Scotland- Day Three

Another night of not that great a sleep.

We booked a “small” double and it lived up to its description. I think I have bigger handbags at home. So I feel like I spent the night hanging on to the edge of the mattress by my fingernails. Of course, judging by the snoring, the Favourite Husband slept wonderfully.

Day 3 is a big day in that we picked up our hire car this morning.

The plan was to head South to the Scottish borders via The Cheese Well at Traquair. The Cheese Well is at a natural spring on Minch Moor and folklore has it that you leave a piece of cheese for the fairies to grant you safe passage across the moor. Cheese? Fairies? Two of my favourite three things - we were only missing the wine. But then we realised that was a 2 hour (uphill) hike and we had 3 other towns to visit on our way to Ayr. Decisions needed to be made. I would eat the cheese whilst mumbling good wishes to all fairies and we’d head down to Gretna Green.

Now Gretna Green was included in our itinerary for a bit of fun, and it was. We enjoyed visiting a place that celebrates marriage against a backdrop of the world that’s sometimes missing a warm heart. Plus the kiwi husband had never heard of it, so it’s not like he was going to say no.

From there we headed to Dumfries. I liked Dumfries. The outskirts seemed a bit sad, but the town centre was bright and the setting attractive. I can’t say the same for our next stop; please step forward Castle Douglas. We only really stopped here because the world wide lying web thing told us it was “a foodie’s heaven …” not at 3.30pm on a Saturday in October it wasn’t. No. What it was at 3.30pm on a Saturday in October was shut. And fair enough too. What silly sausage turns up at that time? So on we ploughed to our safe haven for the night … Ayr. The scenery along the way was jaw dropping beautiful. Mountains and heather and lochs and sheep and spruces. Stunning.

I don’t hear much about Ayr. It doesn’t seem to be in the top 3 places to visit in Scotland before you die. Well, it bloody should be. It’s a stunner. It’s got such a vibrant and feel good vibe to it. We’re delighted. We went out to dinner to a local restaurant called The Treehouse - best meal we’ve had so far (sorry not sorry Edinburgh.)

The hotel is ok. The room slightly bigger than the last. We are up 4 flights of stairs in the attic or as I prefer “the penthouse.”

Excited for tomorrow.