Cumnock & Dumfries

South of Kilmarnock today. We set off at 9 & arrived at Cumnock at 9.30 - freezing cold wind!
Cumnock has very old Square with HUGE Free Scottish Presbyterian stone church taking up one side. A fellow told us all the history of the town. We walked the block then went into the church run coffee shop in the Square. The minister happened to be there too so he took us over & showed us the church!
I was very surprised how small it was compared to the size outside. The Earl of Bute (small island off the coast) where MacCallum Clan originated. One of 3 sons of early Clan leader settled in south at Oban & became Malcolm Clan. McCollums descended from them. Earl of Bute connected to Cardiff in Wales - controlled huge shipping trade. Hence Prince Charles association with this church, Earls of Bute & Dumfries House out of Cumnock.





Saw the bridge at Dumfries which I remembered from my 1975 trip with Anne.
We loved our tour of Dumfries House - which we found out was near Cumnock after we'd travelled down to Drumfries to see it!
The mauve pink rhodedendrums are everywhere in Scotland. One of the very early seafaring captains brought the seeds from the Himalayers!!!!!! They are treated as weeds & many areas poisoning them.



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