Mary and a hawk

Mary Queen of Scots loved visiting Falkland Palace in Fife as it was one of the Stuart monarchs’ favourite retreats.  There she felt very happy away from the intrigues of normal Court life  and enjoyed riding, playing Real Tennis on the oldest court in Scotland, hunting in the surrounding forests and hawking.  This wicker sculpture represents her with a hawk in the old orchard at the palace.

It was not difficult in today's fine weather today to see why Mary liked visiting Falkland.  The village with its quaint little streets and palace lies in the lee of hills overlooking fertile farmland and signs of spring were everywhere.

This is part of my occasional series on places connected with the famous, but tragic, Mary Queen of Scots (see the tags)

(Mary Queen of Scots 8)