Well this place was alright for us a group of thirty of us to stay in. We were just on a boozy weekend. The service and staff I found were excellent however the place was a bit run down the we were staying on the top floor and the hallways seemed lopped sided which was fine when you were coming in drunk because you weren't swaying about!! The locals in the surrounding pubs were really friendly and for a small place they had a karaoke on in one hotel and a live band in another. I enjoyed my stay but the place could do with a refurb.

Its the morning after our arrival and the boys are up bright and early as usual so while we try to wake ourselves up they decide to go off and climb a hill before we head out of the day. Well that makes us feel a little guilty so after be have brekkie we get the wellies on and head out ourselves. The boys says theres a great walk up a hill and you come to a lovely waterfall so we decide to do that one.

Well be get a few pics of things on our way round like the abandoned shop and the beware sign. And start our trek up the hill............................ 5mins later we're gasping for breath and 2 of us think we're going to have heart attacks!!! We decide to turn round and go a lovely little stroll along the Loch (who needs to see a bloody waterfall we have a massive loch right there :D)

We went back to the cottage and lied about our little walk however after a few we spilled the beans.........honesty is the best policy after all!!

Once we are packed up the island of Lindesfarne is our first destination.  We wait in the salt marshes for the tide to go out to allow safe passage across the causeway.  The outline of the island with a castle and ruins of a monastry make the view the misty, magical place of the legends.  Back on the mainland after a brief look-see we continue up the coast stopping at St Abbs where I get enthusiastic about seeing guillemotts and kittiwakes.  There is a costal National Park there with views to die for so we walk along the paths on a hot day.  The walk takes us through fields of sheep, lambs, horses and foals.  Andrew decides that it will be just a quick to do the smaller circuit than to retrace our steps.  Pass a small lake and so a 90 min walk in all!

Headed towards Scotland we detour to Staith.  Here James Cook began his training as a sailor.  The town is on a steep cliff and visitors and residents cars have to be parked on top of the cliff in a designated car park.  The steep cobbled streets challenge the knees and houses cling to the cliff with their pocket handkerchief sized gardens.  Continue on to Aberfeldy and are well and trully in Scotland.  The town has a beautifully restored watermill for the grinding of oats and one of the bridges that General Wade built dated 1733.  He built about 34 bridges and this one is the only one that is still used by road traffic.  There is also a monument deicated to the Black Watch in the town.