shylustig

The Week Ahead / Cateran Trail – Part 3

This week, will finish a look at my recent trip doing part of the Cateran Trail, where we finished the top, circular part. We will also look at some recipes, restaurant / cafe reviews from Glasgow, and a look at Glasgow highlights (their Churches) and maybe a “First Hit, Last Hit” from a pop band from the past . . .

Cateran Trail:

We will finish the walk later in the year, but would first say, that it is one of those rare walks that is circular, and is therefore a relief for people who simply want to start / end in the same spot (where they have either travelled to using public transport, or have parked their car).

The final day, we decamped and left to return to Kirkmichael, in Perthshire. This was probably the most enjoyable of the three days, as it was only 4 to 5 hours to walk, was sunny and was mostly downhill!

Whilst finally in Kirkmichael, I had a very interesting talk with the shop assistant, who told me that they (the village) had had a very tough time during COVID, and the winter. She also noted that the village itself had fewer and fewer people residing there, as the flats in front of the shop on the High Street, were virtually ALL holiday lets.

Depressing . . .

The Bothy – West End, Glasgow

Have I spoke about this place before? Not sure, but during the lockdown, there has been a noticeable change here; gone are the fish n chips (!), gone is the nouveau Scottish cuisine, and in comes a semi-form of deconstruction, that to be blunt, is not my scene.

I had the ham hocks to start, and the cod for a main, and both were fine, as in “fine”, but honestly I would’ve loved to have had the old school fish n chips, with a batter that you could eat on its own, and a portion that was large enough to take home and graze from for the next week.

Will this be the future for Glasgow restaurants? Are the smaller portions more profitable? So many questions.

Cateran Trail – Part 2 – Lunch Hut to Lair

Day 2, as we were just so close to the Lunch Hut –

Towards Lunch Hut, Visitors Book (with Queen Victoria), Inside Hut, Looking back to Hut

(only around a corner from where we camped at, the night before), we stopped there and used our stove inside (shame on us) to make a cup of tea.

From here, as the weather was sensational (and after reading some dreadful bothy graffiti, and the wonderful signature book), we headed off to the summit of An Lairig (a pass between two higher peaks), at a height of 648 meters, that had wonderful views looking back on the route where we had come from.

From here, it was all downhill to the Spittal of Glenshee, that unfortunately was completely closed due to COVID. It would’ve been a welcome relief with its one café, but from here, it was now to head east, then south onwards to Lair, and a shop / café at the Wee House of Glenshee, on the A93. We arrived too late and hence, after another 10 minutes, just over the A93, we camped for a second night.

Various shots from Spittal of Glenshee to Lair

This week / Cateran Trail, Perthshire, Scotland

Another week, and I’ve been so busy, but am writing now more than before (finally). Will give a review of a restaurant (a changing one) that I’ve been to recently in Glasgow, but will start with a recent walking holiday, on the little known Cateran Trail, in Perthshire – Will be back as well!

The Cateran Trail:

Had heard of this a few years past, when in Kirkmichael / Blairgowrie, and felt intrigued, as it was both circular, and remote – We needed to use a tent two nights.

The first day, we travelled from Kirkmichael to just by the Lunch Hut (Used by none other than Queen Victoria a long time ago!) on the way to Spittal of Glenshee. Enjoy the fotos, it was actually quite warm, and the stream next to the tent site was beautiful to drink from.

Week Ahead / Brutti Compadres Platos Pequenos – Glasgow, Merchant City

I am once again on a working holiday, but will give you some snaps from a recent walk in the Cateran Way, in Perthshire in Scotland, in addition to some other reviews, music, etc.

But to start, last weekend it was a typical lockdown day, stuck in Glasgow, why not a cycle ride to the Merchant City in Glasgow, for a “secret” restaurant to eat at.https://www.brutticompadres.com/ – which is down a lane in the Merchant City, in Glasgow; between Miller and Virginia Streets (in Virginia Court) – is an oasis from traffic and pedestrians.

The nachos, albondigas and more nachos!

It was a Sunday, and surprisingly, they were open and very welcoming; with a Spanish tinged menu.

It hit the spot, and with the vibe of having your own outside court to sit in, where we even had space to park our three bikes, it was a relief and something that we’ll be repeating in the future.

The week ahead . . . / Balbirs West End, Glasgow

As I’m on holiday, I’ll still try to do some blogging this week and being in England currently, I’ve already noticed that the weather is just so much warmer down here!

This week will be posting some holiday snaps from the last few weeks; will continue showing a Glasgow foto here and there; and try to highlight a café / restaurant that I’ve partaken of recently, in these dreadful COVID days.

So, what about a restaurant review?

This concerns Balbirs in the West End, which is a slightly more, upmarket Indian restaurant, that has always to me been very friendly.

As the lockdown finally ended a few weeks ago, we were able to go to the West End and sit down inside, but of course without alcohol, which I don’t really mind forsaking to be honest!

This wasn’t the only thing that I enjoyed, as due to this recent’ish lockdown, I took advice from the server as to any “low calorie” ideas that she had in mind. In a few minutes, a more senior colleague recommended the shish kebabs, that were both low in sauces / fat and tasted delicious! Why don’t I do this more (asking for any recommendations?)? I will in the future.

The price is about what you should expect and the decor, and professionalism is superb – will go again and again and again.

Glasgow Photo of the Week

One of these weeks, will start a look at the various churches we possess in Glasgow, so as a teaser, what about this photo of one former, and one current church using a zoom lens even!

Websters Theatre and St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral

And a more close up shot:

The first is a previous Church of Scotland, but now a theatre, events centre, whilst the second is the current Scottish Episcopal cathedral of the Glasgow and Galloway diocese.

The former having the third thinnest steeple in all of Europe? Or so I was told in the past.

Week Ahead / Film of Last Week!

Glasgow, churches, and “I ate it so you don’t have to!”

Another week approaches, and will delve into detail on certain churches here in Glasgow – a must for anyone wishing to visit.

Also, will start looking back at some travels, as current travelling is verboten! For those of you who don’t know, we’ve been locked down here in Glasgow for some time.

Finally, will resurrect an old idea; you know that stuff in Iceland or Tesco, that you simply would NEVER buy and eat! Well, we did, and will give our review of one of Bentos’ products here for your perusal. I’ve had one before and it was simply dreadful!

We plane forgot to do many things last week; one was our film or TV of the week, a brilliant piece on witchcraft, “Night of the Eagle”, with Peter Wyngarde (who would go on to be a superstar in the UK in the early 70s) from 1962, as an academic with a witch of a wife.

Low key, black & white and at times spooky, on a very low budget. Why can’t they make ’em like that any more? It was once again, on that more and more brilliant channel, Talking Movies, I believe channel 81 for those with Freeview.

If not, it can be viewed on Daily Motion, here.

Glasgow, Woodlands – New Cubes Installed?

Have you ever just wandered, this time to go into town, and then something, and I mean something, just strikes your eye?

This happened today when I was confronted by a series of glass cubes, temporary in nature in the Woodlands / Kelvingrove area.

Cubes on the corner of Eldon and Park roads, West End

The area where they are located is actually both in front of the north exit to Kelvingrove Park, and in front of St Silas Episcopal church. Perhaps they will be used by either, or if they have it this year, the Gibson Street Gala, which is normally only up the road by about 50 metres, and usually takes place each year’ish, every June for a few days (or a day?) at about the same time as the West End Festival runs; though I am not too sure.

Café – Coffee Club, Clydebank

Have you ever just wondered into an area or place, not knowing what to expect? Or, as in my case, have you ever been desperate to go to a place, as it is literally your last port of call (in this case, due to the lockdown that we still have in Glasgow)? As the above graphic shows, the nearest place is at least a few kms away; with the location on the A82 being ideal.

Owing to our still being in Level 3, this café is the furthest one can “go West!” and still legally be in obeyance to the law. It wasn’t a mistake to do it.

It’s a strange one, on one hand, there is a golf shop attached to it, and on the other there’s a mini-golf area, resplendent with an accompanying giant dinosaur! Brilliant!

Equally, there’s an eccentric mix here; posh golfers, moms and weans, businesspeople (as it’s the only place near here that does coffee), and the locals. They’re here for one thing in my opinion though, the food, from the café / restaurant is simply delicious, with enormous portions – served quick and ably. I had the Coronation chicken sarnie with tea.

Honestly, that’s all I expect nowadays, and they have simply never failed me on my infrequent times here, especially on the way back from the Highlands.

4 / 5