Oh, come on, what would you have come up with ? It’s certainly in a magical location, with a view across the Moray Firth to Cromarty and the start of the UK’s biggest GBG desert (next Guide stop John O’ Groats). Charlie Chaplin used to come here on holiday. Sadly his NBSS scores for the… Continue reading THE CHRONICLE OF NAIRN-IA
Tag: Scotland
INVERNESS PART III – WEE JOCKS AND ALIENS
You left me in the second new GBG entry in Inverness at 7pm, pondering how to spend the rest of my evening before LBC becomes listenable. I could have walked up and down the Joker Steps 127 times (not smoking). I could have walked round town taking photos of all the listed buildings. I could… Continue reading INVERNESS PART III – WEE JOCKS AND ALIENS
INVERNESS PART II – AMERICANS GO “WOW”
Last time in Inverness, I’d been impressed with pubs and beer quality. If Edinburgh = Manchester and Glasgow = London, then Inverness = Cambridge. Don’t @ me. But two of those, the Phoenix and Blackfriars, are (temporarily) closed so it’s a good job there’s a Spoons, Brewery Tap and fiddle pub to take up the… Continue reading INVERNESS PART II – AMERICANS GO “WOW”
INVERNESS PART I – BELIEVE
Back in Inverness at dusk, I headed straight for the now iconic Joker Steps. I’ve no idea why those folk are heading for the Bronx to do the iconic dance when they’re in the Highlands. It’s four years since I last visited Inverness, back in the early days of this blog when even 100 words… Continue reading INVERNESS PART I – BELIEVE
IT’S A LONG WAY FROM TIPPERARY TO BLAIR ATHOLL
You’ll probably have worked out by now I failed in my Orkney expedition. By the time I reached Inverness after a breathtaking stretch of A9 I’d worked out that exploring the Cairngorms by train, and a night on the town by Loch Ness (#Believe), was more enticing than another 4 hour slog up to Lands… Continue reading IT’S A LONG WAY FROM TIPPERARY TO BLAIR ATHOLL
MOULIN BROWN
Some things I appreciated about Scotland on this trip… It’s always sunny Complete disinterest in the Rugby World Cup among locals Fewer lorries on the dual carriageways Train stations mandatory within a mile of any GBG pub That’s a civilised country, if you ask me. OK, there aren’t masses of trains, but just enough to… Continue reading MOULIN BROWN
A HAGGIS SUPPER BY THE TAY
Yes, you’re hooked now, aren’t you? First of all, my second GBG tick in Dunkeld, which had the “Royal” in its name but was clearly relying on Inter v Borussia Dortmund to draw in the gentlefolk diners. And local beers, of course. I was the only one not wearing a jumper (there was a heatwave… Continue reading A HAGGIS SUPPER BY THE TAY
A CAMRA/BREWDOG TRUCE IN PERTH
With four hours ’till the CAMRA Weekend opened to mere mortals I took the 20 minute journey to Perth, home of three GBG ticks AND a Brew Dog bar. Unlike BRAPA, there aren’t many towns left to visit with more than a lone new Guide pub to visit now (though there’s NINE in Plymouth). The… Continue reading A CAMRA/BREWDOG TRUCE IN PERTH
DUNDEE CULTURAL INTERLUDE
Day 2 of the CAMRA Weekend, and an early start for Dundee with an advance ticket beautifully stamped with a cutout of a choo-choo train. Just for Tom Irvin. My seat gave me a prime view for an on-board ScotRail art piece called “Extreme Noise vs The Wedding Present”. The noisiest wrapping in the history… Continue reading DUNDEE CULTURAL INTERLUDE
SUNSHINE ON LEITH
My Deuchars itch successfully scratched at the Oxford, I headed along the Water of Leith to my second Edinburgh tick. Well, close to the Water as it weaves magically through the piano and pashmina heartlands of Broughton and Warriston towards Leith and the Dreadnought. The Dreadnought would turn out to be my third great pub… Continue reading SUNSHINE ON LEITH
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