Portinscale / Newlands Beck Walk

Rob, Brock and I had a walk from Portinscale (near Keswick in The Lake District) along Newlands Beck today.

It is an easy, flat walk with fabulous mountain and farmland views. The gorse bushes were in flower next to the beck, and it was not too busy at this time of year. Please click on any photo to see a larger version.

Approaching Ullock

Brock and I at Ullock Farm

Lichen-covered wall

 Blackthorn blossom

Sunlight on the hills

 Next to Newlands Beck

Gorse and mountain views

We had morning coffee and cake before the walk, and lunch after the walk at The Chalet Tearoom in Portinscale. We had jacket potatoes and salads: Rob's with cheese and pickle; mine with Moroccan spiced aubergine. The food arrived very quickly and was tasty. The salads included a chilli-spiced wilted greens with spinach and purple sprouting, which was particularly delicious. Dogs are allowed inside and out, so this is a favourite eating place for us.

A Walk At Hoddom Castle Estate

Rob, Brock and I went on a walk around the 'Farm Trail' at Hoddom Castle Estate.

The weather was sunny and warm, and the Spring flowers were appearing everywhere - beautiful!

 Bridge over the River Annan

 Forget-me-nots

Ransoms

Lesser Celandine (I think!)

 Brock's new fur cut

 Hoddom Castle (a bit of it, anyway).

Golf course

Spring Tulips

I couldn't resist buying this beautiful bunch of tulips the other day ... I love these colours together!

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Holiday in Fife: Days 6 and 7: Cambo Gardens, St Andrews and Crail to Anstruther Coastal Walk

Cambo Gardens were our first port of call on Thursday 24 March. It is our third visit to these lovely gardens. They are famous for their snowdrop display, which was just about finished, but there were still plenty of Spring bulbs to see - and the pigs!

 The forest walk leads down to the sea.

The stables, which are going to be refurbished shortly.

Some of the pigs - you can buy potatoes to feed them. So cute! There was a sow with a litter of piglets in a distant area, but we didn't go over to disturb them.

A collage of some of the flowers and statues we saw; including hellebores, primroses etc.

We had a morning coffee and cake in the cafe - dogs allowed and gluten free available, so it gets my vote! I think we might have been the only people there apart from the staff.

For lunch, we went back into St Andrews to Tulsi - a Thai and Indian Restaurant. We had the vegetable thali, which was delicious. A large compartmentalised tray each of rice, dal, okra, aubergine and spinach with potato curries. The owner/waiter was very friendly and helpful. Rob had a mixed veg curry instead of the okra with his, and parathas. We were also given complimentary poppadoms with mango chutney. With two soft drinks, the bill came to £31.40. There was far more than we could eat, although I would have liked to! The food was mildly spiced, but with plenty of flavour, made with freshly prepared vegetables and herbs. I am sure we will return next time we are in St Andrews.

On Friday 25 March, it was another sunny day, so we headed out to walk from Crail to Anstruther along the coastal path. This is one of my favourite sections of the walk. 

Looking back to Crail harbour.

Strange rock formations.

Cellardyke.

Anstruther harbour.

We had a coffee and cake in the Coast Coffee Cafe, sitting outside overlooking the harbour. Very pleasant! We just had time to wander around the harbour before heading to the bus stop to catch the bus back to Crail. The buses run along the coast hourly during the day.

Lunch was at the Crail Harbour Gallery. Dogs are allowed (at least in the garden) and we piled in there with everyone else on this lovely day. The garden overlooks a small sloping area with chickens in it, and beyond that, the sea. It is quite 'cosy', so everyone soon started chatting and it was a very friendly little party. The Cafe serves paninis and fish dishes, but sadly no vegetarian gluten free food, apart from cake. Rob had a cheese panini with salad and crisps. I had yet another piece of cake: this one with apple. I would definitely come back to this cafe again, though, for the coffee and the view.

The week had gone very quickly, as holidays always do, but I'm sure we'll be back for another visit to Fife. The best bits were the lovely coastal walks, visiting the pretty fishing villages of the East Neuk, and shopping in St Andrews. Most of the cafes we visited were very good - my favourite lunch was at Cuppa Coffee House in Pittenweem, favourite main meal at Tulsi, and favourite takeaway (we only had one, but it was good - hot and spicy!) was from Eastern Touch in Anstruther.