June 2001 Trip to
Scotland
Note from Bruce E. Walkup: My father Wm.
Ralph, brother Dave and I finally made our "once in a
lifetime" trip to Scotland
June 3-14, 2001. Our delightful hosts were Bob and Brenda Kucharzewski
(both now passed). Included below are a selection of photos that I took on our journey. Enjoy...
- Robert the Bruce Memorial at
Bannockburn June 5, 2001 - L to R: David, Bruce and Ralph Walkup.
- Malcolm's Tower June 5,
2001 - Ruins of tower near Dunfermline Abbey where King Malcolm III, Canmore, first
resided (refer to picture of nearby plaque
and sketch of tower). Presumably the knight who became the first Wauchope stayed there on
occasion, circa 1062.
- Tomb of King Robert the Bruce in
Dunfermline Abbey June 5, 2001 - The inspiration for Bruce E. Walkup's
first name, or so thought by him. As it turns out the author is a
direct descendant of the Bruce via immigrant Nancy Agnes Alexander, wife of
Samuel Wauchope.
- Foxhall June 6, 2001 - Estate
near Edinburgh airport once owned by Robert Wauch who broke from the Niddrie Wauchope
family, and after whom Wauchope NSW, Australia is named. 43rd U.S. President George W. Bush, as a lad of thirteen, spent part of August of 1959
at the estate with the then current owners. The major portion of the estate is a
wholesale nursery.
- Hoof-n-mouth sign outside Foxhall
Nursery June 6, 2001 - Walkers must dip, but Walkups were
exempted?
- Niddrie-Merschell Cemetery
June 6, 2001 - Note defaced and toppled stones. Reportedly, the local
council had the stones toppled on purpose to dissuade vandals.
- Niddrie-Mershell Cemetery (#2)
June 6, 2001 - View featuring large stone in center dedicated to the memory of
Major-General Andrew Gilbert Wauchope.
- Niddrie-Merschell Pavilion (right
side and rear view) June 6, 2001 - Note trash and proximity to government
housing project. The pavilion (a.k.a. tombhouse or vault) was built in 1735.
The interior incorporates some fragments of the Wauchope's earlier Chapel to the
Virgin Mary, built in 1502.
- Niddrie-Merschell Pavilion
(front view) June 6, 2001 - Note graffiti and vandalism. The shield above
the door is that of Wauchope of Niddrie-Merschell. Below the shield is the ancient
family motto of "Industria Ditat." Above the shield is the Latin
inscription "Parta Tuere" which is the forsaken plea to
"make effort to
watch over." How the pavilion once looked
back in 1980 may be seen here.
- Cakemuir Castle of
Edinburghshire
June 6, 2001 - The current owners of this ancient Wauchope stronghold have
opened the 2 acres of formal gardens to the public on an extremely limited basis for charitable donations.
- Wauchope of Cakemuir Shield
June 6, 2001 - Shield located on the left side of Cakemuir Castle is clearly
Wauchope of Niddrie-Merschell with a chevron for a difference.
- Melrose Abbey June 7, 2001
- Resting place of the heart of Robert the Bruce.
- Wauchope Cottages June
7, 2001 - Present day rental
units (cottages off left side of the photo) on the site of the former Wauchope
Wolfelee of Roxburghshire seat. The marker on the left commemorates the
later home
of Elizabeth Scott, whom the famed poet Robert Burns visited on May 10, 1787. The
site of Wauchope Tower of the Turnbulls was just up the path a bit. (Sadly, due to
the hoof-n-mouth quarantine we were not allowed up there.)
- Wauchope Burn of
Roxburghshire June 7, 2001 - View looking north, just downhill
from Wolfelee.
- Wauchope Forest of Roxburghshire
June 7, 2001 - View looking east. Note recent harvest of trees to the
immediate right of photo.
- Possible former
Wauchope lands of Dumfriesshire June 7, 2001 - Lands (between rivers Esk on left
and Ewes on right, extending northward) later held by the Glendonyn family by marriage.
- Wauchope Water of
Dumfriesshire June 7, 2001 - View looking west, near the former site of Wauchope
Castle (constructed by Lindsay family, circa 1285).
- Lockerbie Garden Memorial
June 7, 2001 - In commemoration of the 270 victims of the cowardly terrorist bombing of
Pan Am Flight 103 of December 21, 1988.
- Grave of
the legendary Rob Roy MacGregor
June 8, 2001
- Major-General Andrew Gilbert
Wauchope display at Black Watch Museum in Perth June 8, 2001 - (Excuse the glare
through the glass.)
- Crannog of Leys June 9,
2001 - Site of presumed Wauchope fortalice in the Loch of Leys (clump of trees in center
of now filled lake). The land was ceded to the Burnett family by Robert the Bruce
for their support against the Cummins and Wauchopes.
- River Dee from atop Camphill of Culter
June 10, 2001 - View of Dee River from present-day children's home occupying
the site of ancient fortifications.
- Culloden Cairn June 11,
2001 - In commemoration of the battle of Culloden near Inverness of April 16, 1746,
between the rebel forces of Charles Edward Stuart (a.k.a. Bonnie Prince Charlie) and those
of the victorious King George II of England.
- Castle Stuart June 11, 2001
- Castle constructed by James, brother of Mary Queen of Scots, where we stayed one night.
Unfortunately, it appears that the castle itself is no longer available
booking, but there is now an impressive golf course and lodge on the property
(for more information refer to
www.castlestuartgolf.com).
- Loch Ness Monster June 12, 2001 -
Actual photo of elusive Nessie? (Bruce is still awaiting the multi-million pound
reward.)
- Holyrood Abbey and Palace June 13, 2001
- Hello... Prince Charles? June 13, 2001
- Phone call taken by Bruce in front of Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh literally moments
after Prince Charles' motorcade departed.
(This story is true except for the part about the phone call. The
Rampant Lion was flying on the Palace and the motorcade did pass by.)
- Why yes, high tea would be exquisite, your
majesty June 13, 2001 - Dave continues phone conversation.
- Edinburgh Castle June 13, 2001
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This page last updated February 22, 2020
