Back to the First Great Scottish Saunter of June 2022, and one of those joyful discoveries of a place for the first time. Yes, you, Burntisland, tempting me with your free overnight parking by the Leisure Centre*. I didn’t really park that close to the sea, but others did. I arrived at the same time… Continue reading BARMAN’S PICK, BARGAIN PRAWNS IN BURNTISLAND
Tag: Scotland
THE CROWN WEARS THE CROWN IN KINGHORN
The Scottish GBG entries along the Firth of Forth (of Fife) were very good, pubs for the connoisseur (not the one who likes St Helen brewery taps), but they were a bit quiet. Not the Crown, which I reached at the Golden Hour of 17:30 after admiring the “beach”, and viaducts. You’re not far from… Continue reading THE CROWN WEARS THE CROWN IN KINGHORN
CARPET SHOPPING IN ABERDOUR
I do hope “carpet shopping” isn’t a euphemism for something like tasters (or worse). In 1999 we subjected our newborn son to a succession of Ryanair flights on the reasonable basis he had a free seat ’till he was two years old. Our flights typically cost £9.99, which explains how we’ve killed the planet for… Continue reading CARPET SHOPPING IN ABERDOUR
SINGING ALONG TO KC & THE SUNSHINE BAND IN DALGETY BAY
Scotland is a wonderful country, full of “characterful” individuals and battered food stuffs. And a decent train line along the Fife coast built especially to help tickers. The Hillend Tavern is listed under Hillend, rather than the Dalgety Bay station you arrive at, or Lesser Cowdenbeath or whatever. Hillend is a deadend village in the… Continue reading SINGING ALONG TO KC & THE SUNSHINE BAND IN DALGETY BAY
ANOTHER PUB TICKER CRASHES THE WAKE – IT’S THE BIG TREND OF 2022
A lovely day today chatting American politics, obscure Scottish roads and curry with my 2019 Pub Man of the year and her husband. Dave and I agreed (a rarity) than BRAPA’s blog is on an all-time low, and I admitted that I nick stuff freely off his blog because he’s too busy upgrading mascots to… Continue reading ANOTHER PUB TICKER CRASHES THE WAKE – IT’S THE BIG TREND OF 2022
HAGGIS CIGARS CALLING, THE LOTHIANS HAVE FALLEN
“Tell them about the haggis cigars” said no-one ever. So I’ll tell you about the haggis cigars in an otherwise unremarkable pub in the Lothians, (something to do with Marillion, I think). You CAN’T actually smoke them, and smoking is wrong, but hunting haggi is fine, apparently. It was so unremarkable a GBG pub I… Continue reading HAGGIS CIGARS CALLING, THE LOTHIANS HAVE FALLEN
BASS ROCK AND STEAMPUNK
Never let anyone think this blog is all about pubs. It’s all about the Bass; or the Bass Rock, in this case. Some folk think this bit of rock at North Berwick contains a secret bonus pub that will be in CAMRA’s 50th Good Beer Guide (collectors edition). Which is ridiculous, everyone knows that there’s… Continue reading BASS ROCK AND STEAMPUNK
COUNTING THE CHIPS IN NORTH BERWICK
My North Berwick target ticked, I had a range of options before returning to the warm embrace of Baa Baa Toure in a campervan parked with sight of Bass Rock. Faced with a choice of a) Swim out to Bass Rock or b) revisit the Ship, I took the sensible option, rare for me. The… Continue reading COUNTING THE CHIPS IN NORTH BERWICK
BACK TO THE AULD HOOSE – NORTH BERWICK DELIVERS
Nice carpet, Old Hoose. And a gorgeous Scottish seaside town I failed to do justice to in 2018 but made it up to last month. You can park for free overnight along the coast within sight of Bass Rock, which is one of life’s great bargains. I bet North Berwick Council and read this and… Continue reading BACK TO THE AULD HOOSE – NORTH BERWICK DELIVERS
STILL LOOKING FOR THAT SHILLING IN GULLANE
It was all going so well. Then I had to go to golf-mad Gullane, the St Andrews of the South (except it doesn’t have a university or craft beer). A few years ago my dad stayed at one of the hotels here on a golfing trip with mates from the ‘Beach, so he’d probably done… Continue reading STILL LOOKING FOR THAT SHILLING IN GULLANE
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