Scottish Travel Post 1 : A Trip to the Beautiful St Andrews

2014 has been an enormous year for Scotland, being the host of several internationally recognised events including The Glasgow Commonwealth Games, The Edinburgh Festival, The Gleneagles Ryder Cup and not to forget, the unforgettable Independence Referendum - all of which have heightened what was an already deep love for our wonderful country. As a small island with a population smaller than some American states, what was titled a 'mammoth task' was pulled off and I believe perfectly executed by the ever passionate, proud and patriotic Scottish people. I was fortunate enough to be at the heart of these events and experience the sheer electric atmosphere that engulfed the country and this is something I will always value. I believe it has made me more eager to explore Scotland and the breathtaking scenery it has to offer which is why I will begin my first instalment of Scottish travel blog posts with my recent trip to St Andrews.

St Andrews pier and the cathedral.

Some of my earliest and fondest memories which I will always treasure were spent in St Andrews at my Grandparent's caravan, situated on a sea view cliff which looked onto the historic town and famous cathedral. My Grandparent's were keen travellers and my Dad tells me that from a young age, they were always seize their weekends to go out and about to explore the seaside, venture up the coast and on a few occasions, they even took the long drive over the sea to Spain. My family would frequent at the caravan about 4 times a year and it was always such a happy and exciting occasion, catching up on old times and sharing valuable moments with the children who were growing up so quickly. My sister and I were taken out during the day, maybe to the aquarium, or the cinema or a walk along to the world famous St Andrews Old Course. However, after my Grandpa passed away, maintaining the caravan became very laborious for my Granny who was expected to keep it running and cover the expensive annual site and maintenance fees. So it was much to the family's delight and surprise that my Dad decided to buy his own caravan which was the perfect compromise as the pressure was taken off my Granny but we still had a place to visit and catch up with family - just like the old times. This caravan is based a little further up the coast in a small town called Crail, situated just near Pittenweem and Anstruther.

Last week my friend and I decided to take a road trip up to St Andrews to visit our good friend Stacey who is studying a masters in marketing up there. Prior to moving into her accommodation, Stacey had never visited St Andrews so I was keen to explore the town with someone with a fresh pair of eyes. We had lunch at the famous Jannettas- a gellato ice cream parlour which offers almost any flavour you can imagine. I ordered a 3 scoop tub with snickers, white chocolate raspberry and pistachio. We then took a walk to see some of the old historic university buildings, some of which have been standing for over 500 years and then followed on to take a stroll along the chilly pier. 

Jannettas' elaborate ice cream selection.

As a 23 year old adult, I no longer view St Andrews as a place equipped with play parks, sand castles and colouring books  but as someone who especially enjoys sampling new restaurants, cafes and bars, and appreciates fresh local food, St Andrews has become a hub for all of these things. Over the last 3 or 4 years a wealth of new places have opened up which offer a contemporary feel to a very historic town which I imagine pleases the thousands of students and visitors who reside and pass through here. The world famous golf course and cathedral are also worth a visit - ideal for the history buff and additionally there are 2 beautiful beaches; East Sands and West Sands - both of which are scenic and perfect for a brisk walk.

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit up to an old favourite town and I plan to continue exercising the habit to re-visit St Andrews when I get the chance. 

www.visitstandrews.com | www.visitscotland.com | www.tripadvisor.co.uk

Local Businesses 1: The Skylark in Portobello

I am and always have been a lover of Scotland and local business and over the last couple of years, I believe the country has excelled in the hospitality sector with the opening of many unique new bars, bistro pubs and restaurants which all tend to carry their own versions of bistro food presented in contemporary and quirky ways. I am a huge foodie and will sample any kind of food or drink that is placed in front of me, no matter how bizarre it may look or sound so when Portobello (Edinburgh) suddenly became an overwhelming scene of delicious eateries, I have grown to love my seaside town even more. 

From authentic Spanish tapas, award winning Indian cuisine, grubby unfinished greasy spoons that surprise you with their Masterchef style presentation and taste, bistro style pubs that supply only the finest locally sourced Scottish produce and a wide drinks selection, all the way to a kitsch beach hut style cafe based on the famous seaside promenade, Portobello is currently booming and really does have something to offer everyone, of all ages and tastes.

I believe local businesses are fundamental to the economy, the hospitality industry and most importantly their customers. No disrespect to some of the huge organisations which are established throughout the Western world, but undeniably there is a generic sense of limitations and repetitions when choosing from their menus which is why I love trying local businesses which offer a constantly changing menu that can be altered to the customers needs (because it is not pre-made). I remember visiting a chain restaurant last year and ordering the risotto but preferably with no mushrooms, however, the waiter naively let it slip that because the risottos arrive pre-made and frozen, this was not possible (an incident only encouraging me to eat locally more often). It is important to give encouragement to local businesses that are still finding their feet and looking for some deserved reassurance that that their business risk will pay off.

The first in my blog posts about my love for local businesses is The Skylark on Portobello High Street which opened in the summer of 2012 and was one of the first of many to bring a contemporary uplift to the town. They serve great quality local beer and ale from Stewart Brewing and source 100% Arabica coffee which is roasted in Glasgow. Their belief is to go as "local as possible", serving free range eggs, corn fed chicken, Scottish beef and bread and pastries which are baked in a French bakery in Edinburgh.

I have visited The Skylark several times during the 2 years it has been open and each time I re-visit, it gets better with an ever increasing and interchanging menu that has something to suit everyone's tastes. The bistro is moderately priced which I believe effectively mirrors the fresh produce, friendly staff and vibrant atmosphere. On this occasion I ordered 100% freshly squeezed orange juice and a home made warm toasted almond croissant. My Dad ordered a sausage and butter bean cassoulet (a type of stew) from the specials menu which was hearty and full of flavour, perfect for the cooler weather of late. Whether you are out for brunch, lunch, dinner or some late night drinks, The Skylark offers it all. Open until from 10-12 during the weekend, it is worthwhile place to visit with its welcoming, friendly and vibrant atmosphere.

If you don't finish your bottle of wine, they let you take it home!

www.theskylarkportobello.com