UK and Europe 4 month sojourn!

[RooFlyer]

The Giants Causeway

Just phwoar!

 

[Scash]

The weather was finally a bit kinder to us so we decided to do the trek to Arthur’s Seat. It’s a bit of a challenge and steep in parts but worth it for the views.

 

[Scash]

Today was Mrs Scash‘s birthday (and a special one at that) so the celebrations started with a glass or two at the neighbourhood wine bar Spry. This place specialises in naturally made wines and has an extensive list. We started with some bubbles and then moved on to an orange wine for the bride and son and a rose’ for me.

 

[Scash]

We then headed out to The Free Company Farm to Fork Restaurant in Balerno Midlothian (about an hour by public bus). The bus dropped us near the farm gate where we are met by the restaurant staff and transported to the restaurant in a Land Rover. They produce most of their own food raising pigs, sheep and cows and grow a variety of crops. The menu is seasonal and you enjoy six courses. It is a pay what you think situation but you are guided. Well worth it in my opinion.

 

[Scash]

We decided to have a break from Edinburgh and headed to Newcastle upon Tyne for the night. If the bridge looks familiar it’s because the same peoples that designed this bridge also designed the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

They do love their bridges in this part of the world as there’s about 4 bridges within close proximity.


And this is their version of the opera house

 

[Scash]

After all that bridge spotting we needed to rest and rehydrate and as luck would have it there was a coughtail bar nearby . And even luckier it was happy hour with 2 for 1 coughtails. The bar is called Be At One and coughtails were all freshly made and were very delicious. They place was really funky and they played some great music.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Just phwoar!

ahaha. Some travel to "Get their rocks off" and some travel "For the rocks!"

 

[TheRealTMA]

If going North, consider Culloden battlefield, Dufftown for whisky and many more, Knockando Woolmill, Clava Cairns near Inverness, (Ness Walk hotel in Inverness for a stay), Falkirk Wheel and the Kelpies, drive through Scottish highlands and Cairngorms, from Edinburgh the Outlander tour,...

Edinburgh - Leith (port) is good for restaurants from Mattin Wishart and Kitchin. (Also HMY Britannia on bus line)

 

[TheRealTMA]

another comment on Edinburgh. We always hire our cars from Avis Prestige - might be a little more expensive given the cars they hire - but they deliver and pick up car direct to/from your hotel. Saves a lot of stuffing around.

 

[Scash]

If going North, consider Culloden battlefield, Dufftown for whisky and many more, Knockando Woolmill, Clava Cairns near Inverness, (Ness Walk hotel in Inverness for a stay), Falkirk Wheel and the Kelpies, drive through Scottish highlands and Cairngorms, from Edinburgh the Outlander tour,...

Edinburgh - Leith (port) is good for restaurants from Mattin Wishart and Kitchin. (Also HMY Britannia on bus line)

Thanks @TheRealTMA. We are just planning our road trip now and appreciate the suggestions. We are borrowing the kids car so thankfully don’t have to deal with a hire car which makes it easier.

Our son has also recommended Kitchin and it is on the list to go to. Edinburgh is obviously a culinary city as it has 5 Michelin star restaurants whereas I don’t think Australia has any (although there are some very good restaurants in Aus).

 

[TheRealTMA]

Thanks @TheRealTMA. We are just planning our road trip now and appreciate the suggestions. We are borrowing the kids car so thankfully don’t have to deal with a hire car which makes it easier.

Our son has also recommended Kitchin and it is on the list to go to. Edinburgh is obviously a culinary city as it has 5 Michelin star restaurants whereas I don’t think Australia has any (although there are some very good restaurants in Aus).

There’s good eating in Edinburgh and overall food in Scotland is good. Michelin inspectors can’t handle the 23 hr flights to Australia with only airline food, so they never come here.

Look fwd to where you visit.

 

[Scash]

After a few days of downtime back in Edinburgh we headed west to Glasgow. The place was pumping as they had just hosted a major cycling event plus the World Pipe Band championship were being held there. We did a walking tour of Glasgow incorporating many of the murals that have been commissioned and also others that haven’t been. There are certainly some amazing street artists here with each piece having it‘s own story.

Some commissioned pieces.



Commissioned art of possibly Glasgow‘s favourite son Billy Connolly. A younger Billy Connolly.



And one done for his 75th birthday

 

[Scash]

Some random street art. The detail in some of these works is incredible. The eyes of the Ostrich show a reflection of the bridge it is looking towards.

 

[Scash]

This is a small piece on the back of a sharps bin and is supposedly a Banksy original. It is quite small and difficult to photograph as the bin is very close to a wall.

 

[VPS]

If you're still in Glasgow and have time. Kelvingrove museum Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and Pollok Country Park - Glasgow City Council
Both excellent

 

[Scash]

Thanks @VPS. I’ve left Glasgow and am back in Edinburgh. Our days have been quite full and I don’t always find the tIme for daily updates so they are a little behind.

 

[Scash]

Surprisingly there is an AFL comp in Scotland with 5 clubs from Scotland and 1 from Newcastle upon Tyne. Our son and his partner both play for the Edinburgh Bloods teams and both the men’s and women’s teams made the grand final. The other finalists were the Glasgow Sharks men’s and women’s team. The final was held at a neutral ground in Linlithgow and we ventured along to watch it. The game is played a rugby field (or pitch as they call it here) with 9 a side as opposed to the normal 18 a side. being from QLD I’m not really an AFL follower but it was a good day being involved with the local club. Unfortunately the women lost but the men had a good victory and a great day all round.


Silly Sunday drinks the day after the GF. Not sure how many of them had actually sobered up from the night before!

 

[Scash]

Our next bit of sightseeing was to Cramond Island. We caught the bus to Cramond then a short walk to the start of the causeway to the island. The causeway is tidal and the island can only be reached on low tides as the tides can vary by around 3 metres and the causeway is completely covered. The structures beside the causeway were built during WW2 to stop torpedo boats entering the harbour. Once on the island there are some amazing views from the old bunker plus from the top of the hill.


The bunker which has been gratified plus views from the bunker.

And the causeway at high tide (these are stock photos and are not mine).

 

[Scash]

A quick egg coffee at a local Vietnamese cafe

 

[Scash]

The flower clock in Princes St Edinburgh.