Ditching politics in favour of friendships, The Great Polish Map of Scotland is a huge relief map on the grounds of Barony Castle. The 3D map of Scotland was constructed to recognise the bond between Scotland and Poland. The history behind the 3D relief map of Scotland In 1940, Polish soldier Jan Tomasik was part of a group of soldiers who arrived in Scotland to defend the east coast from German invasion. His experiences here had an acute affect on him and, following the war, he made Scotland his new home. After some time establishing himself as a successful Hotelier in Edinburgh, he bought Barony Castle in 1968. Years later,…
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How to get to Manuela’s Wee Bakery Scotland, the Highland take-away
Manuela’s Wee bakery is a quirky little café, pizza shop, and gin distillery, tucked away in the Scottish Highlands, built to transport you to a hobbit/fairy wonderland and send you away with a bag full of goodies. I could barely contain my excitement as we slipped out of the car and walked up the gravel drive towards the 3 bakery huts. Even in the rain, their Brother’s Grimm-style appearance is quite the find amongst the sleepy country back roads of North Scotland. Famous for their crooked roofs, kooky colours, and mythical decor, the bakery site is made up of small fairy-tale cottages: a bakery, pizzeria, toilet, gift shop, and gin…
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Una Vida Hotel Tulum, Mexico: Review, Photos and Booking
An honest review around my stay at Una Vida Hotel Tulum, Mexico. You can see more photos, prices, and availability over on this Una Vida booking page. This was not a gifted/promotional stay and I paid for this trip myself. This article has links which I may make commission from, at no extra cost to you. Location Una Vida Tulum rests peacefully in the jungles of Tulum, less than a kilometer from the central ADO bus Station. Stumbling off a 2-hour coach ride with my backpack into the bustling Tulum main street, I hopped into one of the taxis directly outside. A kilometer might sound like an easy stroll, but…
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TUI vegan food review – long haul flight
Every time I catch a long-distance flight, I try to capture the vegan meal options on board in order to give other plant-based travellers a preview of what they might be offered. I’ve already covered Finnair and Air France, now here’s the kind of thing you can expect from a vegan meal with TUI. Flying with TUI This was my first flight with TUI and I wasn’t delighted that they charge you extra for baggage the way that a budget airline would. I appreciate that they sit at the lower end of the long haul services, but I was still forking out for a 10 hour flight. That being said,…
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Nomads Hostel and Hotel, Isla Mujeres, Mexico review
Nomads Hostel and Hotel in Isla Mujeres is located near the middle of the island, resting quietly on the coastline away from the busy downtown area. I stayed in Nomads for two nights, travelling solo and hoping to make a friend or two along the way. Here’s how it went … This article has links which I may make commission from, at no extra cost to you. Booking a dorm or bedroom in Nomads Hostel, Isla Mujeres I tend to do a lot of my hostel bookings with Hostel World. I’ve used the platform for years and I like the way they allow travellers to rate the accommodation. Check Nomad’s…
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Loch Melfort Hotel – Vegan friendly accommodation in Oban, Scotland
I’ve stayed in A LOT of hotels, guest houses, and hostels. So asking me to choose favourites is a big ask. However, I have a few that (for one reason or another) really stand out and one of them in Scotland is Loch Melfort Hotel. Tucked away on the West coast of Argyll, I feel like this country house is one of Scotland’s best kept hotel secrets. Let’s me show you why … This article has links to the rooms I’ve stayed in and loved, which I may make commission from. Regardless, the post is an honest review of all hotel features. A hidden hotel just south of Oban I’m…
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How to get to Yester Castle: the scariest castle in Scotland?
I love a castle adventure, the older (and spookier) the better. Whilst a lot of Scotland’s visitors head straight to the well maintained structures of Edinburgh and Stirling Castle, it’s my opinion that the best gems are to be found crumbling in the woods and coastlines, nature wearing them away like old pinnacles out at sea. East Lothian is brimming with dilapidated old ruins from times gone by; an easy drive from the city, but hidden enough to warrant a full day out. Most of these come with their own little stories, each telling of a sad spirit who’s not quite managed to move on yet. And then there’s Yester…
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Hidden gems of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile: A self-guided tour of things to see
My blog post about ‘The funniest negative TripAdvisor reviews of Arthur’s Seat’ has recently seen a spike in traffic. Like all content writers, I felt it would be silly not to capitalise on this little boom and, so, went off to cast my net across some of the other tourist attraction TripAdvisor slams. I checked out all the obvious spots in Scotland and (I’m going to be honest) a lot of the rants were pretty dull. However, what did catch my eye was the bulk grumbling directed at Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. Now, from a locals perspective, this was to be expected, at first glance, the street is littered with novelty…
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How to get to Den Finella Waterfall: The Lost Waterfall of Scotland
Den Finella Waterfall – An absolute chore to get down to, but one of my favourite hidden Scotland waterfalls. Reaching this photo spot requires a backwards abseil down the muddy route, way-marked by ropes left by previous visitors. Before we get started, it’s worth highlighting, the Den Finella descent is not for young children or people with mobility difficulties. Den of Finella Waterfall directions The thundering falls are located under a small bridge between St Cyrus and Johnshaven. Blink and you might miss it; the bridge sits flat with the road and you may not even realise you’re driving over the river. You’ll find the bridge on a corner of…
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Newburgh Beach: The best place to see seals in Scotland
Where in Scotland can you see seals? Newburgh, a tiny little town on the east coast of Scotland, just 15 minutes north of Aberdeen, is holding on to a BIG secret. One so big that it almost threw my favouritism for Scotland’s west coast. An enormous colony of 400+ seals, just chilling along the sands of Newburgh Beach. Whilst St Abb’s Head on the east coast, alongside the isles of Mull and Iona on the west, are well-know for their blubbery visitors, I’ve never seen them show up in the numbers that we witness at Newburgh. Seals in Aberdeenshire: Newburgh Seal Beach Although a quick Google search throws up a…
