James has been back a day and isn’t missing Sheffield. Yet.
I asked him for some ideas for bloggable day trips we could do.
“Isle of Man ?” They don’t want us, the meanies.
“John O’ Groats ?”. Let’s see….
Not sure it’s even allowed under Nicola’s rules, which is a shame as I’ve never been to JoG.
Limiting the trip to Inverness would knock four hours off the time, which could be usefully deployed in Carluke or Barnard Castle on the way home.
Inverness, whose main famous son is not this chap,
but this chap.
Yes, Curry Charles may witter on about Bathgate but he’s a Son of the ‘Ness, which looked mighty fine last Autumn.
I made a good night out of it, back then, though the Clachnaharry was just beyond my reach.
High tables, electronic display screen, weird numbering system, contactless, grapefruit murk.
A pub for the American tourist and music lover (mutually exclusive in my experience); plenty of “Wow !” “Taste this Blackcurrant sour !” and “Awesome”
The burger wasn’t cheap but was possibly the best I’ve ever had, and I’m a man of burger experience.
As you can see, the Scots invented socially distanced queueing in 2019. Look how determined the bloke on the left is to not push in.
During our 5 minutes at the bar I interrogated him on Nessie sightings the ale turnover (“flies out on curry night“) and was urged to ask for tasters at the bar. You know me better than that.
No.27 is a good cafe bar,
but always finish at the Castle (top).
They had the Windswept Werewolf on, and a little table next to the French diners bewildered by the menu, and again I thought it was wonderful.
Who says Scottish beer is rubbish ?
retiredmartin 
Nice to see Inverness again.
It would be nice to see Inverness again.
I’ve been to all those pubs except MacGregors. Last time I was in the Clachnaharry the beer was not as good as I remembered from previous visits, but on checking my review on Pubs Galore (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/50225/), it turns out this was getting on for eight years ago, when I was a younger man than I am now.
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You’re still young, Will. Its the hat.
My Clachnaharry visit was summer ’98 during the World Cup, wish I’d made the walk over the Ness.
McGregors would be to your taste, heavy focus on craft keg and whisky. Not quite Devonshire Cat but a similar vibe.
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That King’s Highway might be the most northerly of Tim’s venues I’ve used.
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Most northerly for me too. There is one at Wick. (thought it was on the market).
What did you think of Inverness ?
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Further north I tend to get to Thurso rather than Wick
I like Inverness but probably prefer Perth or Dundee.
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I believe there’s one in Elgin, which I visited in 2013. One of 2 – the other in LLandudno.
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You’ve only been to two Wetherspoons ? Impressive restraint.
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Oh, and Windsor. That makes three. Enjoyed them all.
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Hello Martin. MacGregors. Curiosities and taxidermy, where are the photos? I was convinced as I scrolled down that this would provide a rich seam of material for your photographic collection. Curiosties abound on the blog normally. Stuffed animals and lord knows what else, waiting, hungry to be recorded forever… (Ruefully shaking head…)
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Hi Andy.
Hope you’re surviving and can reopen your lovely pub safely.
Press the link under the McGregors and you’ll see my full write-up from last year, but it was a long day in the highlands and I fear I may have let you down on the taxidermy 😉
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