Downright Gabbler

Downright Gabbler Join us for one of our unique food and drink experiences where we share our love of Scotland’s past
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It looks like it will be another hot day so if you're trying to cool down a little, the best bet is to get near some wat...
25/06/2026

It looks like it will be another hot day so if you're trying to cool down a little, the best bet is to get near some water.

Here in Beauly you can head down the river at various spots. Go down Ferry Road and you'll reach the point where the ferry used to go across and you could walk up to Kirkhill. Or take a left as you head down and walk along Riverside Drive towards the Priory. And at this end of the village I love the walk that goes from the back of Maple Vale along to Bridgend, there's something incredibly calming about walking alongside slow moving water. Or in the shadow of the railway bridge is Beauly's "beach" aka the sandy hole - a popular spot for the local youngsters for many a year.

Just along the road at Muir of Ord there's a charming walk around the Lily Loch and lots of trees for shade when required.

And in the other direction, the Reelig Glen is always a favourite whatever the time of year. In the summer it's a nice cool place to take the dog for a walk, as well as the perfect spot for paddling in the burn should the fancy take you...

Forestry and Land Scotland

Today is International Fern Day - who knew there was such a thing?I always think ferns might be some sort of alien life ...
24/06/2026

Today is International Fern Day - who knew there was such a thing?

I always think ferns might be some sort of alien life form. When they emerge from their winter sleep they look like embryos starting to come to life.

And as they unfurl they continue to look just as strange - slightly ethereal - until, at last, the mature leaf appears as a reassuring symbol summer is round the corner.

Then of course they turn a coppery brown, adding a vibrancy to the autumn colours which warn us of the impending winter.

The Victorians were fascinated by ferns and collecting them was a serious hobby for many, known as Pteridomania or fern fever. The Victorians used them as a sort of language, along with flowers and trees. So a fern represented sincerity, shelter and confidence, as well as new beginnings.

Visit Inverness Loch Ness

Cawdor Castle here we come! We're doing two special dinners on Friday and Saturday this week to celebrate 50 years sinc...
23/06/2026

Cawdor Castle here we come! We're doing two special dinners on Friday and Saturday this week to celebrate 50 years since this fantastic place first opened to the public.

The castle is rich in history, with truly astounding gardens. We're adding a little Downright Gabbler magic to the mix with some fabulous food and fascinating stories from the castle and surrounding area.

Saturday night is sold out, but there are still a few tickets left for Friday. As well as dinner you have the chance to wander the glorious grounds after hours and this is the perfect time of year to do that.

Click on the link below to book for Friday at Cawdor Castle only.

https://bit.ly/3Ql3v7A

Our other events this week are already sold out, but you can still book for the following week - we have a North Coast 500 in 5 Objects on Wednesday 1st July, Highland Banquets on Thursday 2nd and Saturday 4th July and a Living the Dram on Friday 3rd July.

Cawdor Castle Visit Inverness Loch Ness NC500 - North Coast 500

We often get people visiting the Downright Gabbler who're in Scotland to trace their family roots. So it was a bit of ch...
22/06/2026

We often get people visiting the Downright Gabbler who're in Scotland to trace their family roots.

So it was a bit of change for me to find myself on the other side for a change as my family from across the UK and the USA gathered in Glasgow then Belfast to find out more about our own family roots.

And what a trip we had. Thanks to the incredibly kind people at Dronaghmore Presbyterian Church and St Bartholomew's Parish Church in County Down, we now know a whole bundle more about our 3 times great grandparents and have had a pretty good guess at how they came to move to Glasgow all those years ago. And indeed how some of them had first gone to Ireland from Scotland centuries ago.

We even found what seems to have been the family land and although the house on the site is gone, a lot of the stone is still there. We got the chance to talk to the lovely lady who lives there and find out more about our family's time there. It was truly special to gaze out over the fields they would have used for growing flax and visit the church where they worshipped and were baptised and the graveyard where at least some of the family would have been buried.

And of course we had to finish a really special day enjoying the craic at the Crown in Belfast...

I hope those travelling to Scotland to trace their own family history have as warm a welcome as we got in County Down. The Donley clan will certainly be forever grateful for the incredible kindness shown by everybody we met.

Discover Northern Ireland Tourism Ireland Crown Bar Belfast

George Heriot was born on this day in 1563. His name lives on in the school which bears his name, as well as Heriot Wat...
21/06/2026

George Heriot was born on this day in 1563. His name lives on in the school which bears his name, as well as Heriot Watt University.

The Court Goldsmith to Anne of Denmark and later her husband James VI of Scotland and I of England, his position allowed him to accumulate vast wealth, the bulk of which would be left to provide free education for "faitherless bairns" ie orphaned children, in Edinburgh.

George Heriot's School, housed in a beautiful building next to Greyfriars Kirkyard, is today a private school but still maintains the tradition of providing scholarships for the children of widows and widowers.

A much loved pub just off the Royal Mile in Edinburgh is called the Jinglin' Geordie, a reference to the nickname given to George Heriot, as a result of the noise made by all the gold coins and jewels he held in his pockets. It's a pub which sat across the close from the rear door of the Scotsman newspaper so was a favourite watering hole of the journalists, as well as the councillors from the nearby Edinburgh Council. If these walls could speak, what tales they would tell...

We've an unusual week ahead at the Downright Gabbler. Our only event is already full and then we're heading off to Cawdor Castle to run some really special dinners there. All the best of the Downright Gabbler - Kirsty's amazing food and Garry's fascinating stories - in the unique setting of one of our best known Castles. And you get a chance to wander the grounds after all the other visitors have left for the day.

Visit Edinburgh

Summer Solstice occurs at 9.24 am on Sunday morning. Up here we'll have daylight for 18 hours and 7 minutes - about 11 a...
20/06/2026

Summer Solstice occurs at 9.24 am on Sunday morning. Up here we'll have daylight for 18 hours and 7 minutes - about 11 and a half hours longer than the winter solstice. Plenty of time for a bit of sightseeing, particularly if you start early watching the sunrise just after 4am!

Many people like to visit some of our ancient sites for the Summer Solstice and we have plenty in this part of the world. Particular favourites are the Clava Cairns near Culloden Battlefield and the Corrimony Cairn near Drumnadrochit.

Or you could head even further north to Orkney - even longer daylight and even more impressive archaeological sites. The Neolithic Skara Brae village is just astonishing, but is only accessible during the day, but the Ring of Brodgar and Stones of Stenness are accessible 24 hours.

Finally, perhaps a beach is the answer for a great place to watch the sun come up. And you could do worse than head to the shore on the Black Isle for a stunning sunrise.

Historic Environment Scotland

Yes it's that time of year again when we visit the Royal Highland Show at Ingliston. It was a flying visit this time, ju...
19/06/2026

Yes it's that time of year again when we visit the Royal Highland Show at Ingliston. It was a flying visit this time, just me and Kirsty, checking out the food hall for suppliers old and new, admiring the livestock and buying lots of things we probably don't need!

And of course, stopping for the occasional sustenance in the form of ice cream. Great day and we managed to leave just before the rain started, perfect timing!

This poster, for sale on the Royal Highland Show stall, was a reminder that the Show used to move around the country before finding its permanent home at Ingliston showground. And it wasn't the Royal Highland Show until 1948 when King George VI granted its Royal title.

The Show began at the Canongate in Edinburgh in 1822 and attracts around 200,000 visitors every year. A fantastic day out as always. We'll be back again next year, I'm sure.

And Kirsty's now back home preparing for a Living the Dram dinner this evening and a Highland Banquet tomorrow.

Isle of Mull Cheese Royal Highland Show Alandas Gelato

As we near the end of Scotland Loves Local Week, we're turning our attention to those who keep us nourished - the cafes,...
18/06/2026

As we near the end of Scotland Loves Local Week, we're turning our attention to those who keep us nourished - the cafes, restaurants and shops we all enjoy. And again all owned by local people.

* Cafe Biagiotti is a fantastic place to grab a bite to eat, or some coffee and cake, Italian style

* Corner on the Square deli has a terrific breakfast offering - the full size is a little too much for me, but I love they do a mini version of it. And they share the same commitment to stocking local produce as we do.

* The Priory Hotel, now owned by its employees, remains as popular as ever in the local area and is one of the few places left where you can order a traditional High Tea - a very Scottish thing. It does a Sunday lunch which can't be beaten locally...

* And when it comes to enjoying something at home, why not try one of the steak pies or a specially made hamburger from our local butcher, John M Munro. We buy most of our meat from there as it's sourced from local farms.

What's your favourite eating place in Beauly?

Munro Butcher - Butchers and Wholesalers The Priory Hotel Cafe Biagiotti Corner on the Square

We're a multi talented bunch here at the Downright Gabbler with all sorts of unexpected skills on show at various times....
17/06/2026

We're a multi talented bunch here at the Downright Gabbler with all sorts of unexpected skills on show at various times. Last week Callum, multi tasker extraordinaire was down at the Lake of Menteith taking part in a Qualifying Round for the Airflo International Fly casting competition.

He loves spending time at the side of a loch, practising his skills as an angler. And it's to the river he heads when he's got a few hours break between changing rooms and helping with an event. Or in some cases learning how to reupholster our dining chairs...

We were pleased to give him a few days off to take part in this prestigious event and, while they narrowly missed out on qualifying, he loved the experience. And he's always a winner in our eyes!

We've been relying on the lochs and seas for our food for more than a thousand years, although interestingly the early Picts didn't seem to like fish, despite often living right on the coast. We all have somebody in the family like that! You can find out more about our early ancestors at our Highand Banquet on Saturday. To book just go on line or phone 01463 782800.


North Coast 500 - NC500 Visit Inverness Loch Ness

It's World Refill Day today when we're encouraged to reduce our use of plastic by shifting to refillable products. We do...
16/06/2026

It's World Refill Day today when we're encouraged to reduce our use of plastic by shifting to refillable products.

We do a lot of reflling. Well to be honest Yla and Callum do a lot of refilling of our shower gel and shampoo from the wonderful Highland Soaps. We also use refillable toilet cleaner from miniml and Bio D washing up liquid we buy from Ethical Superstore.

And we like to use suppliers and share who share the same commitment. That's why we love Miele's Gelateria, as we can take back our home container and get a refill whenever we fancy some of the best ice cream in Scotland (which happens more often than I would care to admit)

Then of course there's the wonderful refill packs you can get for Rock Rose gin and vodka from the Dunnet Bay Distillery up in Caithness.

The Highland Soap Co.® Visit Beauly Miele's Gelateria Inverness Rock Rose Gin EthicalSuperstore.com Green Tourism

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