![\"DSC_0181\"](\"http:\/\/bretandemily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/DSC_0181.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nWe didn’t spend much time there in the morning, because we wanted to maximize our day in Stonehaven and Dunnottar Castle. Emily’s great Grandmother and Grandfather (her Mom’s Dad’s parents) hailed from Stonehaven. She grew up hearing stories about visits to Stonehaven from her great Uncle.\u00a0 We arrived at the harbor and were careful not to drive off into the ocean.<\/p>\n
Then we drove up to the castle!<\/p>\n You may recognize this castle from the 1990 Mel Gibson film, Hamlet.<\/p>\n The site of Dunnottar Catle had religious significance to the Picts prior to the arrival of St. Ninian and Catholicism in the 5th Century.\u00a0 It is thought that the original chapel was founded by St. Ninian at that time.\u00a0 The standing ruins were built in the 15th and 16th centuries, although there are many references to a castle at Dunnottar prior to then.\u00a0 The castle was built by William Keith and his descendent who held the castle as the seat of Earl Marischal until the Jacobite rebellion in 1715.\u00a0 It had been falling apart since then, until restoration began in 1925.\u00a0 It is probably most famous for its role in hiding the Scottish Crown Jewels from Oliver Cromwell.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It was pretty cool!<\/p>\n Next up,\u00a0 we headed back into Stonehaven for fish and chips.\u00a0 Emily ran across an article some time last year that announced that the winner of the best fish and chip shop in the UK <\/a>in 2013 was in Stonehaven, so we had to seek it out.\u00a0 The Bay fish and chip shop definitely lived up to the billing. We wandered along the beach and through town a little more before hitting the road to Aberdeen for dinner with the extended family.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n