So yes, somehow I ended up running through the Scottish Borders today. The Edinburgh H3 tends to hash a bit outside of the city, but this was extreme, even for them. Worth it though! After the run, I was finally able to enjoy a bit of Glasgow.
To get to an 11:00 run in the Scottish Borders, I had to leave quite early, and get a breakfast to go at the Greggs in Glasgow Queen Street, which I then enjoyed on my train to Edinburgh Haymarket.
Good morning from Glasgow Queen Street!On the ScotRail train to Edinburgh Haymarket
There I was picked up by an Edinburgh hasher, and a 1h15 ride later, we arrived in Coldingham well in time for the start of Edinburgh H3 Run 2331. We caught a lucky break in the rain, and enjoyed many sunny sea views, and a few beers afterwards. Only minimal gravity testing…
At EH3 they traditionally have a pub lunch after the run. So shortly after circle, I found myself at The New Inn, eating the sizzling pork with wholegrain mustard, cider sauce, chips, and veg, with a pint.
👣 Edinburgh H3 Run #2331👣 Edinburgh H3 Run #2331👣 Edinburgh H3 Run #2331👣 Edinburgh H3 Run #2331👣 Edinburgh H3 Run #2331👣 Edinburgh H3 Run #2331👣 Edinburgh H3 Run #2331👣 Edinburgh H3 Run #2331👣 Edinburgh H3 Run #2331👣 Edinburgh H3 Run #2331👣 Edinburgh H3 Run #2331👣 Edinburgh H3 Run #2331 – Circle👣 Edinburgh H3 Run #2331 – On After: pub lunch
After another long car ride, followed by the train back to Glasgow, and a short subway ride—while they were still going, the Sunday service is rather short—I had a shower and a change in my hotel before
dinner at Yianni’s. The chicken gyro pita I had there was definitely better than anything I ever had in the Rue des Bouchers!
Yianni’sChicken gyro pita at Yianni’s
Stomach lined, it was time to try all the beers at Shilling Brewing Co. Well, not actually all of them, but there were quite a few I wanted to try.
When I opened the window blinds after waking up, I had a first glimpse of the rainy Highlands. So yes indeed, I travelled quite a bit further north than end destination Glasgow, and I would be spending my Saturday in Fort William and Glenfinnan.
Of all the routes possible with Caledonian Sleeper London, the one to Fort William was the only one I hadn’t done yet. And I can now attest it is the best one: it is the one with the latest arrival, so plenty of time for breakfast, and the views the last couple of hours are incredible! Those views are best enjoyed while having the Scottish cooked breakfast: in the Club Car.
Good morning! What a bedroom view to wake up to…Club Car viewsA full Scottish breakfast, as usualBest breakfast views ever!
After arriving a couple of minutes early, The Jacobite steam train was waiting at the other platform, which was a nice bonus.
The Caledonian Sleeper has arrived in Fort William!The Jacobite steam train was waiting at the opposite platform when we arrivedThe Jacobite steam trainJust when I started to wonder how The Jacobite steam train could pull all those carriages, I noticed the diesel loc to help push from the back…
After storing my bag for the last time this trip in another convenient Stasher, I first headed to The Wildcat, for a nice Dear Green coffee.
Welcome to Fort William!Coffee at The WildcatThe Wildcat café. And masonic hall…
While had some time to kill before my next train, I visited the West Highland Museum.
I had no idea the area was so important for the training of commandos during WW II!!
West Highland MuseumWest Highland MuseumWest Highland MuseumWest Highland MuseumWest Highland MuseumWest Highland MuseumWest Highland MuseumWest Highland MuseumWest Highland MuseumWest Highland MuseumWest Highland MuseumWest Highland MuseumWest Highland MuseumWest Highland MuseumWest Highland MuseumWest Highland MuseumWest Highland Museum. I love a box pleat…
After a quick visit to the Caledonian Sleeper Guest Lounge to recharge, I hopped on the ScotRail train to Glenfinnan.
Caledonian Sleeper loungeA first glimpse of Glenfinnan Viaduct from the train, just before we cross it
So I had a perfect plan: hike up to a spot with a good view on the Glenfinnan Viaduct, get there to see The Jacobite steam train pass over it, to catch it on photo and video. I made it there in time, set up my camera to record a loop, and then… nothing!
Apparently the afternoon service stopped just two weeks before! I did get some nice photos of the viaduct though, but quite wet…
I then hiked back downhill and visited the Glenfinnan Monument & Visitor Centre , where I also picked up a NTS Member Passport. Woohoo, more stamp collecting!
Glenfinnan ViaductGlenfinnan ViaductGlenfinnan ViaductMoney doesn’t grow on trees. Except maybe this one…The Glenfinnan MonumentThe Glenfinnan MonumentThe Glenfinnan Monument Visitor CentreThe Glenfinnan Monument Visitor CentreThe Glenfinnan Monument Visitor CentreMy new NTS Members Passport!
The only train still going back to Fort William, was also the last train back to Glasgow, so instead I had booked a Peter’s Taxi to take me back to Fort William. That way I had some time for some beers at the Black Isle Bar, and a Venison Salami pizza, but even more important: retrieving my bag!
Then there was just one more train to take: the West Highland Line to Glasgow Queen Street.
Black Isle BarBlack Isle BarVenison salami pizza at the Black Isle BarTime to go ‘home’!
After two very short nights, I couldn’t wait to check-in my hotel—Premier Inn Glasgow City Centre St Enoch Square—have a shower, and go to bed… Because tomorrow will start way too early for a Sunday!
Glasgow SubwayPremier Inn Glasgow City Centre St Enoch Square
A trip to Scotland inevitably—for me at least—includes a train change in London. This time I really made the most of it, and included a visit to a museum, a brewery taproom, and an Indian dinner.
Of course it was a national strike in Belgium, disrupting public transport quite a bit. Luckily the lines I needed to get to Brussels Midi station were still running, albeit less frequent.
When I arrived—well ahead of time—the Eurostar terminal looked slightly different than last time… I soon found out what changed: whereas the British border control had been an automated passport scan for a quite a while already, the Belgian side now has similar gates as well. No human interaction at all required anymore!
After boarding, I quickly found my comfortable solo seat, number 61. Not the one The Man in Seat 61 usually books, since his is in Premier class, while I was ‘just’ travelling in Plus. Note to self: check which power socket a booked seat has, because a UK plug and a USB-C cable aren’t much use when the seat only has a EU socket and USB-A outlet…
Plus class includes a light lunch, and today it was grilled courgette and marinated fennel salad bowl, Sicilian gemelli pasta with tomato, capers and olives, and basil ricotta.
Seat 61 in Eurostar Plus, with my trusty PacSafe VentureSafe sling on the seatLunch: grilled courgette and marinated fennel salad bowl, Sicilian gemelli pasta with tomato, capers and olives, and basil ricottaArrived in London! In the Eurostar on the right…
After arriving perfectly on time, I first headed to a Stasher location near Euston station, to store my bag for the day. After a rather short night, I was desperate for a coffee, so I headed to Origin Coffee Shoreditch for my first one.
Origin Coffee ShoreditchOrigin Coffee Shoreditch
I picked that area to be already near the Museum of the Home, a free museum I hadn’t been to yet. It turned out to be quite nice! Although you start to feel old when the more recent interiors seem very familiar…
Museum of the HomeMuseum of the HomeMuseum of the HomeMuseum of the HomeMuseum of the HomeMuseum of the HomeMuseum of the HomeMuseum of the Home (protein printer in the home of the future)Museum of the HomeMuseum of the HomeMuseum of the Home. This hoover actually hovers!Museum of the Home
Time for another coffee at Gram’n Degrees, mainly to kill time until the Great Beyond Brewing Co brewery taproom opened. They were still in full Oktoberfest mode, but luckily had some non-lagers—brewed in house, of course—as well!
Since my stomach was still on Belgian time anyway, I decided to beat the Friday night dinner crowd, and head to Punjab restaurant early. I had one of their specialties, the Acharri Murgha, with some garlic naan and a mango lassi of course. Delicious!
Going down, at Whitechapel underground stationThe very safe Elizabeth Line, with platform doors at Tottenham Court Road stationAcharri Murgha with garlic naan at Punjab restaurant.
After picking up my bag, I made my traditional stop at Euston Tap, for a last pre-train beer. Or three…
Euston TapEuston TapEuston Tap
The Caledonian Sleeper guest lounge wasn’t too full when I arrived, and I had my room key, some shortbread and Irn-Bru in no time.
Euston train station not winning any beauty prizes…Caledonian Sleeper lounge: this way!The Caledonian Sleeper being prepared for departureCaledonian Sleeper lounge on platform 1Snacks in the Caledonian Sleeper loungeCuddly train, anyone?Room key sorted!Those would be nice to hang at home…
After boarding, I headed to the Club Car to hand in my breakfast card, and secured my stool at the window bar. While I was enjoying a Black Isle beer, the Caledonian SleeperLondon Euston – Fort William departed perfectly on time. Just 925 km in 12h45 to go…
My carriage awaits me!My room for the night, you’ve seen it before…Some Black Isle beer, while wearing my Black Isle T-shirt bought at the brewery…The Balvenie Doublewood whisky and a Scottish cheese plate. That’ll do…My room still has a table! I was convinced they had all of them removed, until now…
Razernij – Beerdrinkers & Hellraisers in Rumst is definitely one of my favourite beer festivals in Belgium. This is in large part due to it actually having live music, and the bands are just as carefully selected as the invited breweries! The highlight in the line-up this year was The Real McKenzies.
After a short night—because of a night shift—and a well-caffeinated train and bus ride, I made it to that by now familiar field in Rumst. Somehow I even managed to be one of the first five festival goers to get their tokens, so I ‘won’ a book with beer poetry. No time to read though, but time to try the first beer! Funny story: the brewer from Maktoob Brewing actually recognised me from when I was in Bucharest last year! The kilt I wore probably helped him remember…
