It's been too long since I posted about food on this blog, which is surprising considering its one of my favourite things. I've found myself out and about a lot more these past few months, trying lots of the different cafes and restaurants that Edinburgh has to offer, and I thought it would be a good way to get back to the blogging game by sharing all the tasty meals I've had on my blog.

I mentioned in my post summing up 2019 that I'm currently working on an away job around the St. Andrews area. This means that I spend my Mondays to Fridays away from my flat and living with my work mates. Working outside in the winter is unsurprisingly cold and dark, and at the end of a long day we've been making our way back to a caravan park in Tayport, where the heating gets cranked up and we wash off the days work before gorging on Pringles and chocolates. Being away from home for the past 3 months has been tough going, and we've found ourselves stuck in a routine of tv and snacking in the evenings. So to mix things up a little, we decided to explore the town of Tayport (which is difficult when we don't get back till evening and everything is closed). Googling places to eat in Tayport comes up with very few options, but Cobbie's popped up high on Google's recommendations and we were keen to give it a try.




Since being to Cobbie's that first time back early November, we've made many return visits, each time with new work mates in tow. Entering through the pub, you're immediately met by lots of facing spilling into all areas of the small pub area, but heading through to the back where the Kitch-Inn restaurant waits, there's more space to find a table. What immediately drew us into this place was how friendly everyone was - each member of staff was so welcoming, and the locals who frequent the place were eager to ask what brings a bunch of scruffy looking archaeologists to town. When we've been saving the visit for an end of the week treat on a Thursday night, we've been in the restaurant when locals gather for a folk night, to sing and play their instruments - and its a lovely, heart warming thing to see.



The food at Cobbie's is incredible. The menu has so much choice, and the chef is amazing, you won't be able to find a bad thing on the menu. My all time favourite is the Macaroni and cheese. You will be hard pressed to find a mac'n'cheese as good as this one, and this is coming from a big time lover of the dish. I've loved it so much, I had it almost every time I've visited the jaunt. With the new year, we noticed a wee bit of a refresh to the menu - keeping all the old favourites, but adding some new dishes to taste. On our most recent visit, I ordered a chilli nacho burger - which was the best way to treat myself after a week of healthy eating.

Everything is also beautifully displayed. I wasn't expecting my plate to be a tree stump, nor the burgers to come on slates, but the quirky and cute details in the presentation - including mugs filled with pasta and cheese pouring down the side, or a small frying pan of chicken strips - really add to the overall charm of the place.



The food and drink here is so reasonably priced, another reason we find ourselves making return visits - there's few places you can find a pink gin and tonic, in a glass full of berries for £2.50!

While we haven't been able to explore Tayport itself, we've become familiar with the caravan park, and I think for anyone who wants a wee get-away, within easy reach of a bigger city (Dundee) and in an area for walking and exploring, then Tayport is the spot. And if that brings you to Tayport, then Cobbie's has to be the first place you visit, if only to see if I'm right about the mac'n'cheese.

Love,
Emily
xxx

This last week I took a long over due visit to New Lanark - one of Scotland's World Heritage Sites. Did you know Scotland has 6 World Heritage Sites? This is Scotland's year of History, Heritage and Archaeology, so its a great time to learn about our heritage and visit these beautiful sites.



Since history and archaeology mean so much to me - have you heard about the tattoo I just got? - I've been trying to tick off each of the World Heritage Sites on Dig It's bucket list. Back in April I helped celebrate World Heritage Day in Orkney, exploring the Neolithic sites and lighting up the Ring of Brodgar!



So, after being offered to come and visit New Lanark, how could I say no? It's only a short train ride from Edinburgh (with a change in Motherwell), and an even shorter ride from Glasgow, so its the perfect day out if you're looking for somewhere to explore.

New Lanark became a World Heritage Site in 2001, due to its cultural significance. The site is located on the Falls of Clyde, and the energy from the falls was harnessed in the late 1700s for cotton mills. In the early 1800s, Robert Owen owned the mills and reformed the living and working conditions of the 2500 people who lived here.



Robert Owen's vision for New Lanark included educating the children, fair wages and food tokens, and wash houses to improve the living conditions. These ideas were revolutionary - he even created the first nursery in Britain.

When you visit New Lanark, you're taken through the history of the site, by purchasing a "Passport Ticket". You can visit the mills themselves, as well as the houses, village shop, school and Robert Owen's own house. All the while, you get to hear and visualise the stories of the people.



In the mills, you firstly get to go on the "Annie Mcleod Experience Ride" - a 10 minute ride where you are introduced to Annie, a 10 year old who lives and works in New Lanark. She tells you all about life in New Lanark under Robert Owen, so that you can get a feel for the lives that these people lived. You're then able to explore some of the machinery and cotton manufacture, and watch some of the machinery in action. Then, by taking a lift up a couple of floors you're on a roof top garden. Here there are incredible views of the village and the river.




Within the Millworker's house, village shop and Robert Owen's house you can explore the rooms while finding out about how they changed and evolved over time. Did you know the workers would live in one roomed houses called singlets? In the 20th Century they then got use of more rooms, which you can see within the exhibit.



After we explored all the areas of the village, we then took a walk through the incredible surrounding area - filled with woods and paths that lead to the falls of Clyde. Robert Owen believed that by encouraging walks in the forests, this would improve the quality of life for his workers. So we followed some of the paths and were stunned by the falls - which were formed 10,000 years ago.




There's so much to do while at New Lanark, that you can make a day of it. We even took a packed lunch, but there's also a cafe where you can buy lunch.

As well as exploring the area, New Lanark have a number of events that you can take advantage of. On the 21st and 22nd of October is Shining Lives - a sound and light projection on the buildings. And tickets for this are free! Over Halloween, there are haunted tours of the village with real life stories and experiences! And to get in the festive mood over December, you can book in for Santa's grotto, Christmas rides and craft as well as a pantomime!



I had a great time learning about the history of New Lanark, and would recommend it to anyone who wants to know more about the lives of mill workers and experience the beautiful landscape.

Want to know more? I've started up a new Youtube channel and my first video will be a vlog of my visit to New Lanark. Be sure to subscribe to be the first to know when I upload!

We're getting into travel season now and every second advert on tv has kids running into the ocean, friends barbecuing under the sun, and couples lounging on the beach. It's making me more than a little wanderlust, as I start to firm up my plans for this summer and day dreaming of all the places I could travel. The other month I explained why I was pretending to be a tourist in my own city, and today I'm thinking about what travel tips I can share with the world.

Saturday Morning

Saturday Lunch

Saturday Afternoon

Saturday Dinner

Saturday Evening

Sunday Morning

Sunday Lunch

Sunday Afternoon

Take this afternoon a bit slower after your busy day yesterday. Start off by enjoying the charity shops that fill Stockbridge, where you'll find a bargain or two. Then take a stroll along the Water of Leith and follow the river along to Dean Village, with its cute little houses. It's a beautiful walk where you can enjoy the nature and feel relaxed. After relaxing in what feels like a different city, you can then walk on back up the road, and within minutes you're back into the heart of Edinburgh at the West End of Princes Street.

Sunday Dinner

If you didn't see all over my social media the other day - I popped on the plane up to Orkney to spend the day celebrating World Heritage Day in one of Scotland's six beautiful World Heritage Sites. A couple of weeks ago I shared on here how I was involved with Dig It 2017 to join 2017's World Heritage Day celebrations.



Dig It co-ordinate efforts across Scotland to showcase our World Heritage Sites, alongside Event Scotland as the signature event for Scotland's Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology. New Lanark was covered in colourful knitted patterns, Picts and Romans raced at the Antonine Wall before having a bake off, Edinburgh's Old Town and New Town battled it out with a battle of the bands, the Forth Bridge travelled back to Victorian times with a steam punk extravaganza, and St Kilda was rebuilt through Minecraft. All the while, I was up in Orkney where we lit up the heart of Neolithic Orkney with lights and glow sticks.

I arrived up in Orkney, after hopping on a tiny plane from Edinburgh, around midday and immediately set off on my journey to explore the sites at the heart of Neolithic Orkney. Being an archaeology student, I've learnt a fair bit about these places already, so I was familiar with the names and the history behind each of the spots. The Heart of Neolithic Orkney comprises of 4 sites - The Stones of Stenness, Maeshowe, The Ring of Brodgar and Skara Brae - which were built c. 5000 years ago. These sites demonstrate Neolithic settlements, burial practices and ritual. If you know me, then you know how much I like learning about death (that sounds weird right?) but I love finding out about the ways that the living interacted with death, and in Neolithic Orkney you've got great evidence for the interplay of these different elements, all within viewing distance of one another.




So of course, I was taking the opportunity to explore these sites and really experience the Heart of Neolithic Orkney. My first stop was the Stones of Stenness, where I shared my first #WorldHeritageDaySelfie, then I walked back down the road to the Maeshowe Visitor Centre, where I was greeted by very friendly tour guides who were eager to share the history with me. Here I joined a tour into Maeshowe - you can only go into the chamber of Maeshowe with a tour guide from Historic Environment Scotland, and tours cost c. £6, but it was definitely worth it. We had to bend double and shimmy through the tunnel entrance into the chamber tomb, and inside we were able to stand in the chamber to see the area where they would have laid their ancestors, as well as viking graffiti over the walls.




I then made the walk up to the Ring of Brodgar where I was able to walk around the whole circle, taking in the beautiful scenery surrounding it, and appreciate the history behind it. I wanted to make the trip up here during the day so that I could take it in with daylight and really appreciate it in its landscape before seeing it lit up for the main event at night.

So what was the main event? How did we light up the Ring of Brodgar and celebrate World Heritage Day in Orkney? A group of us met - consisting of members of the Orkney Youth Cafe and coordinated by Sara from Dig It, with the help of Dan from the University of the Highlands and Islands, and the leaders of Orkney Youth Cafe. First stop was Skara Brae, where we had a look at the exhibition and learnt about some of the finds at Skara Brae then we were treated to some stories while sitting inside a reconstructed house, to get a feel for Orkney's history.





While we were at Skara Brae, we started to paint our faces with glow in the dark paints. We had a huge selection of designs to draw on - all inspired by the designs found at the Neolithic sites in Orkney. Sara drew on what's called the Orkney butterfly on one side of my face!






We then hopped back on the bus and travelled to the Ring of Brodgar, where the main event of the night was taking place. The thirty or so of us were kitted out with led lights to wrap around our bodies, and given light staffs - wooden sticks with LED globes on top. We also met a group of drummers and fire throwers - who exchanged the fire sticks for led sticks for the event. We had a small wait until it became dark enough, and then began our march to the Ring of Brodgar.

Ever thought you'd see the Ring of Brodgar lit up with by multicoloured lights and drums? Well neither did I, nor did the tourists who just so happened to drive by as we started our trail. It was an incredible event to be a part of - we circled the ring, before performing a wee routine at the entrance, dancing in and out of one another, all the while with the steady rhythm of the drums egging us on. It was amazing to see the different colours dance around the stones, and hear everyone having fun. It also made us appreciate the remains in a totally different way - of course the Neolithic people wouldn't have danced around with led lights, but some ritualistic activity was occurring here, and it was incredible to put our own spin on it.





You could tell by the excitement and energy of everyone taking part, that everyone loved being involved. It's one of those things that I think will be great for everyone to look back on - not many people can say that they got to lit up the Ring of Brodgar at night! It was also a great way to spend World Heritage Day 2017. It gave us all a deeper appreciation of Neolithic Orkney, and helped us understand why these sites are World Heritage Sites.



Being able to visit some of the sites was a real privilege for me, considering I've been learning about these sites for years and trying to understand them through the articles I read, it gives me a whole different understanding of them, and the landscape that they are situated in. Not to mention, it has provided me with some inspiration for an upcoming exam this May!


If there's ever an opportunity, I'd really encourage you to go up to Orkney and see these sites for yourself. And if you're in Scotland, then you have a chance to see our other 5 World Heritage Sites. Dig It have launched a bucket list to see how many of Scotland's World Heritage Sites you can tick off. I'm only on 3 out of the 6 - but am determined to be able to tick them all off soon. How many can you check off?

If you're looking for inspiration for your visit to Scotland, then why not join Visit Scotland's online community, and become involved in conversations about our World Heritage Sites and more!

How did you celebrate World Heritage Day 2017? Have you had the chance to visit any World Heritage Sites?

Now that World Heritage Day is over, Dig It 2017 are celebrating some of Scotland's Hidden Gems, to showcase some of our less well known sites. Have you got a spot within your community that you think shows some of Scotland's history and character? Then make sure to let Dig It know! Follow Dig It on social media to find out how you can be involved!


Love,
Emily
xxx

*This is a sponsored post, however all opinions are my own

Fun lovers, thrill seekers and those longing for adventure needn't travel far to find that bit of excitement. Go Ape is the perfect way to face your fears,  experience that adrenaline rush and swing through the trees.

Image Source: Go Ape

History and heritage is something that is really important to me - that should come as no surprise to those of you who follow me. I've been an archaeology lover since the age of 7, and I'm soon to be an archaeology graduate as of July. Learning about the past, discovering societies and finding out about how people lived is something that fascinates me. And hopefully it fascinates you too - ever look around and wander how people in the past ate, or lived? Ever take a trip to a new city, or a new country and are amazed by the history and the culture that surrounds you?

Image Source: Digit!

World Heritage Day is being celebrated  in Scotland on the 18th of April 2017, and its a chance for you to really get to know your past, and celebrate some of our incredible sites around Scotland. Did you know that Scotland boasts 6 World Heritage Sites? Out of the 1052 UNESCO World Heritage sites, Scotland proudly homes 6 of them - pretty incredible right?!

So what are these sites?

• St. Kilda - an archipelago in the outer Hebrides
• Edinburgh Old and New Town
• The Forth Bridge
• New Lanark
• The Heart of Neolithic Orkney
• The Antonine Wall

Image Source: Digit!

To mark World Heritage Day, Dig It 2017 are hosting 6 celebrations for Scotland's Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology 2017, in conjunction with Event Scotland. #ScotlandinSix is your chance to celebrate Scotland's history and heritage. The events are held at (or near) the six World Heritage sites, with something that will peak everyone's interest.

• Build and excavate St. Kilda for yourself through Minecraft
• Witness a battle of the bands in Edinburgh
• Emerse yourself in the 1890s Steampunk at the Forth Bridge
• Test your knitting and yarn skills and exercise your fingers by taking part in the Knit-a-thon at New Lanark
• Witness a glow in the dark story-telling adventure in the heart of Neolithic Orkney
• Take part in a Romans vs Pict chase at the Antonine Wall, then indulge in a Roman bake-off

*This is a sponsored post, but all opinions are my own.

This time, four years ago, I couldn't wait to get out of Aberdeen. I was ready to spread my wings and move to a new city. Now that the time is coming round again for me to move away from my city, I'm not sure how I feel. Maybe its because I don't have set plans for after summer, but I'm starting to feel sad about leaving this city that I've called home for the last 3 and a half years.



So with the end in sight, whether I like it or not, I'm having to prepare my good byes to this gorgeous city. So I've decided to make a bucket list of everything I want to do in this city before I leave, so that I don't miss anything out. This list will grow and change, and hopefully things will start to get ticked off more and more. Some of these things I've done before, but I want to do again before I leave (so don't think I've managed to avoid everything that's great about Edinburgh while I've lived here.

1. Climb Arthurs seat to see the sun set. 
2. Walk across the Forth Road Bridge. 
3. Climb up the Scott Monument. 
4. Watch live music at The Jazz Bar. 
5. Walk the length of Portobello Beach.
6. Cook a barbecue in the meadows.
7. Visit the Botanic Gardens.
8. Visit Holyrood Palace.
9. Visit Mary King's Close. 
10. Walk across to Cramond Island.
11. Watch a show at the Theatre.
12. Watch a film at the Cameo
13. Have a deep fried Mars Bar. 
14. Go to Ghillie Dhu for a ceilidh. 
15. Watch the penguin parade at Edinburgh Zoo. 
16. Have a meal or drinks at The Dome. 
17. Visit Dean Village. 
18. Swim in the Commonwealth pool. 
19. Visit the independent shops along Victoria Street and Cockburn Street. 
20. Visit the Royal Observatory on Blackford Hill. 

While my mind isn't coordinating Christmas presents, scheduling blogmas posts, or building up motivation to write a dissertation, I love to indulge in some Christmassy past times. There's nothing better than giving into your guilty pleasures, and pandering to your Christmas needs.

So I've created a wee list, sharing some of the things I love to do throughout December (with lots of links for you to follow) so that you can feel relaxed and festive this season. Especially now that schools and work is ending for the holidays.