Scone Palace

Scone was as an ancient gathering place of the Picts, and was probably the site of an early Christian church. The place of coronation was called Caislean Credi, 'Hill of Credulity', which survives as the present  Moot or Boot Hill.  In the Middle Ages the mound was marked with a stone cross, but this disappeared probably at the Scottish Reformation  in 1559, when the Abbey buildings were sacked by a mob from Dundee.  

From 1114 to 1559, Scone was one of Scotland's major abbeys. It was founded by King Alexander I.  Between 1284 and 1402 Scone Abbey (sometimes referred to as the Palace of the Abbots) often served to house the Parliament of Scotland.

Alexander II and Alexander III, both crowned at Scone, ruled from 1214 to 1286.

 For centuries, the greatest treasure at Scone was the Stone of Scone upon which the early Kings of Scotland were crowned. When Edward I of England  carried off the Stone of Scone to Westminster Abby in 1296, the Coronation Chair that still stands in the abbey was specially made to fit over it. Robert the Bruce was crowned at Scone in 1306 and the last coronation was of Charles II , when he accepted the Scottish crown in 1651. The Stone of Scone is now in Edinburgh Castle.  

The Boot Hill, the mound was said to have been created by pilgrims each carrying a boot-full of soil to the site in a gesture of fealty to the king. A replica of the Stone of Scone sits on Moot Hill, where coronations occurred.  

There are fine woodlands on the grounds and policies of Scone Palace, some of the fir trees being at least 250 years old.   The grounds of the Scone Palace were the birthplace of the Douglas-fir tree species, after being introduced by David Douglas.

 A number of peacocks roam the grounds, including several albino males.  The palace annually hosts the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust's Scottish Game Fair.

I don't know about Jackie, but this may well have been my favorite stop in Scotland

Not counting pubs...

One of the Castle guides coming down the path in Scottish garb

Sadly, again, no pictures allowed inside - but the Moot Hill,

 the Stone of Scone and the grounds compensate for the loss

No Scot could be sworn into Parliament on land other than his own  As the King could not go to every location, the lords would put dirt from their domain in their boots when sworn in.  They would then dump the dirt before the chapel and the Stone of Scone, making over time, this mound or hill 

One cannot help but have a wave of history pass over/through while standing here

A replica of the Stone of Scone.  

When we saw the real stone in Edinburgh, there was documentation that it might not be the "real" stone.  Some claim that when Edward I came to take it, the actual Stone of Scone was hidden - and never again found.  This is based upon ancient descriptions of the stone - none of which seem to match the current stone.

So crown us already!

The small Presbyterian Mortuary Chapel at Scone Palace

Outside, and to the rear of the Chapel, was this unmarked grave.

As you see, a fellow clansman has left remembrances recently

There are other graves / monuments behind the chapel

And then there are the grounds !

A look back at the Scone Castle from the grounds

The original gate to the castle

It had small towers with guards

The ancient cemetery

Some very unusual - and some too old to any longer read

With a Good Bye to the albino peacock,

we're off to our next stop

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