Basics - The Rough Guide to Scotland - page 30

number and variety of self-catering places on offer
that we've mentioned very few in the Guide. A
good source of information is VisitScotland 's self-
catering website ( W visitscotland.com/accommoda-
tion/self-catering), updated frequently and listing
more than 2700 properties. Alternatively, you could
try one of the websites listed below.

Scottish fish and shellfish is the envy of Europe,
with a vast array of different types of fish, prawns,
lobsters, mussels, oysters, crabs and scallops found
around the extensive coastline. The prevalence of
fish-farming, now a significant industry in the
Highlands and Islands, means that the once-treas-
ured salmon is widespread and relatively inexpen-
sive now. Both salmon and trout, another
commonly farmed fish, are frequently served cold
with bread and butter.
Scottish-reared beef is often delicious, especially
the Aberdeen Angus breed, though Highland cattle
are also rated for their depth of flavour. Venison ,
the meat of the red deer, also features large - low in
cholesterol and very tasty, it's served roasted or in
casseroles, and is often cooked with juniper and red
wine. Other forms of game include grouse, which
when cooked properly is strong, dark and
succulent; pheasant, a lighter meat; and the less
commonly served, but still tasty, pigeon and rabbit.
In rural Scotland, attitudes towards vegetari-
anism are still some way behind the big cities, but
almost all pubs and restaurants will have at least
one vegetarian option on their menus. Veggies
- and vegans for that matter - will find plenty of
great food on offer in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

HOLIDAY RENTAL AGENCIES
Cottages and Castles W cottages-and-castles.co.uk T 01738
451610. A range of self-catering properties, mostly in mainland Scotland.
Cottages4you W cottages4you.co.uk T 08452 680760. Hundreds
of reasonably priced properties all over Scotland.
Ecosse Unique W uniquescotland.com W 01835 822277. Carefully
selected cottages across mainland Scotland, plus a few in the Hebrides
and Orkney.
Landmark Trust W landmarktrust.org.uk T 01628 825925. A very
select number of historical properties, often in prime locations.
LHH W lhhscotland.com, T 01381 610496. Attractive homes across
Scotland, including mansions, castles and villas.
Mackay's Agency W mackays-self-catering.co.uk T 01315
501180. A whole range of properties in every corner of mainland
Scotland (plus Skye and Orkney), from chalets and town apartments to
remote stone-built cottages.
National Trust for Scotland W nts.org.uk T 01312 439331. The
NTS lets around forty of its converted historic cottages and houses.
Scottish Country Cottages W scottish-country-cottages.co.uk
T 08452 680801. Superior cottages with lots of character, scattered
across the Scottish mainland plus some of the Inner Hebrides.

Breakfast
In most hotels and B&Bs you'll be offered a Scottish
breakfast , similar to its English counterpart of
sausage, bacon and egg, but typically with the
addition of black pudding (blood sausage) and
potato scones. Porridge is another likely option, as
is fish in the form of kippers, smoked haddock or
even kedgeree. Scotland's staple drink, like
England's, is tea , drunk strong and with milk,
though coffee is just as readily available every-
where. However, while smart coffee shops are now
a familiar feature in the cities, execrable versions of
espresso and cappuccino, as well as instant coffee,
are still all too familiar.

Campus accommodation
A different and generally cheaper self-catering
option, especially if you're staying a week or more in
one of the cities, is campus accommodation . The
universities of Glasgow, Strathclyde, Edinburgh,
Stirling, St Andrews and Dundee all open their halls
of residence to short-term visitors during the
summer break, and some also offer rooms during the
Easter and Christmas holidays. Accommodation
varies from tiny single rooms in long, lonely corridors
to relatively comfortable places in small, shared
apartments. Prices start at around £20 per night for a
single room, not always including breakfast. All the
useful university details are given in the Guide.

Lunches and snacks
The most common lunchtime fare in Scotland
remains the sandwich . A bowl or cup of hearty
soup is a typical accompaniment, particularly in
winter. A pub lunch is often an attractive alterna-
tive. Bar menus generally have standard filling but
unambitious options including soup, sandwiches,
scampi and chips, or steak pie and chips, with
vegetarians suffering from a paucity of choice.
That said, some bar food is freshly prepared and

Food and drink
While Scotland isn't exactly known for its
culinary heritage, the country's eating
habits are changing, and from the cities to
some of the furthest islands, you can often
eat extremely well, with a strong emphasis
on fresh, local and organic produce.