As the Katrina and the Waves song goes, I’m Walking on Sunshine…. It felt like that today anywy.
The sunny weather is continuing here on Bute and, while the day started off cold and windy, once the wind died down to nothing, it became quite warm, with my car registering 18.5 degrees this afternoon. I’m in the part of Scotland which will have the best of the sunny weather over the next few days too. Hooray!
I started my day with a Full Scottish Breakfast at the B&B (with a lovely sea view from the dining room as I ate). After breakfast I went for a morning walk in Rothesay and attended the 11am service at the Isle of Bute Parish Church, and enjoyed a good service. (A cat walking in to the church distracted the vicar during the sermon – that was quite amusing).
I visited the nearby Rothesay Castle, closely linked to the Stewart Kings and Queens. To this day, the heir to the throne uses the title ‘Duke of Rothesay’ when in Scotland, instead of ‘Prince of Wales’.
On the way back I stumbled across Cafe Tazza, which looked interesting, somewhere to grab a cake and a drink. It’s a Syrian patisserie and bakery. I think that’s brilliant! Syrian inspired menu and the service was excellent. I had their chocolate fudge cake and a hot chocolate.
In the afternoon I drove down to Kilchattan Bay, where I would be able to do a really good walk around the Southern tip of Bute, and get great views of the surrounding area. I’d been warned the terrain was rough and it would be a hard walk – so I planned not to do the full walk; but instead just get as far as the lighthouse.
As expected the terrain was rough. It is the type of terrain which I struggle with because of my Dyspraxia and Essential Tremor; To avoid falls, which I am prone to on uneven and rough (or muddy) terrain, I have to be extra careful and slow. So a walk described as being one which should take around 3 hours, for me would take maybe 4-6.
So rather than do a really long walk I only did part of it; It took me about an hour to get to the Rubh’ an Eun Lighthouse at Glencallum Bay. I sat on the rocks, sunbathing, listening to the sea, reading my book, for quite some time, before starting back for the car.
For dinner I went to the Jam Jar, at the top of Canada Hill just outside Rothesay. It being Sunday I had a 3-course meal – fish goujons and a sweet chili dip for starter; Chicken Balmoral which is chicken stuffed with haggis, wrapped in bacon – served with mashed potato and gravy; then a sticky toffee pudding with ice cream. It was very good!
Given that there have been times over the last few months when, due to my mental health being so poor I haven’t been eating properly, and lost weight as a result, to be having 3-course meals like this is quite an achievement; something to be celebrated I think!
On the way back, instead of taking the back road I drove down the hill – Serpantine Road – one of the bendiest roads in Scotland. It is only half a mile long but has 14 hair pin bends (and I counted them all on the way down). Might have to drive that way again in daylight just so I can fully enjoy the view! The road has its own entry on a website all about the world’s greatest dangerous driving roads.
Located on the Isle of Bute off the west coast of Scotland, the remarkable road is totally paved up Canada Hill. It’s one of Britain’s strangest roads. Similar to Lombard St in San Francisco, it was built when the town boomed as a Victorian resort. Its 14 hairpins enabled the horses to carry building materials up to the manor house on top of the hill.
Back at the B&B now and I am in need of a rest. I have watched some TV before typing this blog (hence why it is so late) – and now I’m off to bed.
Good night,
FH.
