The original hotel, pictured before, dates back to the 1860s.
We're staying in one of the courtyard cottages (townhouses). Very comfortable and well appointed. Just did a roast dinner tonight! Bit of a drizzly 11c 'summer' day.
Very tame ducks!
Tuesday, 27 June 2017
Moness Resort, Aberfeldy
Our next stop, Aberfeldy, in the foothills of the highlands. It's our 3rd time here - a beautiful part of the Perthshire countryside. We couldn't stay in our favourite farmhouse cottage, Dunskiag (Summer rates just a little too pricey!), but Fiona has done extremely well (again!) with alternative accommodation at Moness resort.
The original hotel, pictured before, dates back to the 1860s.
We're staying in one of the courtyard cottages (townhouses). Very comfortable and well appointed. Just did a roast dinner tonight! Bit of a drizzly 11c 'summer' day.
The original hotel, pictured before, dates back to the 1860s.
We're staying in one of the courtyard cottages (townhouses). Very comfortable and well appointed. Just did a roast dinner tonight! Bit of a drizzly 11c 'summer' day.
Moffat Water Hall inaugural Beer Festival
Trust Fiona to find something as obscure as the inaugural Moffat Water (community) Hall Beer Festival! Moffat Water is about 10 minutes up the Selkirk Rd from Moffat - it's not even a village, it's a farming area and a community hall. And lucky for us, only a 5 minute walk from our wigwam. The local Moffat Water community were holding their inaugural beer festival (local beers of course!) to raise funds for the community hall.
I LOVE this kind of good old fashioned fun! The hall is not big, so it was a modest (but more than expected, hence very successful) turn out - mostly locals from the valley and Moffat. With a hog roast, local musicians*, and beer (and cider and wine), and a pleasant (ie. dry!) afternoon in the countryside, what more could you want!
With 6 kegs of beer flowing, and a fridge of wine, I'm sure it comes as no surprise that by the end of the day the remaining funsters (guys and gals) were having impromptu mock rugby scrums in the hall - Bill (Fiona's dad) wasn't missing the action and was putting his shoulder in at the back of the scrum. I was even invited to join the Moffat Women's Rugby Team!
The band was great fun - Angus was LOVED the music, and was practicing his break-dancing (well I think that's what it was!).
Next year Oli, the organiser, has promised a keg of gluten free beer. It would be rude not to go!
I LOVE this kind of good old fashioned fun! The hall is not big, so it was a modest (but more than expected, hence very successful) turn out - mostly locals from the valley and Moffat. With a hog roast, local musicians*, and beer (and cider and wine), and a pleasant (ie. dry!) afternoon in the countryside, what more could you want!
With 6 kegs of beer flowing, and a fridge of wine, I'm sure it comes as no surprise that by the end of the day the remaining funsters (guys and gals) were having impromptu mock rugby scrums in the hall - Bill (Fiona's dad) wasn't missing the action and was putting his shoulder in at the back of the scrum. I was even invited to join the Moffat Women's Rugby Team!
The band was great fun - Angus was LOVED the music, and was practicing his break-dancing (well I think that's what it was!).
Next year Oli, the organiser, has promised a keg of gluten free beer. It would be rude not to go!
Moffat Classic Car Rally weekend
Fiona and I are not petrol heads, but who doesn't like vintage cars? The Moffat Classic Car Rally is quite an annual event, and some of the old cars and vans are quite beautiful (cars of today are quite characterless by comparison).
It was a large gathering, 200+ vintage cars, and just to top it off, Scotland put on it's best sunny day...
My favourite was a 60s Commer camper van, equipped with coffee machine (I didn't say I didn't like modern additions!!) - perfect for a road trip around Scotland next visit!
It was a large gathering, 200+ vintage cars, and just to top it off, Scotland put on it's best sunny day...
My favourite was a 60s Commer camper van, equipped with coffee machine (I didn't say I didn't like modern additions!!) - perfect for a road trip around Scotland next visit!
Moffat Wigwams, Selkirk Rd, Moffat
John Hume, a local farmer (and lay-philosopher, Fiona and I have decided) turned one of his paddocks into wigwam accommodation. Apparently, there are wigwams just like these dotted across Britain. Anyway, they are amazing. Fantastic design, so simple, but so comfortable. John's wigwams look over the valley - so peaceful. We slept SO well!
View from our wigwam. Wow!
View from our wigwam. Wow!Thursday, 22 June 2017
Water feature at Jupiter Artland
The water feature and grass hill outdoor sculpture is captivating, and BIG!!
Jupiter Artland, Wilkiestone, West Loathian
The owners of Jupiter Artland still live on the grounds in the 'big house', but have turned the grounds around the house into a collection of amazing art installations.
Yellowcraig Beach (a Fiona favourite)
Beautiful pristine beach called Yellowcraig on the outer edge of the Firth of Forth and the North Sea. Fields of fresh smelling kelp on the rocks and just off the beach. Only 30 minutes from Dalkeith.
Cockenzie - a Victorian seaside
Being so fond of classic British literature, and something of a romantic (I know, shock eh!) it doesn't much imagination to be feel like you're there in Victorian times. The advantage is, the air isn't think with coal soot, and I don't have 15 children - just one who (in this picture) is standing on the rocks, singing to the sea. Perhaps a touch of the romantic herself.
Cockenzie House - where's Mr Darcy?
Walking off the busy street into the tranquil grounds of Cockenzie House, you are transported back in time to a Jane Austen novel - fully expecting Mr Darcy to appear, preferably in a wet shirt!
Picnic lunch in the garden. What's wonderful about these lesser known historic houses, is that it's free to enter and there's no crowds!
Tuesday, 20 June 2017
A nearby beach - Dalkeith
Low tide at a local beach, about 10 minutes North East of Dalkeith. Not exactly an Australian beach, but we do do beaches very well!
Dalkeith Country Park
Fantastic day at the local Dalkeith Country Park. More glorious sun, fantastic play park for kids - big and small! We had a picnic (just in front of the 'orangerie', large pagola). Wonderful!
Tilda and Angus waving
Old house of the Duke of Buccleuch.
Tilda and Angus waving
Old house of the Duke of Buccleuch.
Scottish landscape
On the road from Moffat to Dalkeith - taken from the car window, strange effect. But oh, the beautiful Scottish landscape with a bridge ruin.
Community Nature Reserve, Moffat
Sun, sun, sun... Scotland is really spoiling us! Here we are taking a lovely stroll through a local volunteer run nature reserve just outside Moffat.
Fiona and Tilda, strolling and chatting.
Not sure if I'm trying to impersonate a bird?!
Fiona called this one the 'pre-Raphelites' - is it the wavy red hair?
Fiona and Tilda, strolling and chatting.
Fiona called this one the 'pre-Raphelites' - is it the wavy red hair?
Monday, 19 June 2017
Scotland in the sun!!
LOOK AT THIS SUN!! We had a wonderful walk along the country lanes and public 'rights of way' around Moffat.
Tilda paddle boating.
Finn got so hot is just plonked himself in the wee burn.
4 Trains to Scotland
22 hours flight, then 4 trains to Scotland! Holding up well at this stage.
Here's Tilda on the platform at Kings Cross to catch our Virgin East Coast train to Edinburgh - notice the clock nearly says (Platform) 9 3/4.
The many bridges of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Here's Tilda on the platform at Kings Cross to catch our Virgin East Coast train to Edinburgh - notice the clock nearly says (Platform) 9 3/4.
The many bridges of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)