Visiting Scotland in April 2012

**brewerpaul** · 16th December 11, 10:39 PM

You already mentioned my favorite place, Edradour distillery. Moulin Inn has some great house made brews also. I enjoyed Pitlochry and the India food served there. In Collander we walked a mile or so to the Lade Inn. Another great place to eat local food and some house made beer, though now made off site. There was a great little used book store that I had to collect at least 6 books from. The walk up to Braklin Falls is nice and while up there just keep hiking to the crags. You will have a glorious view of Collander and beyond.

**ThistleDown** · 17th December 11, 12:33 AM

At the Moulon, a pint of Ale of Atholl! Eyes roll and lips are licked. Across the way spend a few hours at the Explorers' Garden and, if you have an evening to spare, whatever is on at the Festival Theatre.

Further on the A9 is Killicrankie and, beyond that both the House of Bruar and Blair Castle recommended by Jock Scot. I can never resist a stop at House of Bruar on my way home from Edinburgh, but another route into the Highlands will take you by way of Aberfeldy and right past Dewar's (pronounced doo-ers

) Distillery. Don't pass Haggart's on the High Street, however. This 200 year old tweed shop is where you will spend your fortune, or wish you had a fortune to spend.

**Sir William** · 17th December 11, 06:14 AM

Originally Posted by ThistleDown

....by way of Aberfeldy and right past Dewar's (pronounced doo-ers

) Distillery.

Paid Dewar's a visit in 2005 as part of a coach trip. It was about 9am in the morning (we were the first visitors of the day). They broke us into two groups, one going on the tour and the other, which I was in, having their wee dram before going on the tour.

My wife and daughter gave me their drams and we bought a soft-drink for my son who was only 14. Our tour escort said he got one as well so I took him to the bar and told the lass that he got a dram but that I was drinking it and I wanted the single malt they had. She then poured a huge measure saying, "So we like our whisky do we?" Consequently, I had the equivalent of about SIX whiskys just before we toured the distillery.

As we were walking around, the distillery guide said that we'd all get a wee dram when we finished. Some of us replied we'd already had ours and my wife observes that some of us have had more than one, looking pointedly at me. Our young guide asked how many I'd had and I said six. The guide looked at me and said, "And you're still standing?!"

That said, I had a nice nap when we boarded the coach afterward.

**ThistleDown** · 17th December 11, 12:48 AM

Originally Posted by brewerpaul

...In Collander we walked a mile or so to the Lade Inn. Another great place to eat local food and some house made beer, though now made off site. There was a great little used book store that I had to collect at least 6 books from. The walk up to Braklin Falls is nice and while up there just keep hiking to the crags. You will have a glorious view of Collander and beyond.

Callander, Paul? Where Dr Finlay's Casebok was filmed? The Lade Inn is another real ale brewhouse.

**figheadair** · 17th December 11, 04:15 AM

Dunollie Castle and the newly opened 1745 House is well worth a visit - http://www.dunollie.org/

Also down that end of the country is Auchindrain Township - http://www.auchindrain.org.uk/

**brewerpaul** · 17th December 11, 08:45 AM

Originally Posted by ThistleDown

Callander, Paul? Where Dr Finlay's Casebok was filmed? The Lade Inn is another real ale brewhouse.

Im not sure about the filming of Dr Finlay's Casebok but yes there is a real ale brewhouse. Though the brewery has been moved due to expansion and taking on the brewing of other fine real ales (contract brewing) it still keeps the Lade Inn with its own house ales. They were very nice indeed, the Lade Back ale, the Waylade ale and Lade Out. Lade Inn was about a mile walk from Collander north on the A84. They have a Real Ale retail shop for some of the many Scottish and UK bottled Real Ales. Link to Lade Inn below.

http://www.theladeinn.com/index.php

This is also where we allowed ourselves a serving of Sticky Toffee Pudding and my was it wonderful.

**Sir William** · 17th December 11, 09:26 AM

Originally Posted by brewerpaul

Im not sure about the filming of Dr Finlay's Casebok but yes there is a real ale brewhouse. Though the brewery has been moved due to expansion and taking on the brewing of other fine real ales (contract brewing) it still keeps the Lade Inn with its own house ales. They were very nice indeed, the Lade Back ale, the Waylade ale and Lade Out. Lade Inn was about a mile walk from Collander north on the A84. They have a Real Ale retail shop for some of the many Scottish and UK bottled Real Ales. Link to Lade Inn below.

http://www.theladeinn.com/index.php

This is also where we allowed ourselves a serving of Sticky Toffee Pudding and my was it wonderful.

I checked out their website last night and try some of the house specialties (I like real ales) if time permits.

**Charlie** · 17th December 11, 10:58 AM

Can I suggest you dont try to see everything in Scotland in one visit as that way you will see a lot but can not remember it all! Scotland is not very big but the terrain makes it seem bigger.

You can easily spend days exploring Edinburgh alone. Look at a few selected places - many good suggestions here. Best of all you will want to return.

I appreciate I can drive to Scotland in a few hours so can get there a lot but I am sure you can find excuses to see the "Old Country"!!!

Please note Collander is better known as Callandar especially on sign posts!

**Sir William** · 18th December 11, 06:44 AM

Originally Posted by Charlie

Can I suggest you dont try to see everything in Scotland in one visit as that way you will see a lot but can not remember it all! Scotland is not very big but the terrain makes it seem bigger.

This is my third trip to Scotland and the primary focus will be on the Highlands, with about 3 days in Edinburgh.

I know I can't see or do everything so I plan my trips (anywhere) using a triage approach: Priority 1 are things I WANT to see or do; Priority 2 are things I'd LIKE to see or do if there is time; Priority 3 are targets of opportunity in the event I've done 1 and 2 or can't do them for some reason.

There is always something I miss for some reason but that gives me a good excuse for another trip. In 2013 I'll be returning to spend some time in the Borders (clan gathering). I'd like to see Stirling on this trip (missed on both previous trips) but since I'll probably return for the 2014 Gathering I may put it off again until then.