Lest we forget....I know I wont

2021 will be remembered for a lot of things however my 50th birthday will probably not be one of them!

One thing I had noticed and with great interest, Poppy Scotland celebrates its 100th year of providing support for current and former members of the Armed Forces as well as their families. Support, in recognition of their sacrifices, in some cases the ultimate.

With both these events huge on my mind, I decided to take ‘the pledge’ and vow to raise £1921 for this wonderful charity.

Samuel Campbell - Territorial Army part of the 51st Highlanders

This handsome young gentleman above is my Mum’s Dad and my Grandfather Samuel Campbell. This is a picture of Sam, a member of the Territorial Army who helped make up the 51st Highlanders regiment when called upon to assist French forces pinned back by the advancing German army in 1940. As some of you may know over 10,00 Scottish soldiers, including my Grandfather was captured just outside Dunkirk in Saint-Valéry-en-Caux on June 12. Sam went on to serve out the rest of the war as POW. Fortunately for my mother, he was safely returned home after the end of hostilities. At his time of capture, Sam had six children, the youngest just six weeks old, my beautiful Aunt Sally. Remember at this time we had no social services or support for his young family back home. Imagine how he would have felt on that day. The fear and uncertainty for his life and that of his family back home. We cannot comprehend what he faced. Fortunately for me when he returned to Scotland he went on to have a further four children, including my Mum.

The Scottish Poppy appeal has always been hugely significant in my family, from a very early age I vividly remember heading off to school proudly displaying my poppy, aware of its significance. We had a huge extended family, aunts, uncles, cousins from all divides in Scotland. Oh, we can argue and fight amongst ourselves like the best of them however we all to this day remember and recognise just how lucky we are to have had our Grandfather return home. Just how many Scottish families have a similar story, and how many never got the chance to return. Every year when the Poppy day comes round we can think back and be thankful for their service, for their sacrifice. In the world, we live in it’s important to stop and consider what went before and how we have arrived at where we are. Most of my generation has been very fortunate to have never faced this kind of hardship or fear.

Unfortunately in recent years young Scottish boys & girls have been deployed to areas such as Iraq and Afghanistan with many coming home suffering life-changing injuries or facing the prospect of PTSD. They and their families deserve all the support and help that we can offer them, for me that is unquestionable.

Poppy Scotland is not a political organisation, its only agenda is to help people who have been willing to serve without fear or favour. Please only look upon it as such. Please please consider just a small donation and help me mark my 50th birthday in the very best way I can think of, thanking those that made every one of my days possible.

Thank you

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/craigwwilliams

The three gentlemen in this family picture, My Uncles Sam, Hugh and Colin also served in the armed forces along with more recently my cousins Colin, Campbell, Jim and Stewart. I am very proud of all these men.

12 days of Christmas - Kelvinbridge

So let us take you a wander round the Kelvinbridge area of Glasgow West End. Lorna maintains it’s the new trendy area for those in the know. So to kick us off in style we head for a mainstay of the West End, Stravaigin on Gibson Street. This bar/restaurant particularly comes alive over the festive period. Great for food at any time but we recently went for breakfast and the full Scottish was eating quality. This is a perfect spot for a drink on Saturday/Sunday afternoons. 

The food needs walked off and no better place than up the hill at Kelvingrove park, my second favourite park in Glasgow. One of the best views over the West of the city is from here, also perfect for sunsets. Head up to the Lord Roberts monument for the view,  The park will be busy, it always is, but has a great feel to the place. It’s all ages and many different activities. We have even seen kids play quidditch on the red blaze the other day…….honest, brooms the lot! 

The park also benefits from the magnificent Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. I still can’t get over the number of Scots I have met who have never been inside, I mean it’s free!? Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is by far one of Glasgow’s most popular attractions. With 22 themed, state of the art galleries displaying an astonishing 8000 objects, with lots of interactive displays aimed at engaging younger minds, this is somewhere you can easily while away several hours, if not longer! If you are around at 1 pm or weekdays make sure to go hear the free organ recital. Alternatively its 3 pm on a Sunday. It’s a great sound in the perfect surroundings. 

This architectural masterpiece opened its doors in 1901 and many spend as much time appreciating the building as they do on one of Europe's great art collections. Here you'll find a Rembrandt alongside Renoir, as well as armour and ancient Egypt. The museum is a great day out for the family and has it’s own cafe and shops, particularly recommended on a Sunday afternoon. 

Time for coffee and it has to be Papercup. Hands down Paper cup serves the best coffee in Glasgow. There are many many others in the West end, some real top drawer, however, time and time again Papercup serves the perfect flat white. Super cool place to hang out and watch the trendsetters.  

To accompany any good coffee you need a good pastry. Lorna is a huge fan of Cotton Rake so we head over there. It’s hard not to get carried away with the selection. 

And now for a wander around Glasgow University and the Hunterian Museum. Founded in 1807, the Hunterian is Scotland's oldest public museum and home to one of the largest collections outside the National Museum in Edinburgh.

The Hunterian is one of the leading university museums in the world and its collections have been Recognised as a collection of National Significance. It’s one of Scotland's most important cultural assets and highly recommended for a visit. I bet you haven’t been? In fact, have you wandered around the University grounds and seen the Cloisters?  A perfect wee haven of peace and quiet. Make the effort.

Heading for a wee refreshment and over to our favourite wee pub, The Belle. It doesn’t look anything from the outside and probably won’t catch the eye of our Saturday night tourists which is a great thing.  Always friendly and welcoming. I just can’t imagine this wee gem with social distancing. 

Now serving the best noodles in the West End for over 10 years there is no better Asian Fusion place around than Wudon. The sisters who own this place are super friendly and will make you very welcome. There is always a fantastic fresh sushi selection and a brilliant atmosphere in the place. An alternative up the road would be Non-Viet, my favourite Vietnamese restaurant in Glasgow. 

If you are going for a dressy up dinner I should mention Brett and Lovable Rogue. We do particularly love Brett. Great wine and so far the food has been exceptional. 

 Heading home there are two pillars of our kitchen, Valhalla’s Goat for some fine wines and a huge selection of craft beers and Roots and Fruits for just about everything organic and good for you. Both have really helpful staff who are happy to help assist with advice. 

Just up the road and around the corner is the Doublet Bar. Again this is not for the dressed up, more for the dressed down. Super bar downstairs for the oldies and a jukebox and bar upstairs for the students. We are caught somewhere in-between - at least we think we are. 

As we wander home I do love a nightcap in Bananamoon. Very young, very trendy but such a great atmosphere and usually top retro tunes we would never have listened too back in the day but now uber-trendy.  

So that’s a wee day around our hood. It’s a great part of the West and seems to be getting better all the time. Remember with so many of these places the owners will have had a real tough time, the staff worried about their jobs and it really is down to us, the customers to keep them going. Remember, use it or lose it. Its time to give a wee bit back.

12 days of Christmas - Arisaig

Once again we set our sights on the fabulous West Coast and head to our particular favourite village and camping spot - Arisaig, a small village in the Lochaber region of Invernesshire, somewhere between Fort William and Mallaig! It’s just a wee village with nothing more than a Cafe, Hotel, Post Office, General Store and a small marina. I would say ‘blink, and you could miss it’ however that just wouldn’t be true. Once you spot the white sands, you won’t forget them. The first time I nearly went off the road!

Our journey starts in Glasgow, heading up the A82 via Glencoe. It's early February, so we still have snow on the mountains but also bright blue skies, the perfect Highland’s day. This, for me, is the ideal time to get away and see some of Scotland's more remote areas. Fewer people on the roads, no midges and just less hassle getting good camping spots or quality campsites. After coffee in Glencoe and stock up in Fort William, we make our first destination target - The Glenfinnan Viaduct and the Glenfinnan Monument. 

Many people will be aware of the Glenfinnan Viaduct, made famous by the Hogwarts Express from the Harry Potter movies. For more traditional Scots it's probably best known for the monument to the Jacobite rising in 1745. The Glenfinnan Monument has a modern visitor centre and was a great point to stop off stretch the legs and wander around the monument and the viaduct. There was a wee cafe with hot foods, and it looked excellent. We hadn’t timed it to see a train come past - I believe it’s super popular at this time - but that's an excuse to go back. Lorna had taken her mother on the steam train last year, and we agreed to book that someday for ourselves. I’ve never even seen a Harry Potter!

The Glenfinnan Monument a memorial to those who fought in the Jacobite Risings of 1745 led by Bonnie Prince Charlie. He managed to march his army of only 1500  as far down south as Derby before beating a hasty retreat. The monument has a lone kilted highlander in honour of the clansmen who gave their lives. The visitor centre has a permanent display offering the facts and figures of the uprising and subsequent price to pay. It’s a fascinating story and the aftermath. 

As the sun was shining and we were in no rush, we set up the van for lunch and just hung around wandering a few of the nature trails. Both the monument and the viaduct are imposing no matter how many times you see them.

So onward to Silver Sands, Arisaig. The weather has been clear this week, and we know it's to be clear tonight. This spot is just perfect for a sunset looking out over Eigg, Muck and Rum, another three islands we have on the hit list. Locally several tour guides will take you on a wildlife tour searching for the local sea and birdlife. 

For us, it's more about R&R this weekend so no big plans. Fire, food, music and relax. 

After checking in to our secret campsite and marking our requested spot on the beach, we head over to the Arisaig Hotel for dinner. A cracking wee ‘Crofters Bar’ with a brilliant atmosphere.  The crowd are always super friendly and welcoming. Great food as well. 

When back at the van, we get the fire going and settle down for sunset. Just brilliant, ever-changing colours and the islands in the distance adding a rugged contour. Check the pictures below, and that was Lorna & I just messing about.

Fittingly tonight’s tunes are homework for the trip to Skye tomorrow. The inimitable Erland Cooper.

An early start to catch the ferry also allows a walk on the beach with mugs of coffee in hand. Every time we come here, we say we are coming back for a few days. It's just absolute peace and tranquillity. You decide the pace. 

We take the scenic drive to Mallaig for the short ferry trip to Skye…..

12 days of Christmas - Castle Douglas

So today's trip is basically an extract from our first time doing the South West Coastal 300 and we visited a small town I absolutely love, Castle Douglas. 

For those that don’t know, The South West Coastal 300 is a relatively new route taking in the rolling hills and coastline of the stunning south-west of Scotland. Its a loop so you can start and finish wherever suits and has so many wee places to drop off to and then join back up, it is a great drive with relatively quiet roads. The route covers many areas of historical significance with a particular nod to the top Scots poet, Rabbie Burns. An old school Scottish Eminem. and passing through towns such as Dumfries Stranraer and Aye. I had a number of hire customers do this loop and all of them have been super enthusiastic about it.

We had wanted to do a few things, first, visit Drumlanrig Castle, pop into Castle Douglas for a trip down memory lane and finally have a night camping in the Dark skies area of the Galloway. A meteor shower was forecast over the next few nights and this was a great chance to sit and watch the stars uninterrupted. But first up was up Drumlanrig Castle, Gardens and Adventure Playground.

Drumlanrig Castle (aka ‘ The Pink Palace’ due to its distinctive red sandstone) is one of the finest examples of 17th Century Renaissance architecture in Scotland. It houses some of the internationally acclaimed Buccleuch Art Collections, including Rembrandt’s An Old Woman Reading. You can take a guided tour of the castle which will give you an in-depth history of over 600 years of the Douglas family as well as a detailed tour of the fabulous artwork. The first Duke of Queensbury, William Douglas, had the castle built on the site of an ancient Douglas stronghold overlooking the Nith Valley back in 1679 which is all amazing….however….it was closed the day we turned up. I blame the Co-Pilot obviously.

Now for the Garden outside, which we did manage to duke into. Breathtakingly beautiful, lovingly tended plants and shrubs. It's huge, actually, the whole place is huge and you could easily find yourself happily lost. 

The Stableyard houses a visitors centre, children’s activity room, snack bar and gift shops. You can also hire a bike here at Riks Bike Shed to explore the trails surrounding the castle. There are 3 trails, aimed at different levels of experience. You can also simply walk around them as we did. I have to be honest the mountain bike trails looked amazing fun, I think this would be a great day hire. 

From here it’s onto Castle Douglas, or CD as the locals call it. Castle Douglas is like many small regional towns, a busy high Street with your traditional Butcher, Baker, florist, greengrocer, the full deck. It was always famous for its quality small independent shops. The pubs are full at night with everyone from all walks of life and the patter fantastic. I always based myself here. 

Lorna had a wander around the shops whilst I went to the Imperial Hotel for a coffee and see some old faces. Dave the owner is always around and takes time to chat with everyone in the place. He’s the ideal host and creates a great atmosphere. The staff are incredibly accommodating and nothing is ever a chore. The hotel is favoured by Golfers who visit the area. If you Golf you will know the courses down here are good, in particular Southerness. 

We are heading to Carlos on the High Street. The finest fillet steak I have ever tasted and it still stands. Its been maybe 10 years since I was in CD. His steak and pasta still the same, cooked to absolute perfection. Lorna loved it. 

Our spot for tonight was to be the Galloway forest park: 300 square miles of the first UK international Dark Sky Park and only the fourth in the world. The park is worth highlighting. It covers over 300 mi.² and has three visitors centres within. Each with a variety of walks and trails for various abilities. One to highlight would be the walk up to ‘Bruce's stone’ which has a  great view over Loch Trool or if you’re feeling more energetic I would go for the scramble up to Murray monument beside the Queen’s way for amazing forest and hills views and the Grey Mare’s trail waterfall. The park is also well known for its world-class mountain biking for the even more adventurous.

We’ve had an eye on it for a while and with the forecast of clear skies and a bit of action, we had the perfect excuse. 

Once into the park, we found ourselves on the ‘Raiders Road’ Forrest drive. That was top fun and gives you a real wilderness feel. It was now down to the Co-Pilot finding the perfect spot. We have the set up of the Campervan down to fine art. The Co-Pilot kicks into action sorting the bags and I turn the seats and quite literally raise the roof! She’s then pouring the wine whilst I get the fire roaring and the tunes on. Tonight it has to be Spiritualized. 

A million stars later and it’s early to bed. We plan to get up and watch sunrise beside Clatteringshaws Loch. The vans are super comfortable and with the heating, there is never a need to feel cold. That said, once we are up, we are up and its usually early starts. Coffee in hand we hung around whilst it warmed up then went on one of the many woodland walks. At that time the wildlife is still hanging around and we catch Red Kites and some very spooked deer. 

Breakfast was taken down in another favourite town of mine, Kircudbright. Again, a great place full of real interest and fantastic locals. Perhaps a blog about here another time - we are keeping an eye of the Festival of Light.

Thank you, CD , a real find again.

Credit to our friend Abha Paulina @ap_78_glasgow for use of his pictures of the Castle. His are far better than ours. Cheers Abha

12 days of Christmas - Isle of Gigha

To continue with our island jaunts, today we catch the ferry from Tayinloan on the West Coast of Kintyre over to the small, but exotic island of Gigha. It's a straightforward 20-minute ferry that runs on a very regular basis, best check timetable for seasonal changes. Ferry costs a very reasonable £7.80 for the Campervan and £2.70 for each of us.

The Island itself measures only 7 miles long and 1.5 miles at its widest point. With a population of around 200 people. Because of its location, it benefits from a warm gulf stream that gives Gigha a unique microclimate that can be particularly warm on a good day. It can easily be covered in a day on cycle however to really appreciate each part of the island we are recommended to spend a day in the north and one in the south. Happy to oblige.

We are actually here for dinner you’ll be surprised to hear! We have been told not to miss the famous Boathouse Restaurant. Sitting on the white sandy beach of Ardminish Bay and serving the most incredible fresh West of Scotland seafood it's been regularly recommended by the Michelin Guide and has an amazing reputation. 

However, today after we land we venture north in search of the Twin Beaches. No prizes for guessing what the name means. We have two beaches in the north of the island. Bagh Rubha Ruaidh facing North and Bagh na Doirlinne facing south. I could try to pronounce these but both are way beyond my native tongue abilities. Why don't you try? Both have the rugged West Coast of Scotland charm but the South beach, facing the Isle of Jura, has white sands and beautiful clear turquoise water. We had been told to keep an eye out for porpoises and dolphins along with the many seals that regularly visit the island. It is worth noting is it a bit of a muddy trek to reach the signposted beaches but oh so worth the efforts. Having not had enough of beaches we headed further North to PalmTree Beach. Very quiet and again white sands and inviting turquoise waters. 

Ready for dinner we headed back to the van for my much-lauded penne amatriciana, wine, music and watching the sunset. My very favourite part of the campervans. Finding a beautiful wee spot and getting all settling down. We always laugh at the size inside the van once the roof is raised and the passenger’s seats turn around. We had a great wee night!

After breakfast in the campervan, we headed South aiming initially for Leim shore, surprise surprise another beautiful beach with great views over to Islay. Feeling refreshed, next up we headed for Achamore Gardens more or less in the middle of the island. The gardens are wonderfully cared for and make for a great wander. In particular, I loved seeing the peacocks just wandering around. Many of the plants and trees you would not expect to see in Scotland. 

Now for the main event, The Boathouse Restaurant. Having a restaurant like this is just fantastic for any island community and its turn over of visitors. For example Skye offers so much but some people do travel there specifically for the Three Chimneys . Before we headed over we stopped into the Gigha Hotel for a quick pint and a nosey. It looked like a lovely place to start or end your night and a great beer garden. We are actually disappointed we didn’t come here last night 

The Boathouse itself was very busy with tables inside and out full of lively customers creating a fantastic atmosphere. Overlooking a sandy beach I really can’t think of a better spot to sit, eat and watch a sunset. The food itself is impeccable and its tough , very tough to chose. It really was a perfect place to eat and watch the sun come down.

It's been a short trip but one so worth the effort. Yet another part of glorious Argyll that has such beautiful people and excellent food. Way too many people miss out on these wee treasures just sitting off our rugged coastline. 

12 days of Christmas - Isle of Bute

After a long week of sunshine in Glasgow - no seriously -  we decided to have a long weekend away travelling down to Wemyss Bay and catching the Cal Mac ferry over to the Isle of Bute. Lorna had been waiting on a chance to tour the Gothic mansion, Mount Stuart in Rothesay. So many people had told us about the house and the gardens and in this weather, it seems the perfect excuse. Whilst there we could adventure beyond the usual pub crawl around Rothesay - a favourite impromptu booze cruise in our younger days. 

Again an early start from Glasgow and a stock up on supplies from McCaskies Butchers across from the Cal Mac ferry terminal. This butcher is a bit of a local, if not national, legend, and I would highly recommend a stop if passing. We needed eggs, bacon and thick steaks for some Campervan cooking. 

After departing the ferry, our first stop is into the Isle of Bute Discovery and Visit Scotland just off the Pier.  The centre, housed in Rothesay's famous 1924 Winter Garden, houses a fascinating free multi-media exhibition, introducing you to the Island. It’s fantastic, a great space which doubles as the local cinema and a walk down memory lane. Rothesay would have been a holiday destination for many Glaswegians or at least a place to visit during the traditional Glasgow ‘Fair’. The artefacts and information within the centre are excellent. The staff was super friendly and very informative. With the Co-Pilot loaded up on leaflets and knowledge, we set off a walk into town with one eye on our afternoon appointment at Mount Stuart. 

Rothesay, unfortunately, is like many seaside towns in Scotland, still trying to catch tourists and day-trippers when it is so easy for people to jump on a plane and go to Europe for a weekend. I do think that’s changing though or is it I’m getting older? We have such brilliant restaurants and facilities opening-up all around the country people are seeing even more value in Scotland.

We love that there were so many small businesses doing some great things. From my point of view, there were several charity shops and antique furniture places, enough to keep me amused and bargain-hunting. So with a few wee purchase and a bg full off old school sweeties, we head off for the afternoon tour of Mount Stuart House.

Mount Stuart itself is indescribable, the luxury and decadence from even just the entrance hall perfectly set the expectations. We had a brilliant young local girl as a tour guide. She was excellent, handled the group very well, dealt with all questions and made the trip informative and fun. When you go, I would highly recommend getting the tour, it makes a huge difference. We then wandered the magnificent gardens ,cruising along. Even the gardens are magnificent, particularly at this time of year, and we spent a few hours just milling around aimlessly in the sun.

Tonight we are heading to the other side of the island and the sandy beach of Ettrick Bay. It's a short drive very straightforward and pleasant to see something out with the main town. When we get there, it is busy with families, one of two other campervans and others camping for the night. The beach has a great atmosphere, with everyone enjoying the sunshine and the kids the freezing water!! Some courageous wee souls with no fear running straight in - oh for those days.  Tonight I was cooking up our steaks with some fine tunes watching the sunset. We had a wee campfire on the go but made sure to leave no trace—absolutely magical day. It’s worth noting Ettrick Bay Tea Room, a great place just off the beach was serving hot food and drinks.

Up early and after a long beach walk with mugs of coffee, we headed around to Kerrycroy for breakfast. A really cool wee village with a beautiful beach and very cool houses we made the eggs and prepared to head back into town and visit the Castle before the ferry back to the mainland.

You know for all the years of visiting Rothesay I never knew they had a Castle - and what a castle it is. Its £6 entry or free with a Visit Scotland membership, another reason to join. Perhaps a great Christmas gift idea? I thoroughly enjoyed the castle and its design with drawbridge, moat etc. It really look the part.

Sadly it was time to call it quits and head back to the big smoke. Not before a fish tea down the front duelling with the local seagull gang. If you haven’t been to Rothesay for a while, make the time and travel out of town. It really hasn’t lost any of its charms. 

We will be particularly watching out for Butefest , a music festival held round beside Ettrick Bay. Looks like a must-visit.

12 Days of Christmas - Gourock

On the seventh day of Christmas, the wee yin said to me

Let’s go doon the water to Gourock!

Today’s blog is not even a Campervan ride; this is just for anyone around the west coast that have never taken a day or night out in Gourock over the Summer.  When the sun is shining, the Clyde just comes alive. 

So today’s blog is a guide to our local area and what I would suggest for a day out. Stick with this, and you will have a cracker.

Gourock is superbly serviced with public transport. Passenger ferries connect Gourock with Dunoon and Kilcreggan, and a car ferry connects McInroy's Point with Hunter's Quay in Dunoon. Gourock railway station is located at the pierhead and provides regular services to Glasgow, Paisley and Wemyss Bay. The station has recently been refurbished to a very high standard and includes an exhibition of art and local WW2 information. Excellent local bus services connect the town to the surrounding area. As a youngster, we would always have a booze cruise over to one of these destinations before catching the last ferry home. Where else in Scotland can you do this? 

Starting early my first call would be into the Esplanade Cafe on Campbell Stree at the start of the Esplanade, locally known as “the Splash” From here you walk along the Clyde coast heading towards Gourock. Two choices here, if you are feeling energetic walk up to The Free French Memorial at the top of Lyle Hill. The walk up is not for the faint-hearted, but the views are spectacular, don’t miss this even if you drive up. Whilst up here you can also see Tower Hill to the left, again easy to access but give an excellent variation of the spectacular view of the Firth of Clyde. From here you then drop back down onto the main road into Gourock and head to The Cove for breakfast. A much loved local cafe with an exceptional reputation, just check out their Instagram profile. Next up is a wander around Cardwell Bay and over to the main street of the town, Kempock Street, and it is worth highlighting a few of the local shops. Gourock has a tradition of quality local small businesses always keen to showcase the area. A standout must be a local legend, The Pirate and Bluebell with fantastic cards, arts and present ideas it has saved my skin on many occasions. Always a winner. 

Wildfire Deli is the latest addition to the high street. Owned and worked by a local family, you are guaranteed a warm welcome, fantastic service and great coffee. 

The mysterious Granny Kempock Stone stand just off the high street and a flight of steps winds up to the stone from Kempock Street. The local superstition is that sailors going on a long voyage or a couple about to be married, walk seven times around the stone to ensure good fortune. I have a few divorced Gourock friends; I’m not sure if they did the walk!

For the energetic, Lunderston Bay is a pebble beach just outside of town as you follow the coast road round heading to Inverkip. Here we have a fantastic coast walk around to the Inverkip Marina and its new developments and a hidden beach. We all do this as youngsters, scouring the beach for crabs and jellyfish, great fun. Lunch could be grabbed out at the Inverkip Hotel or Inverkip Marina. Both lovely settings, the marina for its views of the Clyde and wealthy Yachts! 

If it's a summer's day everywhere will be busy and have a great atmosphere. There is something special about being next to the Clyde during the summer months. A local icon is the Gourock Outdoor Pool, a heated saltwater swimming pool. One of the last in Scotland and a brilliant experience. I’ve spent many an afternoon or night after work here—great views and usually busy. Personally, I always waited till later afternoon when most of the families had headed home. Keep an eye out for the midnight swims in particular, brilliant fun. 

Book a table a the Cafe Continental for dinner. In particular book table 13, but keep that quiet tip to yourself. The Cafe is the perfect spot to enjoy dinner and sunset which in the summer can be very very special. The long hours of sunlight mean sunset can take forever with ever-changing colours. Definitely my favourite. Depends on the time of year but book for sunset. Oh, and make sure to have the ice cream. The Cafe use the Esplanade Cafe we talked about earlier.  If you cant get the Cafe, I would suggest The Spinnaker Hotel. Great views, a hearty menu and selection of beers.

Gourock is well known to have excellent local bars and restaurants with a variety to suit all taste and wallets. A mix of old man places, young people out for a dance and couples just catching up. Always friendly and always welcoming. I have a few favourites, but you can’t beat the Kempocks jukebox and an impromptu sing-along. Most people will find themselves in either Cleats or back at the Cafe Continental to finish the night off. 

Inverclyde has in the past been much maligned, most certainly from people who do not know the area. However, last year I had an English couple ask me to compile an itinerary taking in “Instagram” Scotland. As they only had three days, I explained Skye would just be driving and no fun. I sent them around the central belt touching the Highlands but finishing with the last night in Gourock, coming over from Dunoon. Despite seeing Castle, Mountains, Glens and Lochs all this couple could talk about was their night in Gourock. That made me immensely proud. We are doing something right. 

12 Days of Christmas - Dunblane

Its the Central belt today and an area full of ancient Scottish History. 

Usually, when hires ask for help with route planning, I try to gauge their interests. If they like the Historical side, Bannockburn, Robert the Bruce for example or even the slightly made upside but very popular Outlander or Braveheart this wee tour is for you. I say tour, today, we are just stopping in at a few points but also highlighting the beautiful Cathedral City of Dunblane. 

The first stop for us, however, was to visit The National Wallace monument just out the back of Bridge of Allan. I'm quite sure everyone knows the story of William Wallace, his place in Scotlands History. It's an iconic landmark when driving up or down the M9 and can be quite a sight very early morning covered in haze or at dusk with low light.  

We didn't go in as it wasn't opened. I think it's around £10 per adult ticket and I am told it is a good trip with great views from the top and of course the legendary Wallace Sword.  We had arrived early just for a wander and a quick stop into Bridge of Allan for some supplies. We pop in here quite often when passing. It's a great wee town with top drawer charity shops, great fun.

Onward and it's a short drive over to Dunblane, the home of our Tennis hero Andy Murray, Wimbledon Champion and all-round good guy. Our Andy is a big bag of emotion and can often be seen crying his eyes out on live TV. :-)

Now I have to admit I have a good pal who lives in the area, so we have the low down on what do to and where to go. First stop a visit to 'Another Tilly Tearoom', the original being in Tillicoultry, for breakfast. This colourful wee cafe was absolutely perfect for a great breakfast and an excellent coffee. Super friendly staff with huge smiles I only just managed to drag Lorna out before we could consider the home baking. A great recommendation Fi. 

So first up was a wander over to the Cathedral, a beautiful gothic building at the bottom end of the High street. It really is gorgeous inside and bursting with History. The building is open for visitors and tours can be arranged. The memorial windows of the First World War by Douglas Strachan who was considered the most significant Scottish Designer of stained glass windows in the 20th Century.  The larger of the two Church of Scotland parish churches the other being  St Blane's church, a category B listed building. This hosts a memorial window to the children and their teacher whose lives were cut short by the tragedy of 1996. A horrific day Scotland will never forget. 

From here we head back up High Street, and you can't really miss the Gold Post box, painted in 2012 to celebrate Andy Murray's victory in the London Olympics. It’s a great local touch and there are a few dotted around the country. That really was a fantastic games.  

We quickly nip across the road to Bennet's butchers, again an insider tip, and purchase a steak pie for later. You can't beat a real butcher for quality. In any big supermarket, you would pay a premium for this.

I know the High Street well from visiting local solicitors in a past job, a lovely traditional feel, full of locals gabbing. There are plenty of small independent shops, and a few things caught our eye as we wandered in and out, in particular, Charisma for small nick nacks,  and the Sue Ryder charity shop has potential along with the local Mary's Meals Charity Shop.

Another place of a note to visit is the Dunblane Museum which holds a collection of artefacts, photographs and paintings about the History of the town and area. Also a nice walk around the city along the River Allan with the War Memorial which commemorates the residents of Dunblane who were killed or missing in World War I and World War II.

The Tappit Hen was the pub recommended, and it was a great wee place full of character and very friendly for visitors. This is the place for live music from local musicians, this is a place where old and young congregate to catch up with each other, watch the sport and enjoy the atmosphere.

There are many options if eating out for the evening, including the Riverside, with offering good choices. Still, our intention was India Gate on Perth Road, the food here was excellent with plenty of options for vegetarians and great service. I do love curry!

We pack up for the day and head along the B824 towards Doune and on to our next destination for the night. We have one final stop into the David Stirling Memorial  - founder of the modern-day Special Air Services (SAS)  giving the best views around the area over to the Trossachs. A great way to finish up and a perfect wee city to spend the day with.

Onward to our secret Campervan spot at ……….