Curious Bystander

The Cateran Trail – Part 4 (we cheated) to Bridge of Cally / Blairgowrie / The Strawberry Farm Shop, north of Perth

After the arrival in Kirkmichael and a bought lunch (tasted great!), we headed via car, to Bridge of Cally, with the intention of walking to Blairgowrie, which went astray! We stayed the night and the next day shifted with the car to Blairgowrie.

Various shots in Bridge of Cally – Last shot showed a fatal car accident!

What a very small place, with the hotel the Bridge of Cally hotel, being packed yet the food was wonderful – world class btw. We needed the sleep and chill, and the next morning, I discovered that the A93 to the front of the hotel was closed. After I enquired, I was told that this was due to yet another road fatality on the A93 to Blairgowrie. I can only say, that on the same road heading south to BOC, the level of driving whether a caravan or not, was simply appalling! Take care, though this may have been due to the fact that this was one of the first days where travelling was allowed after COVID.

Once in Blairgowrie, where we discovered that they are the Strawberry or Berry capital of the World, we went for a short roam, and found a path on the Cateran Trail, that followed the river into the town. Some shots are below, and was struck by the sheer beauty of the place. Afterwards had a tea / cake in a cafe, the delightful Cateran Cafe in the heart of Blairgowrie.

Various shots in and around Blairgowrie (note the new flats via Savilles!

Finally, after leaving on the A93 again to Perth, we came to a bend in the road and just simply HAD to stop at the best stocked farm shop (The Strawberry Farm Shop) I’ve seen. The cake / pecan pie / brownie was heaven!

After about £60 worth of grub was bought, we stumbled back to Glasgow.

The Strawberry Farm Shop, just north of Scone

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.