http://www.visitscotland.com Archives - Page 2 of 5 - Jim Murty’s TravelTravelTravel

Inverness, the UK’s happiest city

23rd August 202423rd August 2024 funtime65

Well, our most famous prehistoric mammal has never seen the need to move from Inverness, the UK’s happiest city, nor why should she.

The capital of the Highlands has long enchanted visitors from across the island and the north-eastern tip of Ireland.

Since the days James Boswell was bagman for writer Samuel Johnson on their trip around Scotland in the late 18th century up to the current day.

Not that the peripatetic pair ever witnessed The Loch Ness Monster.

And Bozzy would certainly have chronicled coming across Nessie as he did everything else.

Glove is all around

Were the Loch Ness Centre there when they came a-visiting they wouldn’t have been able to move for Nessies.

As we found when we visited with our own wee monster clinging for life to his glove puppet Nessie.

Which, of course, he put down on the table where they were selling… Nessie puppets.

So what is it about Inverness that put it top of the hospitality agency Accor as the UK’s leading location for happiness following the rise of the “soft living” trend?

And beating the likes of Oxford, Cambridge and Carlisle into the bargain.

Going on Office the National Statistics’ (ONS) personal well-being survey data from the last five years Inverness came out on top with a score of 7.83 out of 10.

Culloden and all that

Our guides flag up Inverness Castle, dating back to 1057 and Inverness Cathedral, the most northerly Anglican Cathedral in the UK.

While there’s a vibrant foodie scenes at Michelin-recognised Rocpool and The Mustard Seed Restaurant and River House.

And as Bozzie and Johners found out on their travels the Highlanders have forgiven the outsiders who quelled their attempt at taking over Britain under Bonnie Prince Charlie.

And who were put to the sword at the Battle of Culloden, the last pitched battle on the island, back in 1746.

All that welcoming, forgiving spirit must be something in the air around those parts making Inverness, the UK’s happiest city.

Countries, UK

Go Forth with 900 years of Edinburgh

2nd July 20242nd July 2024 funtime65

The ground beneath us hasn’t shifted but our city has, and will continue to do so, as we go Forth with 900 years of Edinburgh.

The River Forth has been at the heart of the Edinburgh story since dwellers first set up camp next to water to build a community.

And a church, and back in those days God mattered more to people.

The burghers of Edinburgh have, in fact, chosen the 900th anniversary.

Of the erection of St Giles Cathedral as the foundation date of the city.

Window to a past world: St Giles Cathedral

Millions of Edinburghers, and tourists, have since filed past the Cathedral, and some inside.

Halfway up the Royal Mile from the Holyrood Palace to Edinburgh Castle.

Its place in the story of Edinburgh, Scotland and indeed Western Liberal Democracy (important in this week of weeks with a General Election) is fixed.

Because of the actions of of all people a female market-trader, Jenny Geddes.

Jenny from the back

Twas Jenny who threw the stool at the Kirk minister.

In objection to the first public use of the Church of Scotland’s revised version of the Book of Common Prayer, the 1637 Scottish Prayer Book.

And sparked what were to be known as the War of the Three Kingdoms (George RR Martin obviously paid attention in class) which involved England, Scotland and Ireland.

The results of which played out in Oliver Cromwell’s Commonwealth.

And the later parliamentary reforms which were transported overseas to the American colonies and the nascent United States of America.

That subject, of course, is for another day.

That day being Thursday with Independence Day in the USA, and we will mark it as we do every year.

Proper Charlies

But for the here and now and today, we note that the St Giles story and our commemoration of it this July 3, is a tale of two Charlies.

The first King Charles who because of the influence of his Catholic wife and his High Church leanings imposed his prayer book.

On the-then more puritanical Scots.

And the third King Charles, the one we have now… and yes, you and I are probably more directly related to him and King David I who founded St Giles than today’s monarch.

That apart and something for which we would probably be hoisted on the gibbet.

That stood across from St Giles Cathedral and hanged it is still worth noting.

Nowhere to Hyde

Now anybody who has been on a hop-on, hop-off bus will have heard the story of how that gibbet was engineered by one Deacon (or councillor) Brodie, the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson‘s Dr Jeklyll & Master Hyde.

Or drank and eaten at the Deacon Brodie’s pub opposite which helpfully has the tale written on the wall outside.

Brodie was, of course, an upstanding citizen by day.

But he took imprints in soap of keys at dinner parties by night before returning to rob the establishments.

Twas his fate then to be hanged on the very gibbet he built.

Soapy bubble

It is also Edinburgher tradition to spit down on the heart of Midlothian halfway up towards the Castle.

On the cobbles in disgust that in a more uncivilised age we hanged people.

Whether King Charles III dwelt on any of this as he received the honorary keys of Edinburgh today.

Not everyone is a fan: Republic protest against Charles III

In a ceremony of great pomp and circumstance is doubtful.

But we do hope and trust that the organisers gave them a good scrub.

Before handing them to the monarch to remove any soap which might have gathered there.

Countries, UK

North Berwick the best of British

15th March 202415th March 2024 funtime65

Now it would be remiss not to credit the wee toon I now inhabit and the award bestowed, North Berwick the best of British.

Or the woman who brought me here to live among the outlaws and told me I would die here.

The Sunday Times, no less, has put NB top of their list of 72 destinations of best places to live.

The newspaper flags up the way life revolves around the town’s beaches.

As well as the wealth of activities, whatever someone’s age.

You might have heard, of course, NB blow-in Ruth Davidson, the former Scottish Tory leader, extolling its virtues on Times Radio.

From the overpriced Herringbone Restaurant where Baroness Davidson of Lundin Links, to give her high-falutin title, held court.

Talking about her town from a private room, well away from the Great Unwashed.

NB till I die: And she’s prepping my plot

It should be said here that NB has always been popular with retirees.

And it’s not for nothing that the main street is nicknamed ‘The Olden Mile’.

The plot thickens: Helping in the garden

The newspaper also highlighted the thriving independent shops.

As a sign of the positive effect small businesses have on a community.

Train sights on NB

All of which may prick your curiosity to jump on the train from Edinburgh Waverley for the half an hour trip out west.

So what will you find when you get out here?

Well, said beaches and three links golf courses.

North Berwick GC, parallel to The Olden Mile and the West Beach, the Glen and Tantallon.

And the grand Marine Hotel where you can avail of its R&R, G&T (other cocktails are available).

And putt yourself on their front lawn.

While for a more bijou accommodation then No 12 on the aptly-named Quality Street is a buzz of activity.

Around Signals Bistro on account of its rail track and carriages on its skirting board.

Sport your local town

Our nearest watering hole, the Fly Half at the Nether Bay Hotel on the arterial Dirleton Road, is busiest around sports days.

And rugby days when the hosts will serve up warming Scotch pies at half time.

To soak up the ales, and do sample the Augustus Caesar.

A Royal Burgh since 1373 when Robert II granted it the right to levy the king’s customs duties.

With a ‘tron’ for weighing wool and a ‘tronar’ operator.

And it still retains those underlying monarchist affections.

With older residents happy to put out the Union flag bunting (that’s you Royalist Roy) at the drop of a hat.

Muir the merrier

NB is a trekker’s go-to with the John Muir Way running through it.

Up to the relics of Tantallon Castle and down to Dirleton.

Admiring as you go the verdant town centre, dressed for you by our Green-Fingered One and her Britain in Bloom winners.

NB too is a twitchers’ headquarters with the Seabird Centre offering unrivalled views of the Bass Rock.

Which you can go out and visit on boat tour parties.

To see the biggest collection of gannets around on the rock.

Gone fishing

For the gannet in you NB is well-served for restaurants.

And if you like your meal straight out of the sea we would recommend the Rocketeer in front of the Seabird Centre.

While there is also an inviting hut and eating area, the Lobster Shack, down by the old fishermen holds.

Where local artisans set up stall and sell their wares.

Fringe benefits

NB has a timeless quality to it but despite its reputation as a retirement home there is life Jim.

Particularly around Edinburgh Festival time when it puts on Fringe By The Sea.

Where Texas and Sister Sledge have performed in the past.

And this year The Jacksons will rock up.

So don’t blame it on the sunshine, not guaranteed as this is the East of Scotland.

North Berwick the best of British makes up for that in so many other ways.

The annual Sunday Times guide, sponsored by mortgage lender Halifax, also named 10 regional winners.

Including Clerkenwell in London, Abergavenny in Wales and Portstewart in Northern Ireland.

Caribbean, Countries, Food & Wine, Ireland, UK

The ultimate New Year hangover cure

1st January 20241st January 2024 funtime65

It makes sense when you discover its magical contents, and for the day that’s in it we’re recommending the ultimate New Year hangover.

Coconut water, and who knew that the ubiquitous Caribbean drink (other countries are available) will put you back on your feet.

It’s all to do with the potassium, electrolytes, fibre and natural sugars.

All in those coconut shells you see traders carving out by the side of the roads that cost pennies.

Of course it might be that all that dancing you did the night before.

And the fruit from your rum punch and water to rehydrate protected you from the ravages of the hangover.

Or the fact that you’re in Barbados for carnival that makes you blank out the lethargy in your head.

Fry and high

Of course, there are those, ourselves among them, who swear by…

The Ulster/Scottish/English fry of bacon, sausage, eggs, puddings, mushrooms, beans… it’s replacing the lost salt, you know.

And I will forever be indebted to Donna for putting Jevan and myself back together after our all-nighter at Foreday Morning.

And giving us the cold splash of reality that is a hosing down.

To remove the mud and purple paint and wake us up… never a thing for those trudging back from Edinburgh this morning.

Bru knew?

The Scottish hangover cure they say is to just carry on (behave!)

But what is true is that the Jocks do swear by the elements in the bubble-gum tasting Irn-Bru soft drink.

Yes, it’s a rush of sugar but also that iron, although there’s only 0.002 ammonium ferric citrate.

But according to an expert in this field, Shaughnessy Bishop-Stall, who spent 10 years drinking in 30 cities across 14 countries it deffo works.

Now if coconut water, big fry-ups or Irn-Bru aren’t your thing (and why not?) then caffeine is a favourite fall-back.

Cup of coffee for the road

One more cup of coffee: With my Dear Old Mum

I developed my taste for coffee from 15/16 and having it thrust into my hand the morning after a school house party.

How you take it is your own beeswax but I’ve been a black only drinker since my days at uni in frozen Aberdeen.

When leaving the flat to go down into the bracing wind to the shop for milk became too much effort.

Particularly after the first al-nighters with Jevan when he introduced me to real Bajan rum, Mount Gay.

Now where is that streetside coconut water seller in Aberdeen when you need one?

Now I am nothing if not a service-provider and of course the ultimate New Year hangover cure is the sunshine you get.

On the road with the Further Adventures of Bandanaman.

Countries, UK

Darlings of the Fringe

28th August 202328th August 2023 funtime65

All the greats started out at the Edinburgh Festival… The Python Boys, Not The Nine O’Clock News, Robin Williams, Fleabag and the Forth Stanza, darlings of the Fringe.

You’ll obviously have heard of us, Martin MacIntyre, award-winning Machair and Edinburgh University Gaelic Writer of Residence.

Douglas Watt, who spawned the 17th century retrospective whodunit John McKenzie series of novels.

Stewart Mercer, Professor of Primary Care and Multimorbidity at Edinburgh University.

Ed McCabe, owner of London’s Ceilidh Club and Kelta Fit dance exercise programme.

And your award-winning Travel writer, globetrotter and friend to the stars.

Who 21 years ago this month rocked the international Fringe (well, got a dozen guests each night of our poetry group run).

Fringe benefits

And that’s the whole thing about the Fringe.

It is open to every wannabe theatrical thesp, coming comic or proselytising poet.

The Fringe wrapped up as all events and shows like to put it today.

And with being just 20 miles from Edinburgh, here in coastal North Berwick, I dodged the crowds to return up the Royal Mile to our venue.

Which, of course, I have done hundreds of times in passing… and still no plaque!

Dara’s darling

Now all of those greats had a dream in common and small beginnings.

As Irish comedian Dara Ó Briain reassured one Fringe act this year when only one person attended their show.

Before with Dara’s endorsement the said act Georgie Greer packed the audiences.

Fringe favourites

Back when we were wowing the aisle with such social observation as Ken, political wrap as A Wake Up For The People.

And Vasectomy on St Andrew’s Day, Tarraing Sorcha, Poem on a Till Roll and Letting Go.

Social media was in its infancy.

And so as we take a trip back down Memory Lane, or the Royal Mile.

For those who were there, or followed us on our journey, to perform at the Scottish Storytelling Centre further down the Mile.

Or Sabhal Mòr Ostaig on the Isle of Skye.

They can say they saw us when we were just starting out and that we were their Darlings of the Fringe.

Countries, UK

Walk on for National Walking Month

3rd May 20233rd May 2023 funtime65

It’s on our doorstep and it’s free, so walk on for National Walking Month.

And you’ll almost certainly tred in the footsteps of some history makers and shapers.

Now once our doorstep was Greystones outside Bray Walk in Co. Wicklow and above the rail track built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

While in the other direction lies Kilcoole which saw its share of skirmishes during Oliver Cromwell’s invasion and in the 1798 Rebellion.

History, of course, is all around us, and the early morning call to arms and legs and hiking now involves passing one of Scotland’s great battlefields.

Pans history

Prestonpans in East Lothian was the first battle of the Jacobite Rebellion in 1745.

When the forces of Bonnie Prince Charlie saw off the troops of sitting king George.

And but for the crossroads of history there would now be a different Scottish king being crowned this weekend.

Although there are many who would say a plague on all their royal houses.

Which dynasty you supported, and would die for, and which religion was high up on the priority list of The Covenanters nearly 100 years before.

Hills and thrills

And you’ll see their sacrifice for yourself above the Flotterstone Inn in the Pentland Hills near Edinburgh on the Covenanters Walk.

A bit of background here, the Covenanters were a movement of radical Protestants who did not like the direction the kings of the time were following and signed up to challenge that in the Covenant in Greyfriars Kirk, Edinburgh.

Of course, they did their fighting in the pulpit and places like the Pentlands, up in the hills.

Making a Covenant with nature

Where one John Carphin fought at Rullion Green, Collinton, was wounded and sheltered in a former shepherd’s cottage at nearby Blackhill.

Shepherd Adam Sanderson carried his body to Black Hill at NT 0789 5219 for your map fans.

There the distant hill of Cairn Table, a little south of Muirkirk, is visible, and most importantly that meant the Ayrshire Hills, his home county.

And here was you thinking that a walk in the hills was just a way of getting exercise and getting out from your Scary One’s feet.

Well, it’s not, so we’ll be getting a walk on for National Walking Month.

Yes, we’ll get back to doing the pilgrimages we love, on the Camino and the Francigena and also in the Pyrenees, Tenerife and Tirol and the Swiss Alps.

But also on our doorstep, the John Muir Way, the Pentlands, and when in Ireland in our beloved Dublin Mountains and Wicklow Way.

MEET YOU ON THE HILLS

Countries, UK

Royal Edinburgh

9th September 20229th September 2022 funtime65

The eyes of the world will be on Royal Edinburgh over these days with the Queen to lie in state before her procession down to London.

All of which will shine a light on its most historic street, the Royal Mile.

The Royal Mile, or the High Street, as the Edinburgh folk know it, climbs from the monarch’s Official Residence, the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

To Edinburgh Castle, the city’s fortress and Scotland’s stronghold for 1500 years.

Hooray for Holyrood

For those of you who don’t know about these things you’re forgiven.

But Holyroodhouse precedes British rulers and was the royal household to the Scottish monarchs.

The most famous of whom is Mary, Queen of Scots who has horrible history here.

When allies of her husband, Henry, Lord Darnley burst in on her chamber to drag her private secretary David Rizzio out and murder him.

And opportunistic guides will tell trusting tourists that the red paint on the stairs is his blood.

Jenny from the block

Halfway up the Royal Mile is St Giles Cathedral where the Royal Family will hold a vigil for their matriarch.

And her subjects (you and me by the way) will get to file past her and pay our respects.

Chief among the 12th century kirk’s (that’s a Scots church) claims to fame is the Scottish Protestant Reformation kicked off here.

When a commoner member of the congregation, Jenny Geddes, launched her stool at the preacher.

His crime was to introduce the King’s Prayer Book which was a bit too Catholic for Scots’ tastes.

That king? Charles I who lost his head over religion.

So, maybe his namesake will keep his prayers to himself.

Mile’s better

The Royal Mile is still very much a functioning thoroughfare today just as it was back in Mary’s day.

The Scottish Parliament sits again, now at the foot of the Mile, opposite Holyrood Palace.

Where the Queen, and now the King, can keep an eye on that uppity First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

All across from the majestic Arthur’s Seat, the shelf remains of an ancient volcano, which gives Holyrood Park its verdant lushness.

Follow the road up and on your right you’ll see the dandy wee (that’s Scottish for short) figure of Robert Fergusson at the Canongate.

Where there’s a secluded gardens to ponder his place in literary history as Robert Burns’ muse.

Opportunity Knox

In truth, you can’t go more than a couple of steps up the Royal Mile without bumping into royal history.

John Knox’s House celebrates the great firebrand of the Protestant Reformation who railed against Catholic Mary.

And penned the blockbuster The First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstrous Regiment of Women.

All of which questioned whether a woman should be monarch…

We suspect Knox would have ended up wearing the trumpet if he lived in Elizabeth’s day.

Hang about

No place to Hyde: Dr Jekyll and Master Hyde

The Royal Mile, of course, has secular charms too with Mary King’s Close a recreated alleyway from the Black Death.

And the Heart of Midlothian crest where ne’er-do-wells were hanged, most famously of all Deacon Brodie.

In the picture: The Royal award-winning Mrs M

The real-life inspiration for Dr Jekyll & Master Hyde, the history of which you can read after a pint of heavy (Scots beer) in Deacon Brodie’s Tavern.

Phew, and you’ve only got halfway before you get to the Camera Obscura, The Scotch Whisky Experience and The Witchery restaurant.

Leave a few hours though to look around Edinburgh Castle at the top.

Among them St Margaret’s Chapel, named for a Scottish queen, and the Stone of Destiny, upon which kings and queens of Scots were crowned.

Stone me

And which was confiscated by the English only being given back back after 700 years.

But allowed to be used again in Westminster at the times of coronation and for King Charles III.

All to ponder as all eyes fix on Royal Edinburgh over these days.

Countries, Cruising, Europe

France, somme-nous déjà-la?

23rd July 202223rd July 2022 funtime65

And it is the question every English Francophile child in Dover is asking: France, somme-nous déjà-la?

Only we doubt whether improving their French is top of the prep just now.

And for those who do have any French they’re more likely to shout: bâtards Francais.

Because nothing turns you against a country more than waiting hours and hours to get into it.

Do the English hate the French?

Of course the Francophobia is there already… in spades.

With Dickens character Jacob Rees-Mogg weighing in.

Even suggesting that the French want to make life difficult for British tourists?

Pourquoi?

Now where once the favourite car game was I Spy now it’s phoning in your radio station to Bash the French.

This is a quintessentially English obsession, a neighbourly dispute which sustains both but which disrupts the hood.

Good neighbours

My own wee country of birth, Scotland, has a historical alliance with the French, the Auld Alliance.

Born out of mutual interest, to be fair, and a suspicion of the neighbour.

As is the case with those across the road, the Irish, who have often let the French in, to try to oust the English from their plot.

The mad thing though is that if the English dislike the French so much why are so many flocking to get over there.

There are, of course, a multitude of reasons why there’s such gridlock in the English ports.

And no one party is to blame.

Maybe though if it’s possible not everyone head for the coast at the same time.

And if it’s because of school holidays, well, you don’t have to go in the first week.

Camp brand new

Plain sailing: And at least the boat is moving

The good news is that when you get there.

And your Stena or Brittany Ferries crossing will be smooth, comfy and good value, you’ll get a fab break.

France, particularly Nord, Normandy and Brittany are all about La Famille.

And their campsites are a long way from the basic scrub land we tried to pitch a tent in back on that post-school break to Saint-Raphael.

So the kids may ask France, somme-nous déjà-la?

But it will be worth it when you can say Enfin.

America, Asia, Canada, Caribbean, Countries, Europe, Food & Wine, Ireland, Oceania, UK

The ten homes of whisky

21st May 202221st May 2022 funtime65

It’s the golden seal every country strives for, to be the home of something… so where are the ten homes of whisky?

You’d probably not to be surprised at the top five.

And so it’s more of a case of shuffling that pack to see who is tops.

The next five though is a bit more surprising.

So on this World Whisky Day join me for a distillery tour.

But do me a favour please, don’t ask about distilling or the mashing process.

It just holds us up on our way to the sampling.

Scotch Wahey

Fergie’s dram: Sir Alex’s bottle in his cabinet near Aberdeen

Scotland: And the reach of Scotch (just whisky in Scotland) became clear when the distillers held a whisky-tasting in Barbados.

Now we can blind you with science and stats… 44 bottles of whisky are exported from Scotland every year.

There are five designated whisky regions… Cambeltown, Highland, Lowland, Speyside and my own fave Islay.

They’re all heavenly and

But my No.1 is Laphroaig. It’s so peaty, just like a bowl of water in an ashtray but stick with me here.

After all you have tried haggis.

United Nips of America

Mark of a whiskey drinker: Kentuckian Mark, Cath and Mum

USA: And, of course, when the Scots left home they took their whisky and its secrets with them.

And adapted it to the new world of America and went on to produce nectar such as Kentucky’s Woodford Reserve bourbon.

But US whiskey isn’t restricted to the Deep South… branch out to Oregon.

Where Westward Whiskey have released a reimagined single malt for World Whisky Day.

Green, malt and gold

The oul’ sod: The oldest distillery in the world

Ireland: And Teeling only made it into our Barbados tastings.

While Bushmills lays claim to being the oldest distillery in the world, established in 1608.

They were also responsible for the extra ‘e’, well the Irish are the masters of using two words when one will do, and more letters too.

Land of the Rising Suntory

Japan: Now this is a love story that drams are made of.

And is the result of a relationship between a Japanese chemistry student at Glasgow University Masataka Takaretsu and Jessie Roberta Cowan.

Masataka had been dispatched by the Settsu Shuzi liquor company.

A love Suntory if you will.

Maple leaf

Canada: Right, we’re told that Canadian whisky has its origins not in its big Scottish diaspora.

But because the natives, the First Nations, got a taste for what they called the traders’ firewater.

It was a meld of rum and ‘high wine’ which developed into Canadian whisky, of which Canadian Club is the most recognised.

Sikh beatha

Basket of goods: Indians love their whisky

India: Or Sikh of life, my twist on the uisce beatha which is Gaelic for water of life and is what Scots call their favourite drink.

And long may the Indians keep up their love affair with whisky which they have been producing since 1948 since Amrut entered the market.

More than half of all whisky drinkers in the world come from India.

Wizards of booze

Australia: And we should have come to expect this with our ne’er-do-wells sent over there as convicts.

Specifically Tasmania is whisky haven with the best Aussie whiskies Sullivans Cove, the best Single Malt at the world awards, and Lark based there.

A Swede whisky

Sweden: Now here’s something you don’t get at your local Ikea with your meatballs but should.

Mackmyra was Sweden‘s first distillery and the Swedes got it right first time, winning the First Edition Gold Award in 2013.

The Isle of Tai

Taiwan: You see what we’ve done there. Yes, Taiwan‘s connections with the West probably plays its part here.

Kavalan whiskey won the World’s Best Single Malt at the awards in 2015 and the island’s distillery produces 9 million bottles a year.

Ja beauty

Germany: Now some of us have ripped it up in Germany at the Oktoberfest where it’s lager obviously but also schnapps chasers.

The Germans though are open to everything and they have around 250 distilleries and around 130 of them are focused just on whisky production.

So, on this World Whisky Day a big Slainte to the ten homes of whisky.

Countries, Cruising, Ireland, UK

P&O no no, Stena’s who to know

18th March 202218th March 2022 funtime65

We’re loath to diss operators here but there’s no defending torpedoing of staff… it’s P&O no no Stena’s who to know.

Like many of the Fiftysomething Irish-Scots variety I knew my way around a ship long before I stepped on a plane.

And Townsend Thoresen from Cairnryan to Larne were as familiar a transport provider to me as the 44 bus across Glasgow to school.

P&O took over TT in 1987 by which time I had disembarked to England and started flying to Ireland.

A different ship

And with Ryanair emerging to fly us at budget prices ferries were reserved for family holidays and house moves.

When Stena had emerged as the protectors of la famille Murty from Scotland to Ireland and back.

Now ships have certainly upgraded from the Seventies when I would run the toy cars on deck which I had bought from the ship shop.

I have been fortunate enough to be hosted by Stena in dock in Dublin, viewed their cabins and cinema hubs, bars and restaurants.

Treat your staff well

Child’s play: Better than running toy cars

I pride myself on the courtesy I was taught by my parents never to look down on staff.

If only the same could be said for P&O.

Stena offers a sample three-day return from Cairnryan to Belfast from £119.

Alas, The Scary One insisted our last Stena trip to Scotland was a single!

If you tolerate this

So, if you want to protest against P&O, and in the words of Manic Street Preachers…

‘If you tolerate this, then your children will be next.’

Then sail with our go-to ferry company, you won’t be disappointed.

So from us it’s P&O no no Stena’s who to know.