Best Little Scottish Towns
Oct 14th, 2014, 06:19 PM
#21
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Well Hello, look what happened… I went to work and all of you got busy. Can I just say this is like one of those modern new age schools where there are "no wrong answers". Even if i never go near any of the towns mentioned I have fun googling them and playing around.
Callender was not my suggestion but from Rubicund. I do think it is a good suggestion. I understand the short comings of the touristy thing but that B and B that was suggested has a room with room to sleep 3 adults so that should work for us.
Ballater looks interesting for a future trip. I understand that I introduced the east / west term and it was probably a misnomer. I don't want to go as far as the Cairngorms this time but am happy with the Trossachs. I LOVE being on the ocean and i am just tickled to find out we are arriving for Puffin season so we will be going to Mull / Iona / Staffa.
Now I just have to find a way to make my mom thinks all of these destination are her idea!!
Callender was not my suggestion but from Rubicund. I do think it is a good suggestion. I understand the short comings of the touristy thing but that B and B that was suggested has a room with room to sleep 3 adults so that should work for us.
Ballater looks interesting for a future trip. I understand that I introduced the east / west term and it was probably a misnomer. I don't want to go as far as the Cairngorms this time but am happy with the Trossachs. I LOVE being on the ocean and i am just tickled to find out we are arriving for Puffin season so we will be going to Mull / Iona / Staffa.
Now I just have to find a way to make my mom thinks all of these destination are her idea!!
Oct 15th, 2014, 07:23 AM
#23
For Mull I highly recommend Seaview in Fionnphort
http://www.iona-bed-breakfast-mull.com
Wonderful B&B, terrific food, pretty views directly across to Iona/the Abbey, and a short walk from the jetty for ferry to Iona and boats to Staffa, etc. Next door to a pub w/ very good food.
http://www.iona-bed-breakfast-mull.com
Wonderful B&B, terrific food, pretty views directly across to Iona/the Abbey, and a short walk from the jetty for ferry to Iona and boats to Staffa, etc. Next door to a pub w/ very good food.
Oct 15th, 2014, 08:12 AM
#24
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I would strongly recommend Tobermory over Fhionphort- which is lovely, but, basically, there's nothing there but lovely. Whereas Tobermory's fun.
I can't see you wanting to do more than one other centre if you're only here 8-9 days. If that's Callender, fine. personally, I find it a bit... tourist trade, but, having said that, streets ahead of Aberfoyle.
What about Gairloch? It fits the bill, I think
I can't see you wanting to do more than one other centre if you're only here 8-9 days. If that's Callender, fine. personally, I find it a bit... tourist trade, but, having said that, streets ahead of Aberfoyle.
What about Gairloch? It fits the bill, I think
Oct 15th, 2014, 08:41 AM
#25
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Sheila we thought long and hard.
In the end we were very happy to rent for a week on the beach at Fionnphort. Tobermory is fun and there are lots of good cafes, restaurants and THE bakery but I think for us we could stay put in our home town for that.
Fionnphort isn't Plockton in terms of picture postcards but it is really well placed for all the trips, Iona and Mull's incredible beaches.
There is
http://www.ninthwaverestaurant.co.uk/
Which is all about what isn't the vogue today. It doesn't spend huge amounts on getting The Times to visit, it doesn't pander to Michelin but it should have at least one star. It's all substance.
The place should be a legend, the husband is batty as hell, goes out fishing and puts on the table whatever is out there. Mrs is simply a very good chef, the result is an extremely tasteful setting, great service, hugely enjoyable food without the feeling that your stomping a path that most Telegraph readers have done in the past six months.
Once you combine this, the pub that Janis posted about, the B&B and the three restaurants on Iona which can be accessed by the last ferry, there is enough in the village for 5 days.
Personally I would rent a house in the village, we did and it works out much cheaper than 3 rooms in a B&B.
We are probably going to go next May for a week and rent a CamperVan from Craignure.
God help us if it rains all week!
In the end we were very happy to rent for a week on the beach at Fionnphort. Tobermory is fun and there are lots of good cafes, restaurants and THE bakery but I think for us we could stay put in our home town for that.
Fionnphort isn't Plockton in terms of picture postcards but it is really well placed for all the trips, Iona and Mull's incredible beaches.
There is
http://www.ninthwaverestaurant.co.uk/
Which is all about what isn't the vogue today. It doesn't spend huge amounts on getting The Times to visit, it doesn't pander to Michelin but it should have at least one star. It's all substance.
The place should be a legend, the husband is batty as hell, goes out fishing and puts on the table whatever is out there. Mrs is simply a very good chef, the result is an extremely tasteful setting, great service, hugely enjoyable food without the feeling that your stomping a path that most Telegraph readers have done in the past six months.
Once you combine this, the pub that Janis posted about, the B&B and the three restaurants on Iona which can be accessed by the last ferry, there is enough in the village for 5 days.
Personally I would rent a house in the village, we did and it works out much cheaper than 3 rooms in a B&B.
We are probably going to go next May for a week and rent a CamperVan from Craignure.
God help us if it rains all week!
Oct 15th, 2014, 08:53 AM
#26
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I was shown the menu for ninethwave a few months ago and have been desperate to eat there ever since. I wish you would not have told everyone about this as it will now be even harder to get a table 
Oct 15th, 2014, 09:06 AM
#27
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I have never eaten anywhere like it.
Your very right RM, it will be really sad if word gets out and it becomes another 3 Chimneys, corporate and all.
Well I have been somewhere like it, a little place between Siena and Asciano. Tiny and unbelievable food, the owners were Japanese and spoke very little English. I asked where the lamb came from and they pointed to a field over the road. I asked where the best Chianti I have ever tasted came from, they pointed to the next field.
I poked around on google when we returned and discovered that they had sold a multi million pound chain of restaurants in Japan. They cooked because they loved it.
I wish we would all stop taking about Mull. We have two choices next May, all I want to do is swim with wildlife. The two choices are The Exumas or Mull, all this talk is leading me to Mull.
Your very right RM, it will be really sad if word gets out and it becomes another 3 Chimneys, corporate and all.
Well I have been somewhere like it, a little place between Siena and Asciano. Tiny and unbelievable food, the owners were Japanese and spoke very little English. I asked where the lamb came from and they pointed to a field over the road. I asked where the best Chianti I have ever tasted came from, they pointed to the next field.
I poked around on google when we returned and discovered that they had sold a multi million pound chain of restaurants in Japan. They cooked because they loved it.
I wish we would all stop taking about Mull. We have two choices next May, all I want to do is swim with wildlife. The two choices are The Exumas or Mull, all this talk is leading me to Mull.
Oct 15th, 2014, 09:20 AM
#30
We were Skye not that long ago and had lunch at the 3 Chimneys. It was totally underwhelming and although the service was OKish, the food was nothing remarkable and certainly not worth the drive across from Portree.
Oct 15th, 2014, 09:24 AM
#31
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How many times does that happen?
There is a flash of brilliance, that is the time to go.
Then the owner opens other restaurants, writes cookbooks, appears on TV chat shows, has their own food show and then finally appears on Strictly.
All the while the shooting star has gone to pot.
There is a flash of brilliance, that is the time to go.
Then the owner opens other restaurants, writes cookbooks, appears on TV chat shows, has their own food show and then finally appears on Strictly.
All the while the shooting star has gone to pot.
Oct 15th, 2014, 11:02 AM
#32
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We stayed in both Fionnphort (literally a block from the Iona ferry) and in Killin on our trip in 2008 (see trip report for details!). I loved both places. The roads on Mull are no worse than the Golden Road on the Isle of Harris - that still ranks as the most nail-biting road I've driven 
Killin has the Falls of Dochart, and a lovely small town. Callendar is a little larger, but still walkable. There is a nearby restaurant called the Old Flax Mill that is a delightful carvery. Delicious!
And yes, Fionnphort is tiny, but sweet and convenient. We never did make it up to Tobermory the three days we were there. We were happy making day trips to Iona and Staffa!
Killin has the Falls of Dochart, and a lovely small town. Callendar is a little larger, but still walkable. There is a nearby restaurant called the Old Flax Mill that is a delightful carvery. Delicious!
And yes, Fionnphort is tiny, but sweet and convenient. We never did make it up to Tobermory the three days we were there. We were happy making day trips to Iona and Staffa!
