Culture, music, people,
products, industries, inventions
Scotland's famous people and ideas include: Robert (Rabbie) Burns, Charles Darwin,
golf, haggis, whisky, banking, engineering, insurance, scientific & medical research, anaesthetics, animal cloning, insulin,
Mackintosh waterproof coats, penicillin,
pneumatic tyres, radar, tarmacadam, the telephone, television and the Dewar (or vacuum) flask.
Rugby at Murrayfield stadium
Murrayfield, the home of Scottish rugby is an 18 minute walk from Haymarket
Railway station, Edinburgh; by train, this is only three stops from North
Queensferry. Murrayfield hosts the
6 Nations matches - Scotland v England, Scotland v France; the Heineken Cup and
the Edinburgh 7's.
Railway Enthusiasts
We
are the prime Forth Railway b and b, the perfect location to view the
Forth Railway Bridge. A particularly magnificent sight was in May 19, 2008 when
the Scottish Railway Preservation Society organised steam train excursions from
Edinburgh Waverly station across the bridge and north to the Fife Circle route
through Aberdour, Kirkcaldy and Dunfermline. Loco No. 61994, 'The Great Marquess'
was the engine.
Cyclists and Bikers
Cyclists and motorcycle riders are
welcome. We have had many cyclists and bikers stay with us
- this is a
biker-friendly b&b (we've toured ourselves on motorbikes). Scotland is full of scenic routes and places to explore on two wheels.
If you are planning to head up North Scotland or a John O' Groats to Lands End
ride, this is a nice b b to break the journey.
Scottish Castles
Castles, more castles and even more
castles - if you want to see castles, Scotland is the right place! Start with
Edinburgh castle or just across the Forth of Firth, Blackness Castle, where Mary
Queen of Scots was once imprisoned. If that's not enough, a short drive away are
Stirling castle and the nearby Wallace Monument, a tribute to William Wallace
the Scots rebel, about whom the film Braveheart was made.
Scottish Music Festivals & Ceilidhs
Visit a Ceilidh (pronounced
Kay-lea) to enjoy an evening of Scottish traditional music and dancing. You can
hear Celtic pipe, fiddle and drum music at the many music festivals and quite
often just in the streets. The sound of the bagpipes is a common in Scottish
towns.
Traditional Scottish food - simple
ingredients making dishes with a very distinctive flavour.
Arbroath Smokie - a wood-smoked haddock produced in small smoke-houses in
the East coast fishing town of Arbroath.
Demonstration of traditional fish-smoking at the Farmers' Market
Dunfermline
Oatcakes
An biscuit of coarse oat flour
baked on a griddle, good with cheese and other savouries.
Scottish Beef and Venison
Aberdeen-Angus beef is renowned around the world as the best
there is.
Venison is supplied by Highland Estates and specialist
farms.
Scotch Broth
Soup, made with mutton,
carrots, peas, leeks, cabbage, turnips.
Scottish Salmon
Wild salmon, farmed salmon and smoked salmon - enjoy eating some of the finest
salmon in the world. If you are an angler, look into catching your own salmon or
trout. The River Spey and River Tweed are famous places to fish.
Haggis - the famous and mysterious Scottish
speciality.
Robert Burns wrote about haggis:
Fair fa' yer honest, sonsie
face,
Great chieftain o' the pudden race!
It is made from sheep's offal minced,
mixed with beef suet and oatmeal and sewn into
a sheep's stomach. Despite what you might think, it's
delicious!
Scotch Pies
A small round crusty pastry pie filled with minced mutton meat.
Porridge
Made of boiled oatmeal and served with milk, sugar and salt. With a bowl of hot
porridge in your belly, you won't be hungry for a long
time!
Stovies
A tasty potato and meat dish which uses up left-overs.
Sea food
Mussels, scallops, shrimp, lobster and crabs.
Wedding Parties - Accommodation
for Wedding Guests
There are some romantic venues in
the local area which are popular for wedding ceremonies and receptions -
Dundas Castle, Hopetoun House and the Dalmeny Estate, all just across the
water in South Queensferry. We have often had the friends, family and
guests of the couple getting married stay with us.
Whisky
Scotland's famous drink - there are at least 126 Single
Malts and 38 blended Scotch Whiskies the produce of over 125 distilleries in
the Speyside, Highland, Islay, Campbeltown, Lowland and Island regions.
Famous whiskies include Ardbeg, Bruichladdich, Glenfarclas,
Glenfiddich, Glenlivet, Glenmorangie, Islay, Laphroaig, Lagavulin, Talisker, Tobermory,
Tomintoul.
Kayakers on the beach
in front of our B&B
Sailing
This is a good area for sailing. You'll see
dinghies and yachts of all sizes. There is a Marina at Port Edgar on the other side of the water from us and a sailing club at Dalgety Bay.
If you need a b&b for port Edgar - we are a good choice. During
the summer some luxury cruise liners visit here
and either dock at the port of Rosyth or stop just before the Forth Rail Bridge
for passengers to admire the famous symbol of Scottish Engineering achievement.
Working in Fife?
Are you involved in the construction or
maintenance projects for the bridges, or at the Rosyth Dockyard. We offer
special long-term rates and a cosy home-from-home.
Golf
Scotland has 552
golf courses.
Golf
has been played
at
St Andrews Links for over 600 years.
The British Open Championship, the oldest and most famous golf tournament in the world,
in 2009
was at
Turnberry,
Ayrshire. Northcraig cottage b&b is a good
place to stay for the Saint Andrews British Open.
Hogmanay
The year in Scotland ends on Hogmanay and is celebrated
in Edinburgh with a huge street party occupying the length of Princes Street.
There are live bands, dancing in the street and a dramatic fireworks display
above Edinburgh Castle to welcome in the New Year as the crowd sings Auld Lang
Syne.
Walking Holidays - Fife Coastal Footpath
Scotland has all a walker could want
- rolling hills, beautiful views, mountains and a dramatic coastline. You can
enjoy an invigorating stroll beginning right outside Northcraig Cottage, because
it is situated at the original starting point for the Fife Coastal Footpath.
This route passes through Carlingnose Wildlife Sanctuary, from which there are
wonderful views of both North Queensferry village and the Forth Rail Bridge, and
then on along the Fife coastline all the way to St. Andrews. You can follow the trail through scenic countryside along the coast to Aberdour, Pittenween,
Elie and the other quaint
fishing villages of this county. Further on the route passes through the East Neuk of Fife, St. Andrews and on to the River Tay.
If you are going on a day hike, I can supply a
packed
lunch for you take with you.
Places
to Visit and Things to do
Slideshow
Click on the picture below to see a slideshow of North
Queensferry
village, the surrounding Fife countryside and
Edinburgh.
The Forth Rail Bridge viewed from the Town Pier North Queensferry
To check availability and make a reservation
Mrs
Elisabeth Seviour
Northcraig
Cottage B&B
Battery Road
North Queensferry
Fife, KY11 1JZ
Scotland, UK
Tel: +44 (0)1383 412299
Mobile: 07963 806 824
Email:
