The Modern Antiquarian. Stone Circles, Ancient Sites, Neolithic Monuments, Ancient Monuments, Prehistoric Sites, Megalithic MysteriesThe Modern Antiquarian

Facility Reviews by nickbrand

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Brandy Burn House (Bed & Breakfast, Kirriemuir)

Excellent coffee shop! Can't speak bout the B&B as haven't stayed, but if it is up to the standard of their food and coffee, then it should be pretty good.

http://www.brandyburnhouse.co.uk
21st July 2003ce

The Western Isles Hotel (Hotel, Isle of Mull, Argyll)

This 4-star hotel is excellent. Good food, and a superb location overlooking Tobermory harbour. Take a look at their website:

http://www.mullhotel.com

for what's on offer. Cath and I stayed 3 nights here and would heartily recommend it.
22nd April 2003ce

Taybank Hotel (Hotel, Dunkeld)

http://www.taybank.com/

This isn't just a real ale place - it's a real music one. Owned by local musician Dougie MacLean, there are often impromptu sessions in the bar. Bar meals are good and reasonably priced. The beer is always good, and if you're lucky enough to be in when a session starts - just settle in, or better still, ask if they have a room! Haven't stayed here overnight so can't comment on the rooms, but you won't find many bars with a better atmosphere. Situated down opposite the Tay by Dunkeld Bridge, the views couldn't get much better either.
6th March 2003ce

The Crinan Hotel (Hotel, by Lochgilphead)

http://www.crinanhotel.com/

My wife and I stayed the night here late in February 2001. This hotel is of a very high standard, particularly from the culinary viewpoint. Its position is also superb, poised at the head of the Crinan Canal and with exquisite views out over the Sound of Jura. Another good place for a relaxing break, and the wee bar downstairs is very cosy. Breakfast is pretty good - in fact (although we hadn't planned to) following this we felt obliged to work some of it off by climbing Dunadd yet again...
6th March 2003ce

The Lodge on the Loch Hotel (Hotel, by Fort William)

http://www.freedomglen.co.uk/ll/index.html

A truly superb hotel - check the website. We stayed 3 nights here in October 2002, exploring the Ardnamurchan peninsula and round about. Not cheap, it should be said - but for quality relaxation worth every penny! Excellent food and drink - a very good selection of whiskies, and most of the food is sourced very locally. Highly recommended for a get-away break.
6th March 2003ce

Glen Clova Hotel (Hotel, by Kirriemuir)

http://www.clova.com/

I can't comment on the quality of the rooms as I have never stayed overnight here, but I have known the hotel and its bars for over 25 years. I did a lot of walking in this area, and the Walker's Bar, with its open fire and bowls of soup on a wintry afternoon is renowned amongst any rambler/climber who knows the area at all. Always a friendly welcome, and now the restaurant has been expanded. Local produce, and reasonable prices. Pig Roast barbecues many weekends during the summer! Food- and drink-wise, I can't fault it.
6th March 2003ce

Lochside Lodge & Roundhouse Restaurant (Restaurant, by Kirriemuir)

http://www.lochsidelodge.com/

Bills itself as "A restaurant of international standard. Four well appointed bedrooms." I can vouch for the restaurant, have eaten there with my wife several times - most recently when celebrating our 25th anniversary with the family. The food is excellent quality and good value, a lot of local produce used. Can't say anything about the accommodation (we live about 45 minutes away so no point in staying) but if it's up to the standard of the food, and I expect it is, then it should be more than worthwhile.
6th March 2003ce

Peel Farm (Cafe, by Kirriemuir)

Cafe and Craft Shop. Open March - December, sells a lot of local produce. Regular Craft Workshops and Saturday afternoon demonstrations. Country Trail to red deer paddock, new Courtyard Barn full of antiques, collectibles and gifts.

Good coffee, home baking, personally recommended! Local farmer's shop on-site selling delicious lamb cuts etc for the non-veggies.

http://www.angusglens.co.uk/upload/tplt_attractions_.asp?page=2100002318
6th March 2003ce

Pictavia (Museum, Brechin)

This site is a mixture - Brechin Castle Centre has a garden centre, a very good coffee shop, the Country Park and Model Farm, the ornamental lake with its bird life, and walks round 62 acres. To keep the kids happy there's the Dragon's Lair Adventure Playground. But most importantly, Pictavia is part of this site. An excellent resource for those interested in the symbol stones, it contains many originals and quite a few copies too. Well worth a visit if you are in the area. 2nd March 2003ce

The Drovers Inn (Pub, by Forfar)

A great little place. An old inn, extensively renovated and added to. Good beers, including guest beers. Terrific food in the restaurant and conservatory, using a lot of local produce. Large children's play area. Tables outside, and barbecues held in the summer. Very popular locally, seems to be a bit of a community centre!

It's located on the road south out of the village, opposite the kirk. Sunday lunches are very good!
2nd March 2003ce

The Moulin Inn (Hotel, by Pitlochry, Perthshire)

Spiritual home of the Scottish Megaraks, famed for its beer and puddings, this is an excellent base for the local area. The earliest part of the inn was built in 1695, and stands in the village of Moulin just outside Pitlochry. It has its own brewery, producing 4 different beers - Ale of Atholl, Braveheart, Moulin Light and Old Remedial - all good! Log fires in the bars/lounges, and good food - decent quantity and decent prices, a lot of local produce used in these. My wife and I stayed here overnight a couple of years ago - the rooms are good, beds comfortable, and the dining-room excellent - overlooking the Moulin burn, which flows past the windows. There are often folk nights on Friday and Saturday evenings. All in all, you can't go far wrong with this place! 20th December 2002ce

The Cairnbaan Hotel (Hotel, by Lochgilphead, Argyll)

http://www.cairnbaan.com

Superb hotel - not cheap, but worth it! My wife and I had 2 nights here in March 2002. Good service, good food, good accommodation - and the Cairnbaan carvings are just up the hill at the back of the hotel. What more could you ask?
19th December 2002ce
I work offshore in the North Sea as a rig medic. 55+ years old. Nationalist to the core. Have been interested in ancient sites as long as I can remember, due to my Dad's interest in history. Traced my ancestry back to the 1650's. Run a website about the little Fife town I was born and brought up in, Burntisland. Run a website on Stone Circles in Angus and Perthshire. Learning Gaelic, but not very fluent so far. Spend a lot of time walking in the hills. Member of the Scottish Megaraks. Sanity often questioned....

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