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Sabbatical Post Script #25 (2) Part One of Mugdock

5/8/2020

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As we draw closer to the time when I left for Sabbatical (July 1st, 2019) a year later, I wanted to take you on another "series" journey, as I did with the hike to Randolph's Leap.  This "afternoon adventure" I'm going to share with you will take us on a 10 week journey together.  I hope you enjoy!

One of the days I was in the Glasgow area, I decided to simply follow my intuition - my soul - if you will.  I spent the morning at in the Milngavie village shopping area  in "charity shops" and ended up finding a pair of pre-loved mint colored hi-tops (assisting Cancer Research UK) and a pre-loved cream colored sweater with "angel" sleeves (assisting the Debra organization).  I then had lunch in a cafe and spent some relaxing time people watching.

From there I headed to a place for a hike in nature, but I didn't know that's where I was heading. :)  I was looking for a castle to explore and found Mugdock Castle on Google maps, it wasn't until I got closer that I realised the castle was part of the Mugdock Country Park, a sprawling 643 acres of trails, history, and even a few shops/cafes.

After parking at the North lot, I stopped by the visiter center briefly to get my bearings, and then headed out - following my "nose" to find Mugdock Castle.

On the way, I found another castle ruin...with no signs, no information, anywhere.  Not even in the maps.  Just a fence and LOTS of green growth...
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For a short while, I thought, "Well, maybe this IS Mugdock Castle and it doesn't NEED any signs because all the locals know it?"  A quick check at the map showed that I was still a long way off from Mugdock.  But it made no mention of this ruin.

​(It wasn't until I got home was I able to do research and found out that this ruin is Craigend Castle.)  Nevertheless I was enchanted by this forest of a ruin and took several pictures of it.  The next one I cropped out the fence, because it ruined the "old" look. :) )
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As I headed away, toward Mugdock Castle, I couldn't resist turning around once more to look at Craigend...wondering why it had been "allowed to go to seed."
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On to Mugdock Castle!

I also want to mention that during this walk I was listening to a book on "tape," The Will of the Empress by Tamora Peirce.  It is the 5th book in a young adult series that I DEVOURED in three weeks, while I was staying with my first Air BnB hostess (for three weeks).  My hostess and I had very similar taste in books and she graciously let me read her books while I was there.  I had read all the way through the first part of book 5 and then ALAS I was heading on to the next part of my journey!  Luckily I found it on Hoopla (Thank you Concord Public Library!) and was able to listen to the rest.  If you are a lover of Fantasy novels, I highly recommend it!

After a lovely walk through woods, meadow, and over a creek, I arrived at the entrance to Mugdock Castle.
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As I walked up to the front gate, I suddenly realised how sprawling the ruins were!  I shut off my audiobook and stepped up to the sign to see what I was in for...
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The castle was "retained" and in use until 1945!!!  It was the seat of the Graham Clan for a long time.  Sir Hugh Fraser donated the Castle and the land to the Central Regional Council in 1981 (er...the year I was born. :) )  No one is completely sure how old the "oldest" part the ruin is, but it was first mentioned in an old vellum document dated 24th August 1372.

I hope you will join me again next week as we step through the Castle entrance and back in time.

Blessings in your Journey,
Pastor Emilia

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    Sabbatical
    ​Post Scripts

    In the summer of 2019 Rev. Emilia Halstead took a 3 month sabbatical.  Seven weeks of that time she spend in Scotland.  This series began on the weekly e-mail of the church.  In an effort to make it available to more people, we've moved it here to our website.

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First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ
79 Clinton Street, Concord, NH | 03301

603.225.5491