One of the campaigns from VisitScotland for 2014 is the idea that the country is a land of Brilliant Moments: whether it’s the sight of a mountain glen, the sounds of the bagpipes or the taste of a fine meal, visitors will have memories to last a lifetime.
We only spent four nights in Scotland yet we came home reeling from the beauty, history and warm welcome we received. My previous posts cover many of the highlights of the trip:
Mum’s gone to Glasgow
15 Glasgow – an address to remember
Mum’s gone to Edinburgh
But there’s still more to tell, still experiences I want to write down, to preserve for my own pleasure and to share with the big world out there. So here are all the bits that didn’t fit neatly into the other posts: the brilliant moments the four of us shared.
The mezzanine of the Ubiquitous Chip |
Ubiquitous Chip
That’s some name for a restaurant, isn’t it. ‘The Chip’ as it’s known to the locals, is a long established, well-loved restaurant in the West End of Glasgow. On a recommendation, we booked a table for our first night in the city, taking a taxi to Ashton Lane and being utterly captivated as we got out of the cab, to see the cobbled streets and twinkling lights welcoming us to a charming part of the city. The restaurant in the courtyard is quite bewitching with tiny lights and masses of greenery, reminiscent of a bijou bistro somewhere in the Mediterranean.
We had booked a table in the brasserie, in the mezzanine. A slightly different, lighter menu than in the ground floor restaurant but the experience was just as magical. What did we eat? Our starters included The Chip’s famous venison haggis, neeps and tatties and a delicious Tarbert crab. For mains, my Inverurie beef skirt with smoked potatoes and mushroom ketchup was, in true food critic parlance, historic.
A relaxed atmosphere, friendly unfussy service and excellent food. A big thumbs up from the Burgess clan.
Don Costanzo
A family-owned traditional Italian restaurant, one minute’s walk away from our B&B, Don Costanzo hadn’t been recommended to us but, as it was so close it seemed the perfect choice for our second night in Glasgow. An informal, welcoming restaurant with great service. If you moved away from the pasta dishes, the mains weren’t cheap but there were no complaints about the calamari, mussels, lemon sole, poached pears and a light-as-a-feather Tiramisu. We loved it and it was an easy stagger back to our beds.
Stanes bar in Dunstane Hotel |
The Dunstane Hotel, Edinburgh
Our base in Edinburgh, a 20 minute walk to the west end of Princes Street (but we took the bus), the Dunstane Hotel had free parking which was ideal for us. It’s an unusual hotel because there are, in fact, two properties, one either side of the main road running into the city centre. We were given rooms in the main hotel so didn’t have to cross the road to have breakfast. However, we had access to the more contemporary building with its lounge, TV and honesty bar and this was great in the evenings. Our ‘classic’ rooms were a little on the small side but were pretty and the bathrooms spotless.
Despite having a choice of Edinburgh restaurants to choose from, there was something very comforting about the Dunstane’s dining room, Skerries Restaurant, so we ate there both nights. Our favourite dishes were the haggis bon bons with chilli jam for starters and the various fish dishes (monkfish, salmon and battered haddock). In fact, Rory must have had haggis in almost every meal he had in Edinburgh, choosing it for breakfast and evening meal. His father was so proud.
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
This was one of Dougie’s brilliant moments rather than mine. While I was back at the Dunstane, resting my weary legs, he decided to explore the streets behind the hotel. Wandering past the houses, he came across the Water of Leith, a river running through Edinburgh from the Pentland Hills to the Firth of Forth. Finding a small bridge over the river, he explored further and found himself in the grounds of the National Gallery of Modern Art. The gallery itself had closed but he was able to walk though the gardens, finding superb sculptures by artists such as Joan Miro and Henry Moore.
Dougie’s Brilliant Moments caught on his phone: the hidden treasures behind our hotel. |
The Falkirk Wheel
Driving between Glasgow and Edinburgh, we took a slight detour to visit the Falkirk Wheel, the world’s first and only rotating boat lift. This 35m high structure is situated where the Forth & Clyde Canal meets the Union Canal. An ingenious design allows boats to enter the contraption and be transported to the next level on the canal network. Families can have a trip on a boat and experience it for themselves: we sat in the warm visitors’ centre, escaping the only rain of the holiday, and watched the procedure instead. This would be a great place for a day trip: a children’s play area, canoe hire, woodland walks and a water play park plus Rough Castle Roman Fort and the Antonine Wall nearby.
The Falkirk Wheel – stationary and in motion. |
The success of any holiday is measured by the happiness level everyone in the party. Taking two 18 year olds on a fairly full-on trip, involving lots of sightseeing, might have been a testing time. On the contrary, despite early starts and a great deal of walking, the teens were a joy to have around. They adored both Glasgow and Edinburgh and were wonderful travelling companions. The memories I will treasure will be the evenings chatting over dinner and the laughs we had as we visited museums and galleries. But I think my own Brilliant Moment came when I realised that family holidays don’t have to end when our children grow up. Thank you, Scotland.
Juliana and Rory, our travelling companions, very happy in the Ubiquitous Chip. |
FACTBOX
Our trip was arranged by VisitScotland. All accommodation was paid for and we were given passes for all the attractions requiring an entry fee. We chose our own itinerary, having been given some recommendations.
For more information on holidaying in Scotland go to www.vistscotland.com
VisitScotland’s internationally recognised Quality Assurance scheme is a benchmark for quality and service standards across the tourism industry and operates across accommodation, visitor attractions and food sectors.
Ubiquitous Chip
12 Ashton Lane, Glasgow
+44 (0)141 334 5007
Don Costanzo
13 Woodside Crescent, Glasgow
+44 (0) 141 332 3070
Dunstane Hotel
4 West Coates, Haymarket, Edinburgh
+44 (0) 131 337 6169
Scottish National Museum of Modern Art
75 Belford Road, Edinburgh
Free Entry
The Falkirk Wheel
Lime Road, Tamfourhill, Falkirk
08700 500 208
Hello Trish,
There are so many delights to be found in Edinburgh alone that we have yet to get to Glasgow!
The boat lift is an extraordinary feat of engineering. We had not heard of it before and would have been most intrigued to 'have a go'!
As you say, one can truly proclaim a holiday a success when everyone involved has enjoyed themselves. This visit clearly passed with flying colours. How wonderful to have such appreciative young companions!
I hadn't heard of the Falkirk Wheel either but my husband had and he suggested we visit en route to Edinburgh. My photos don't do it justice: it was a huge contraption and hardly uses any electricity – something to do with Archimedes!
It was such a joy having them both with us.
I love the Chip, I went to school with the owners daughter and studied at the college of nursing just a few mins away, I also love the modern art gallery, I lived a few minutes from there for many years in Edinburgh, fond fond memories of both, thank you x
So pleased to have brought back memories for you. We were so grateful for your tips. Next time we will get round to the Oran Mor.
I've only had two, brief visits to Scotland and never to Glasgow – you've made me want to go there now that I've read about your trip. It's lovely to read what you say about family holidays continuing once your children grow up. My daughter is 15 and every time she comes away with us I think it may be the last time.
Chatting with a number of friends recently who have children aged 18 +, they tell me that all their children are accompanying them this summer on their holidays. So it looks like you needn't worry – if you pick somewhere nice, kids, even adult ones, are keen to tag along.
So happy for you that you had such a great family time.
I cannot wait to get to Scotland now. xx
We really did have a fantastic few days – the weather was very good to us, so that helped too!
Go south to the Borders, it's absolutely perfect at this time of year. Lambs and blossom and all manner of prettiness!
My cousin is a vet in the borders – we went to her wedding last summer. You're right, it is very pretty.
I love the sound of the Ubiquitous Chip restaurant, sounds brilliant, as do the other places! The gardens of the gallery are amazing, bet it's great inside too! 🙂
Nice post Trish.
It makes me ashamed, that as a Scot, I never even knew about the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art. Those pictures of the sculptures and the lovely gardens make me feel that I may have missed something special.
I haven't been to the chip for over 20 years, but it doesn't sound as if it has changed. Well done.
Ubiquitous Chip is a remarkably odd name! It looks awesome though, thanks for the post!