Road Trip: Berwick-upon-Tweed
Part 3 of road trip: Christmas in Scotland
We said goodbye to Aberdeen by driving through the old town and then first stop, Stonehaven Beach which houses the biggest Co-op I have ever seen! It’s a full blown supermarket with trollies and it delivers free. I’d love that option from our tiny city centre branch. We’ve seen surprisingly few Co-ops on this trip, odd, as I identify them with this part of the world.
The half way stop for a Sunday roast was Edinburgh and back to the fantastic No 8 Lister Square in the Quartermile. We’d been there – twice – during our stay in the city in the spring and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to go back. We sat at the same table, had another amazing roast (shared chicken for two) and the same lovely service. We left thoroughly satisfied, with just enough time to give a nod to my original city fave, Peters Yard, just around the corner.
We arrived in Berwick early evening and settled into Castle Vale House B&B. We were recommended the nearby Castle Hotel for food and it became an immediate highlight. I’d like to stay there next time if can find a room where we can be oblivious to the bar rowdiness coming from below!
We did wander off around the town first and then strode into the Castle's lively pub and restaurant. Clearly the joint was still in festive mood with some large parties but we were greeted by passing staff as soon as we stepped in and given options. In the end, the bar being full, we were seated in the restaurant.
Having had a big Sunday roast earlier, we just wanted a snack and maybe share a dessert. The place is so delightfully traditional, I could almost guarantee some sort of sponge pudding with custard.
In the end we didn’t have dessert - because we were so FULL! I had soup, the bf had a sandwich and chips and we could barely finish those generous portions. The bf wanted to get back for Sherlock, otherwise, if we’d longer there, I would still have had the dessert.
Of course the real beauty of this historic town is the views and we had one of the bridge right from our room at Castle Vale House as we awoke in sunshine the next day.
After a hearty breakfast cooked to order and eaten on a communal table with other travellers, another walk in daylight was in order. First a coffee stop and then we took our leave for our last day of the road trip.
What was keeping my joy going as we started our drive home was knowing we were going via Alnwick. But what I thought was my favourite spot in Northumberland disappointed this time. The café we enjoyed just for a coffee last time was awful; small portions of microwave and tinned food served with a cold welcome. Perhaps it’s changed hands.
To make the stop more positive, we drove up to the previously delightful Barter Books in the old train station but that proved a wasted exercise too when everyone decided to drive uphill on the single-lane with lots of people coming down the other side. Our brief visit consisted of the also previously lovely polystyrene coffee and a quick browse.
The shops were lovely and what we really angling for a warming coffee with huge slices of cake (our trip to Wigtown came into my mind) but we decided to hit the road and enjoy the rest of our drive in the beautiful part of the world and head home, via Sheffield’s Meadowhall.
There are so many highlights in each of three places we stayed and all the driving in between, we arrive home happy and start planning our next road trip.
2016
