The Daily Scrawl

Huntly – Castle & Coffee

Huntly is a small, rural town on the A96 between Aberdeen and Elgin. It can also be reached by the No10 bus Aberdeen / Elgin or by rail. Parking is recommended in the free carpark behind the police station on the far side of the square where Brander’s Library sits. Take a walk towards the Gordon Schools’ arch built in 1839, flanked by the town’s “Bydand” emblem meaning steadfast or enduring – the historic motto of the Clan Gordon. Follow the avenue, lined with majestic trees down towards the river and Huntly Castle. Looked after by Historic Scotland it is…

How to Drive The N.C. 500

What do you do, when you go on a road trip style holiday? Rent a campervan if you don’t own one, stock up on food and drink from Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Aldi, plan which villages to stop in, which ones to skip, and off you go. Why? How much do you see? My village shop began in the back of a van, driving up and down the road, always armed with a cheery smile and friendly chat. Most tourists missed the charm of it, instead experiencing the fluorescent impersonality of a self checkout supermarket. So why come to the Highlands if…

The Carfrae Loch Loop

With spring somehow in full tilt in early March and the snowdrops already starting to wilt, what better time to take off the mouldy old coat of winter by going on a walk and enjoying the outdoors. Located near the village of Gifford in East Lothian is a beautifully packaged walk taking one through forests, farms and the perimeter of a long stretching reservoir. For the adventurous type the Lammermuir hills sit just on the horizon, and for those who like their creature comforts there is a cozy little farm shop (Carfrae Farm Shop) with a coffee bar and a…