Friday
We were both up early again, although not as bad as yesterday and, as we are moving on to Forfar today, there were lots of practical things to do so we kicked off the day with a bacon sandwich, yum. The most notable of the jobs was emptying the cassette toilet for the first time !!! Nikki promised Steve he wouldn’t have to do that, so this one is a ‘pink job’. Still, easily done, we packed up the rest of the van, and on exit emptied the ‘grey’ water and filled up with fresh.
We journey today from Balbirnie to Forfar. Part of taking the ‘slow road’ is to not literally drive from campsite to campsite. So, we decided to hug the coast of Fife as much as possible.
Not only did this afford some great views of the Firth of Forth, it allowed us to visit picturesque Crail, with its tiny harbour, and St Andrews, the home of golf and scene of that famous movie “Where Will meet Kate”.
F
Crail
Crail was beautiful, and as we walked to the harbour we passed lots of lovely cottages. The harbour itself was small, with a few fishing boats bobbing around, but sadly the seafood shack is only open at the weekends so no dressed crab for Steve !! However, all was not lost as up a small street we found a cafe with outside seating and views of the sea, so picturesque.
We didn’t stop long as we wanted to allow plenty of time in St. Andrew’s, so we headed North again, Steve is in the driving seat today.
St Andrews
St Andrews, the home of golf.
We drove through the town, to the only car park we found in research that appeared willing to accept motorhomes – West Sands. As it turned out, this was a magnificent choice as it sits between the beach and the world famous Old Course.
Steve’s nerves were tingling as we walked by the side of the first hole, with views across to the 18th, the Swilkan Bridge and the Valley of Sin just before the green. The latter will always be in golf fans memories as Constantino Rocco, from Italy, holed a monster putt from it to force a play off in the 1995 Open.
In the distance we could also see the Old Course Hotel, over which professionals drive on the dog leg 17th Road Hole.
Many photos taken to lock in the memory bank when we look back in years to come.
The town itself somewhat reminds us of Bath, with its striking architecture and obviously well to do inhabitants.
We spent a couple of hours wandering its cobbled streets, chatting to a bus driver in the Keys Bar who was taking 40 teenagers to Kinlochbervie. Think that’s what he said, it might have been Kin-ell!
We finished at One Under Bar (geddit?) ‘gastropub’ right by the side of eighteenth green. Our drinks are always a pint (Nikki) and a half (Steve) and we have been pleasantly surprised that rounds are between £7 and £8, but at One Under it was over £12 – robbing bastards.
Forfar
After St. Andrew’s it was just a short hop to Forfar which included crossing the Tay bridge. It’s 1.4 miles long and links Dundee and Fife. This ‘version’ of the Tay Bridge is actually the second one, the first having collapsed during a storm in 1879, taking a train and 75 souls with it.
We left Fife at Four, and arrived in Forfar at Five. Try saying that when you have had a few.
We swiftly settled in and then went into town for some grub. We were recommended ‘The Nest’ and on arrival found that Friday’s was a 2 for 1 steak night, happy days.
We also found a cracking bar, it seemed to be where everyone was heading, the ‘10 Bar’. We thought it was going to be full of youngsters, but that actually wasn’t the case, and clearly someone had spent a lot of money on it.
Nikki popped out for a smoke shortly after and returned with news that it was ‘all kicking off’, well one very inebriated young girl who was too much for two coppers, and her best mate, all trying to calm her down. Not witnessed by us, but I believe she head-butted one of the paramedics when they arrived, so was chucked in the police van and no doubt was still there at breakfast the next morning.
It didn’t stop there either ….
Shortly afterwards a guy was thrown out of the bar after kicking off having been told ‘no more’. We were promptly locked in for about 20 mins, presumably the amount of time it took for him to get the message. We were both amazed that the bar did not have any security staff !!
It was Steve’s first lock-in since his parents ran a pub.
Despite all this, the people of Forfar were lovely and very friendly and we had a great evening.
