel interior from above

Stained glass window, 1908

A window before restoration

Restoration in progress

Cathedral interior

Dunkeld Cathedral

A book printed in the year 1649

Innerpeffray Castle

The small reading room

Innerpeffray Library interior

Innerpeffray Schoolroom

Schoolroom interior

After a stop at Crieff Visitor Centre for lunch we headed to Innerpeffray to visit the schoolroom, chapel, library and castle.

A guide was waiting to show us round the old schoolroom that had historical prints showing former Kings and Queens of Britain round the walls. The school was founded in 1680.

A very knowledgeable guide told us that Innerpeffray Library is the oldest lending library in Scotland. It was founded, along with the school, in 1680 by David Drummond the brother-in-law of the great Marquis of Montrose. The oldest book in the library dates from 1502 !

The group was then split into two to visit the chapel and library.

The Library of Innerpeffray
“the Magna Carta of the Scottish mind.”
- Arthur Herman

A section of the stained glass window

Historic Scotland are working on the oldest part of the building dating from the late 13th Century. Part of the work is replacing pillars in the arched windows as shown below.

The impressive Duke of Atholl Monument in the Chapter House. He died in 1703.

A stroll down a country lane took us to Innerpeffray Castle which is, sadly, in a ruinous condition.

We then boarded our bus for the journey home, arriving in Kirkcaldy at 5.30pm. It had been an enjoyable and informative day out for our group.

Plans are now underway for the 2012 bus trip!