Falkland Palace and Outlander: A Spring Day Out in Fife

As a National Trust for Scotland member (embracing middle-age for sure!), I always have a list of places I’d like to visit. The problem is that the list never seems to get any shorter. Every time I tick one property off, I somehow manage to add two more. Falkland Palace had been sitting on that…

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A Sparkling Escape to Épernay: Champagne, Vineyards and French Charm

What better way to celebrate a milestone birthday than with a few days in the heart of France’s Champagne region? That’s exactly what seven of us did when we headed to Épernay for a girls’ getaway filled with vineyard views, historic champagne houses, leisurely lunches and, naturally, plenty of champagne. Nestled among rolling vineyards and…

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Eleanore, Edinburgh: A Delicious Pre-Theatre Dinner on Leith Walk

With tickets booked for a show at the Edinburgh Playhouse, a friend and I were looking for a restaurant near the Edinburgh Playhouse for dinner beforehand. Eleanore on Leith Walk seemed the obvious choice. I’d actually visited the site before when it was home to The Little Chartroom. Since then, The Little Chartroom has moved…

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Monachyle Mhor: Luxury, Loch Views and Exceptional Food

I’ll admit, by the time we reached Monachyle Mhor I was beginning to wonder if the sat nav had finally given up on us. Tucked away at the end of a winding single-track road in Balquhidder Glen, this boutique hotel sits on the shores of Loch Voil, surrounded by mountains, water and not much else….

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Local Adventures: Touring Belfast’s Crumlin Road Gaol

Becoming Tourists in Our Own City One evening, many moons ago, over far too many drinks, my friend and I realised there were still plenty of attractions in our own city that we had never properly explored. Naturally, we decided to create a list. Although we’re both originally from Belfast and now live elsewhere, we…

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A Visit to Strathisla Distillery: History, Heritage and a Very Good Dram

We had friends visiting us from Ireland at our cottage in Speyside a few months ago. Despite living in the heart of Scotland’s whisky country, we’ve probably visited more distilleries as tourists than we have since buying the cottage! So, with visitors to entertain and the weather looking typically Scottish, a distillery tour seemed like…

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