Visiting a print shop, Rosslyn Chapel and The Kelpies

After a lovely chat with our B&B hosts we headed to Innerleithen to check out Robert Smail's Printing Works.  However, when we got there we discovered there was a delay in the opening time due to a staffing issue.  We stuck around even though our schedule was thrown off a bit.  We were rewarded with an informative tour of the print shop.  The guide was fun and very knowledgeable.  He creates the items you see in the gift shop along with posters and such seen around the buildings.  We were even given the chance to set type and create a bookmark of our own.  While this gent was no A. Malcom,  I really enjoyed this site.

Unfortunately our delay at the print shop caused us to arrive at Rosslyn Chapel later than we had planned on.  Unlike many churches/cathedrals/etc. that are free to enter, Rosslyn Chapel does have an admission fee.  This chapel is still a active place of worship so check your schedule ahead of time to make sure you're not arriving during a service.  We arrived at 4 p.m. and went straight inside to marvel at the details that have made the chapel famous.  Seeing the interior in person is so different from travel shows or documentaries about the chapel and it's sometimes hard to decide exactly where to look next.  There are guide cards that point out features as you walk around.  It's a fairly small church and can get crowded so being patient is a must.  This is the only place we felt rushed during our entire trip!  The chapel closes at 5 but the staff was rushing us out before 4:45.  We had already finished the interior but I never made it completely around the outside before the staff made us return to the visitors center.  An hour would have been the perfect amount of time to spend here.  

After leaving Rosslyn Chapel we checked into our hotel and dropped off our luggage.  There is nothing remarkable about the hotel as it was just a chain but it was clean and the bed was comfortable.  We drove from there to see the Kelpies.  These are the largest equine sculptures in the world and they are beautiful.  We went after all the vendors and the visitor center had closed for the day but before the sculptures were lit for the night.  The crowds were lighter at this time of day and that made parking easier.  

On our way back to the car we spotted this swan family in the canal.  They were so sweet!  We watched them for a bit and then called it a day.  This was a heavy driving day for us but we still managed to get in all the things my husband had planned and we enjoyed every site we visited.