Ravenous Beastie

We stayed here in August 2022 after an eight-day bus tour of Scotland, then a busy day at Edinburgh's Fringe Fest and Tattoo. This lovely little place in an adorable seaside, or technically firth-side, village was a welcome break from the city. Our room was spacious, well equipped and had everything we needed. The bed was comfortable and the shower hot. Getting our 25kg suitcases up the stairs was a struggle, though that's my own doing. The 43 bus into town is quite close, and there's plenty to do nearby. We arrived early and had tea with what I think was beetroot and chocolate torte. It was freakin' amazing. For breakfast the proprietor made scrambled eggs and smoked salmon. Fish in the morning wasn't usually my thing, but I ate it and might be a convert. Delicious. We're already discussing another trip and will probably stay here again.

The owner, Myra?, gave us excellent service, went out of her way to make sure we had what we needed and arranged a taxi to the airport. The place was dated, but clean and comfortable. If you need everything new and perfect, it may not suit you. If a clean room and great service are what you're after, I'd absolutely stay here. A note for fellow AC lovers: there was no AC or fan. We stayed in mid-August, and with the evening temperature at 45 degrees Fahrenheit, the room stayed cool.

This was easily the worst cafe experience I've had in Scotland. I asked for a vegan menu as soon as I arrived, and a staff member said there were vegan options. Those options turned out to be three sandwich fillings: tomato, bell pepper and mustard. I was in a hurry, so I ordered one and confirmed at payment that it should be vegan. Twenty minutes later, my sandwich arrived with chicken in it. I asked for a replacement and made clear again that I needed a vegan sandwich. Nobody offered an apology, refund or anything. After another wait, the new sandwich had butter in it. I had no choice but to give it to a seagull and leave. A horrible experience, honestly. The manager should look into what veganism means and what good customer service involves.

From booking through arrival to leaving early, the whole stay was stressful and upsetting, and we didn't complete it. The staff were incredibly rude and obnoxious. The website said parking was free, but there seemed to be only about three spaces, always full. We were told breakfast was at 8am and no later, yet it wasn't ready then. They only started bringing tables out at 8:30am. For the price, the lack of care and enthusiasm from the staff and owner made the standards shocking. The place may have been called a “traveller award winner 2021”, but that wasn't our experience.