We left around 10am and headed towards St. Andrews as I had to at least see it even if unable to play there. It took roughly an hour to get there and as we drove into the town we quickly found a car park that was free on Sunday until 1 pm. It is a beautiful old town and very much a University town so no lack of money and it's upkeep is very good.
First, a stop toilet as usual (must be something to do with age) and then found a nice spot in the centre of town for coffee and a biscuit. As soon as we sat down outside a bloody wasp kept bothering us until we finally left. They also sold icecream here and I think that was the attraction with all the sugar around. Got up and walked about 50m and suddenly realised i'd left my camera bag next to my seat; turned around and a gentleman was holding it up for me, god hope that doesn't happen again in less safe places. We then walked until we got to the golf course, had a look at the R&A building (under renovation) and bought a couple of ball markers as a momento. Raced back to the car as it was just past one but no issue and then drove past the golf course, quickly stopping in a no parking zone to jump the fence and get a photo on the famous bridge. Back in the car and on our way north to Aberlour.
The road was very scenic and as we passed the town of Pitlochry we saw a fish ladder and suspension bridge, so made an exit and came back into the town. A lot of people around and quite a pretty little town with a Dam for hydro power with an adjacent fish ladder for the salmon in spawning season and a lovely little metal suspension bridge across the river. We parked and walked down to the river and crossed the suspension bridge. We then decided to walk up to the dam to view the fish ladder and once there, rather than backtracking we saw we could cross on the dam wall back into town and back down to the car park.
By this time the ubiquitous toilet stop raised its head again and buggered if we could find one, signs pointing to non existent toilets. Got back in the car and drove to the train station where one in the group was greatly relieved to find it open. When she returned I decided to make use of the facilities myself and walked up to the station. Opened the door to what I thought was a larger convenience than it was and no, a single toilet with a non functional lock with a man well into his eighties standing there. He turned and sent a torrent of loud words in Gaelic at me that I could not understand and swung the door shut. I retreated a couple of steps and not long later he exited with a grin on his face, uttering a few more indecipherable words and pointed to the lock as he wandered off.
After this unsettling episode got back into the car and we headed back to the 'highway' and off towards Aberlour.
It was an uneventful rest of the trip with stunning scenery,
especially through the Cairngorms and we arrived into the township of Aberlour a bit after 5.30pm. We were booked into the Aberlour hotel in the main street which had some excellent reviews but on arrival the outside of the hotel looked a little worse for wear. Parked around the back in the carpark and walked down the slope and into a beautiful, traditional old pub. Met at reception by a lovely lady who gave us the keys to the room and advised us of dinner times etc and we walked up the stairs onto a landing, through the fire doors and into our room, brilliant. So well decorated in a sort of 'retro' style and even had a turntable and some records to play if so desired. Excellent large bathroom and what looked like a very comfortable king size bed. Moral; don't judge the book by its cover.
We wandered downstairs and out for a walk along the riverbank as the light was beautiful and it was a gorgeous twilight in the Scottish Highlands. Of course another iron suspension bridge, this time the Victoria bridge and more quaint buildings.
Went back for dinner where Jane had the haddock and I had a steak pie. Both excellent choices and after this we retired to one of the bars and had a local beers, followed by some recommended whisky (Fettercairn 16 yo from Aberdeen, Gordon and Macphail Glenrothes 11yo from Elgin and a Glenfarclas 015 cask strength, a local family owned distillery) from a young man who had just moved from Edinburgh to work at Maccallum's and get into the whiskey industry. Worse luck it was closed tomorrow, but not too worried as I had to drive and had been to a couple last time we were in Scotland. Back to the room suitably imbibed to a very comfortable bed and good sleep.
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