Curious Bystander

The Week Ahead – Cafe’s, St Andrews and Various bits of Culture

Hey, still to show you more of my exploits in the delightful town (or city?) of St Andrews. Check this out, what a cool wee pub by the 17th Hole:

The Jigger Inn

A great place for a late night pint. The pub has been there for some time and is now run by the Old Course Hotel.

As said before, will show more snaps of St Andrews, but not really about golf, as it is just SO self-contained, with culture, a university, theatres, etc.

I personally love the architecture and noted that there are some small similarities with other universities such as Oxford!

A drive along the Ochils, and a visit (short) to Dollar, Scotland

On the way back from St Andrews, managed to sneak in a lunch in the delightful, at the foot of the Ochils village of Dollar.

I’ve been here before, and it’s literally a one town road, at the base of some very nice hiking possibilities, and which contains a very famous and respected private school.

The small village of Dollar, is at the foot of the Ochils, and home to the prestigious Dollar Academy.

Have been here before and at the SAME exact restaurant – Café des Fleurs – one that is of a superior quality, with a queue outside, mainly for coffees.

Where the food was both rustic and delicious, even with proper bread, for the huge portions. It seemed to be a real hub of activity for such a small place, with the bus stop in front of it, having its very own library! 4.5 / 5.

This week – Not much, I’ve had more surgery. . .

But, will do another report from my recent St Andrews trip, and look at the village of Dollar that I visited for lunch on the way back.

But first, more street art from Glasgow:

From afar:

St Andrews, Scotland – Part 1

What a lovely, self-contained city-village, a new word.

I’ve been here many times before, but not for a quick, New Year break. This place has everything; from the Cathedral ruins, to the beach, to the golf courses & museums, to the University, to a thriving craft beer / brewery scene, to a very compact city centre, ideal for walking, etc.

Room, view from room; it was Christmas season

I decided for a change, to go luxury; not really my scene, but the Old Course Hotel had everything for the discerning traveller, including excellent views of the Old Course itself.

The amazing thing, is that the Old Course is closed to golfers on the Sunday (to my knowledge) that resulted in us being allowed (along with many tourists, people with dogs, etc) to simply wander about on it – how cool! And for you who are not golfers, it’s a lovely, manicured walk.

From the “Road Hole” – Number 17, to the Road Hole bunker, to the 18th

At the end of the walk, you come to the 18th green, and the Royal and Ancient Clubhouse.

More later.

The Week Ahead – More trips (St Andrews) from New Year, more cafes, more whatever.

Yes, we are back into the swing, though will have to be back in the operating theatre quite soon.

Finally have been travelling a bit and will look at my recent two day trip to St Andrews in Scotland (Ed; Again?), where I stayed at none other than the Old Course Hotel! A fine place indeed.

Where the room were spectacular and the history, even on the walls, was superb (below).

Photographs from past champions in 2019, men’s & women’s, on your hotel room’s wall

In addition, some random notes from around Glasgow, some cafe & restaurant reviews and other trivia.

Dunkeld – Perthshire visit – Part 3

The final stop of my recent visit to the Perthshire region, was a complete surprise when we decided to have a quick couple of hours in Dunkeld.

Note, I’ve been here before, but not to this section of the village, which is difficult to believe as it’s actually quite small here. The other part is Birnam, a quarter of a mile south.

We came here via the A984 from Blairgowrie – what a very pleasant surprise, as the road was dead quiet (it was a Wednesday afternoon), and we happened to go through a delightful hamlet called Spittalfield, complete with café and village green. It also seemed like an ideal area for a bicycle tour, as the Number 7 from Sustrans (and others paths) go through this area.

What was interesting to me (above), was the monied type of feel here, a Monte Carlo(!) of the Highlands; you could almost smell it, and a walk along the High Street proved this as well. We found a wine bar / shop that served me the best sandwich I’ve ever had, but have no idea what the name of the café was The Scottish Deli? – but it was near the Palmerston Cafe, and has only been around the last year. Where I washed it down with a fine, vintage Port!

Later, we walked over the bridge and then made our way back to Glasgow

Spittal of Glenshee / Perthshire visit – Part 2

Continuing on from Part 1, I decided to stay at the delightful Dalmunzie Castle hotel– a throwback to another age, though with all the mod cons, and a surprising modern ethic & friendly staff.

Equally, the restaurant was Michelin rated, and the pork with some sort of “hash brown” included, was divine.

Various, including a Bar Billiards table

The place is still part of a mammoth estate, south of the Cairngorms, and has an old school vibe and attached 9-hole golf course, where we had a walk the next day; and although it was a golf course, the views were still stunning.

After the course hike, we then travelled to the nearby village / town of Dunkeld – which will be in Part 3 (a complete surprise)

Spittal of Glenshee / Perthshire visit – Part 1

Finally got out the house to do some walking, etc., and was quite surprised by the beauty of small (very) things.

We headed to the Spittal of Glenshee, a remote area just south of the Cairngorms and the Glenshee Skiing “resort” in Central Scotland. We went from Glasgow, then Stirlingshire, and finally, the A9 (now an almost complete dual carriageway), to Pitlochry. Where there was a great deal of low fog – looked spooky.

From Pitlochry, it was then on a simply dreadful road (the A924 with black ice), that turned into the B950, that then lead us on to the A93 (running between the Spittal and Blairgowrie). From here, it was easy to see the Cairngorms, where the Glenshee Ski Resort is located.

From here, we had the turnoff to our destination of the night, the Dalmunzie Castle hotel, which we will have more on tomorrow.

The Week Ahead, the year in Review (if I feel like it) / Vino Valentino, Glasgow –

Can’t wait til I can Travel again . . . .

The final week of the year, and it has ended just like the last one, with us locked up and I for one am tired of it, considering I’ve been treble vaxxed. But I never do politics and will once again for the foreseeable future, simply have to make my own fun.

I will give my music single and album of the year, TV of the year and try to do a movie of the year, though did not really see any to be fair!

But during the last week, had to have a wine and popped in to a delightful, local, wine bar, Vino Valentino, only a stone’s throw from the house; where after asking for advice for a fruity wine, received one and it was a hit.

Vino Valentino – Various Shots

It’s small and quaint, and believe only about a dozen can fit in, at a squeeze. Also, they do a limited food platter that I’ve seen but never have tried.

Recommended!

More Glasgow Street Art – With a belated Climate Theme

Interesting this one, with all the walking about of the last few weeks, I’d noticed this wee gem somewhere in the West End of Glasgow.

This is even more interesting, as the @fifthwallvc, is actually a corporate, international investment group?

Interesting