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vampyresheepMy parents were getting the overnight coach back home and we were staying until Saturday, so we decided to explore further afield, taking a bus to Broughty Ferry.
A sleepy little seaside town just north of Dundee and a little bit posher. The bus felt a bit retro - with a conductor, who was actually helpful! Within 15 minutes or so, we'd arrived at Broughty Ferry and strolled through the town centre towards the Castle, stopping at one or two gift shops on the way.
The castle also held the town museum, so it had a bizarre mix of taxidermy, weapons and archaeology. The most interesting bit were the cannons, which until recently were bollards outside the castle, until someone realised they might not actually be bollards and got them dug up!
Caught up with my parents by the beach, where I attempted to go for a paddle. damn the water was cold! Didn't manage to get past my ankles.
Mum proclaimed that she fancied macaroni cheese for lunch, so after a bit of googling, I found a seaside pub a few minutes away which not only served macaroni cheese but had a fantastic range of local gins and whiskeys. We got there early to grab a table, had a drink and then ate. Rob and I were still too full after breakfast so just ordered snacks - to receive a mahoosive jacket potato with haggis and a grilled sandwich with all the garnish. small portions don't happen here it seems.
Despite this, everyone fancied icecream, so we went for dessert at the town icecream parlour. Nice icecream, inept service.
By the time we'd finished, the sun had decided to come out, so we managed to convince mum that we didn't need to head back just yet. They went to sit by the beach, whilst we went to play crazy golf.
it wasn't very easy to play!
my ball didn't stay within the pitch boundaries very much
Rob no longer playing golf
ahem, is this one meant to look a little bit rude?
apparently my parents most definately were NOT having a snooze on a bench
After failing miserably at golf (although we did at least both manage a hole in one!), we headed back to the bus stop into town.
A bit more time to kill and it was well and truly sunny by now, so we went back to the City Square for a coffee, watching the final batch of graduands exit from Caird Hall.
Soon it was time for my parents to depart, so we saw them off and then we went out for a few drinks and a bite to eat, me determined to find somewhere with a good range of whiskey. Our plans to go back to Malmaison were scuppered due to the town being filled with pink dressed girlies, as Steps were playing in the square outside our hotel, so we headed towards the University area of town (Perth Road)
First pub was the Mayfly. A bit trendy but nice enough and with a wall of gin, so I ended up on the gin instead of whiskey. Bothy Gunpowder Gin - heaven in a glass!
After finishing eating and drinking, we headed on to the next pub, the Taybridge Bar, described online as a no-nonsense friendly local pub.
Local pub it definately was! I was starting to feel like the American tourist in the film Trainspotting, so out of place, not from these parts! The sour faced bar maid wasn't too impressed at my attempts to read the bottle labels to decide what to order, particularly as they didn't have any of the whiskeys I could remember. Settled in the end for an Auchantoshan, which was rather nice, but we didn't stay long and set off to the next pub.
The Speedwell Bar is apparently a Dundee institution, and where I went with fellow students on the first day of my study school 3 years ago. We hesitated to go in, hearing the noise inside but two friendly guys outside convinced us it wasn't as busy as it sounded. This was more my kind of pub, maybe a bit posher than the last but still a local traditional pub, with fantastic Edwardian decor.
We only stayed for one drink though, as we didn't want to be going through the city centre at pub kicking out time, however it was surprisingly calm out - also loving the late, late sunset for the Solstice!
The full photo gallery for the Friday is here
A sleepy little seaside town just north of Dundee and a little bit posher. The bus felt a bit retro - with a conductor, who was actually helpful! Within 15 minutes or so, we'd arrived at Broughty Ferry and strolled through the town centre towards the Castle, stopping at one or two gift shops on the way.
The castle also held the town museum, so it had a bizarre mix of taxidermy, weapons and archaeology. The most interesting bit were the cannons, which until recently were bollards outside the castle, until someone realised they might not actually be bollards and got them dug up!
Caught up with my parents by the beach, where I attempted to go for a paddle. damn the water was cold! Didn't manage to get past my ankles.
Mum proclaimed that she fancied macaroni cheese for lunch, so after a bit of googling, I found a seaside pub a few minutes away which not only served macaroni cheese but had a fantastic range of local gins and whiskeys. We got there early to grab a table, had a drink and then ate. Rob and I were still too full after breakfast so just ordered snacks - to receive a mahoosive jacket potato with haggis and a grilled sandwich with all the garnish. small portions don't happen here it seems.
Despite this, everyone fancied icecream, so we went for dessert at the town icecream parlour. Nice icecream, inept service.
By the time we'd finished, the sun had decided to come out, so we managed to convince mum that we didn't need to head back just yet. They went to sit by the beach, whilst we went to play crazy golf.
it wasn't very easy to play!
my ball didn't stay within the pitch boundaries very much
Rob no longer playing golf
ahem, is this one meant to look a little bit rude?
apparently my parents most definately were NOT having a snooze on a bench
After failing miserably at golf (although we did at least both manage a hole in one!), we headed back to the bus stop into town.
A bit more time to kill and it was well and truly sunny by now, so we went back to the City Square for a coffee, watching the final batch of graduands exit from Caird Hall.
Soon it was time for my parents to depart, so we saw them off and then we went out for a few drinks and a bite to eat, me determined to find somewhere with a good range of whiskey. Our plans to go back to Malmaison were scuppered due to the town being filled with pink dressed girlies, as Steps were playing in the square outside our hotel, so we headed towards the University area of town (Perth Road)
First pub was the Mayfly. A bit trendy but nice enough and with a wall of gin, so I ended up on the gin instead of whiskey. Bothy Gunpowder Gin - heaven in a glass!
After finishing eating and drinking, we headed on to the next pub, the Taybridge Bar, described online as a no-nonsense friendly local pub.
Local pub it definately was! I was starting to feel like the American tourist in the film Trainspotting, so out of place, not from these parts! The sour faced bar maid wasn't too impressed at my attempts to read the bottle labels to decide what to order, particularly as they didn't have any of the whiskeys I could remember. Settled in the end for an Auchantoshan, which was rather nice, but we didn't stay long and set off to the next pub.
The Speedwell Bar is apparently a Dundee institution, and where I went with fellow students on the first day of my study school 3 years ago. We hesitated to go in, hearing the noise inside but two friendly guys outside convinced us it wasn't as busy as it sounded. This was more my kind of pub, maybe a bit posher than the last but still a local traditional pub, with fantastic Edwardian decor.
We only stayed for one drink though, as we didn't want to be going through the city centre at pub kicking out time, however it was surprisingly calm out - also loving the late, late sunset for the Solstice!
The full photo gallery for the Friday is here