Lock Leven

A bit south of us is Loch Leven, a small lake with even smaller islands in it.



On the largest of the islands, St. Serf's Inch, Mary, Queen of Scots was imprisoned in 1567 for a short while. It in the castle you see below that she was kept. During the summer, there is a ferry that runs to this island. Another thing we didn't get to do during a winter visit.

Around the edges of the loch are plenty of water birds.

Here is an egret standing guard.

Near the shore is a small cemetery. Many of the graves are those of war veterans. Especially the first world war.

Part of what makes this place special is the snow sprinkled hills around it.

One could do worse than spend eternity with this view.

And clearly, many chose this location for their final rest. Even those who felt the need to put shovels and a skull and crossbones on their stone.

The view across the loch is quite impressive.

Some of the stones here are intricately carved.

Some have interesting designs. I suppose this might be a carpenter, engineer, or architect.

One of the people memorialized here on this stone was killed at Gallipoli.

This kneeling angel caught my attention.

And this stone reveals that two of the sons were killed in action. This is one of those tweets engraved on stone that tells a multigenerational tale of a family.

The graves of small children always pluck the heartstrings.

Interestingly, in one corner of the cemetery is this monument erected to Robert Burns-Begg, the grandnephew of the poet. He was a much loved member of the community around Loch Leven and this stone was erected in his honor.