We began our trip at the usual meeting place outside Edinburgh - free coffee Mon - Fri! We then moved on to South Queensferry - the car park just outside gives a lovely view of the bridge.
Going into the village itself there was a museum all about the bridges on the main street. What a quaint little place - narrow street with steps up to shops above street level.
Having spent some time in the museum we had a wander up and down the street before finding a nice cafe for refreshments.
Moving on we crossed the new bridge - busy by this time in the afternoon - to our hotel for the next few days.
Sat 10th Nov
Sat saw us catching the train from Markinch to Dundee. Ticket office out of action and we were asked if we had our bus passes with us??? There is apparently a special rate for train users if you have a bus pass in Fife. As we did not have a Fife bus pass it was no good to us. The platform taking people to Edinburgh was very busy as there was a rugby match on but our platform for Dundee was much quieter. A nice ride across the Tay Bridge brought us into Dundee station.
A very nice guard on the train (Steve) told us his dad (Bill) was a guide at the museum we were planning to visit, so we said we would say hello to him when we got there.
Scotland's Jute Museum at the Verdant Works was within walking distance of the station, and although Bill wasn't at the entrance, he soon found us in the café and introduced himself, and gave us an introduction to the museum.
Leaving us then to explore on our own we learned much about jute and its uses over the years. A lady who used to work in the mill explained some of the machinery (a smaller version of the ones she used but still very noisy) No wonder she was deaf!
Bill re-appeared to start up the copy of the steam engine that was in the museum - just for us -although a few more gathered by the time he got it going! Wandering around the rest of the museum was really interesting and the café was good for refreshments along the way!
A brilliant lego exhibition was also being staged at the museum and we had a look around in amazement at some of the models.
We had thought to have an early tea at Wetherspoons before catching the train back to Markinch but it was absolutely heaving in there (possibly because of the rugby on TV??) but managed to find seats at the Pancake House instead. Fascinating to what the pancake dishes being made through the hatch as we were waiting - one plat of pancakes would have been enough for all 4 of us!! Next time perhaps.
Sun 11th Nov
Not such nice weather today so a leisurely drive down the coast. We thought we would stop and wander around St Andrews - but the rain was getting heavier so that was cut short and we just drove around ending up at Caulders Garden Centre at Cupar. What a transformation from the last time we were there. A new café and much of the centre rearranged and refurbished.
Reaching Anstruther later meant only one place for tea! Only a short wait today too for a table and their excellent fish and chips.
Not so much luck for another fish and chip shop in Anstruther though - there were 3 fire engines in attendance and the front of the building was black! Don't suppose we will ever find out what happened.
Mon 12th Nov
We were travelling home today and went via IKEA for a little early Christmas shopping. Crossing via the Queensferry bridge was still a treat to us as we headed home after another enjoyable few days away.
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