Fish in crispy batter, plump chips, with salt ‘n’ sauce if you’re in Edinburgh, salt ‘n’ vinegar in Glasgow. Guzzled outside in the cool of the evening, washed down with a glug of Irn Bru.

Best.

Food.

Ever.

Here are 10 great chippies that your tastebuds will thank you for visiting:

There’s Bay Fish and Chips in Stonehaven. It was UK ‘chippy of the year’ in 2013.

At Anstruther Fish Bar you can polish off your fish supper overlooking the harbour.  Watch out for the hungry seagulls though.

The most northerly fish and chips in the UK are at Frankie’s in Shetland. Oban Fish and Chip Shop in the town’s George Street is a stone’s throw from postcard scenery of Oban Bay.

Hungry? Ashvale Fish Restaurant in Aberdeen serves the Ashvale Whale - 1lb of haddock fillet.

Glaswegians smother their suppers from the Merchant Chippie in the High Street with salt ‘n’ vinegar.

It’s salt ‘n’ sauce at Edinburgh favourite, L’Alba D’oro in Henderson Row.

Walking in The Trossachs is great for working up an appetite. Sort it with a fish supper at Mhor Fish in Callendar. Or head ‘doon that watter’ to the Isle of Bute, and Rothesay’s traditional West End Café.

In the mood for a fish supper now. But where’s the best?

What is Harris Tweed?

Marion Campbell (BEM) - An icon of Harris Tweed Weaving

Rebecca Hutton - A present day Harris Tweed Weaver

LINKS AND FURTHER READING

These photos were taking first thing in the morning as the haar drifted in from the cold North Sea, I found myself just sitting perched on top of one of the cliffs with no-one in sight soaking it all in.

Find out more about Fowlsheugh Nature Reserve here

·        then head to the Whalsay Heritage Centre for their new exhibition , a further 5-10 minute walk

·         follow the road towards Isbister , a casual 20-30 minute later will bring you to Loch of Huxter where there is an Iron Age fortification dating back to around 300BC.

·        Stop off for tea and homebaked fancies or just a light lunch  at the Aairvhous Cafe

Where you can see an exhibition by Susan Pearson the illustrator

Nobody Knows How it Got its Name

The Rock is Believed to be a Sleeping Dragon

Arthur's Seat is in Many Works of Fiction

1. This is a fairly well-known fact but Speyside is home to more than half of Scotland's active distilleries. As a result, there were 500 events across the whole region in only 5 days and even whisky connoisseurs will be able to taste drams that they may have never seen or tasted before (Inchgower 14Y Flora & Fauna was my most memorable 1st time dram, the Benromach's smokiness packs a punch, also see #8)
   
   
2. The festival transport arrangements were absolutely top notch. Not only was the Stagecoach bus 36 from Elgin to Dufftown through the "Malt Whisky trail" running through the whole festival including on Sunday! More so, there was a special all day bus pass pricing for festival goers for only £4 on showing a ticket. Apart from public transport, my favourite distillery (Glenlivet) raised the bar by providing a Free Bus from both Keith and Elgin for their Open Day on Sat 5th May where I met fellow Glenlivet fans from Japan, Norway and the USA. Of course, I took the front row seat on a spectacularly sunny day I will leave my full trip map and public transport connections in a comment  
3. The festival whisky awards are truly democratic as the public actually gets to vote for the winner through blind tastings and ballot papers! I got to taste 4 of the finalists at the spectacular Rothes Station Hotel (it has its own Spirit safe!) and I must say that the Cragganmore 25 was exceptional (and the overall winner!) There are judging events across the 5 days of the festival and are exceptionally popular.
4. There are so many events that are not whisky related at all! (hence I highlighted that the festival is guaranteed to be fun for all) I sat on a 8-wheeler operated by the Glenlivet Hill Trek company to climb up a hill! The Cairngorms National Park was looking just stunning from the top and I felt like an astronaut. Both the opening and closing ceremonies had Ceilidhs and Craigellachie comes alive with bands playing during the festival. There were also some spectacular food-related events. Alchemy restaurant at Dufftown was fine dining at its best with its 7 courses + whisky pairing. The venison with chocolate and sherry poached pair was magic!  
   
5. The festival has some super-exclusive, once a year events (such as a tour of the Craigellachie distillery which is one of my faves along with Tamdhu, Knockando, Longmore, Tormore, Speyside, Speyburn, Knockdhu, Balmenach and Dalmunach which are generally closed to the public). Thanks to the festival chairman Mr James Campbell, I also got to see the erstwhile Tamdhu railway platform with the Spey in view. This should tell you how important whisky was the area.
6. 
   

Please introduce yourself in this thread and let people know where you are, what your interest in Scotland is and what you're hoping to get out of your membership of the community

Opt for a self-catering lodge, mobile home, rent an apartment – take over an entire castle if you want – and you can eat breakfast for dinner every day.

It’s your holiday, after all.

Have you been self-catering in Scotland? Tell us where you stayed, and if you'd recommend it! 

Have a look at some self catering places to stay here!

https://www.visitscotland.com/accommodation/self-catering/