Take farming, for instance. Having another string to your bow is key.
And when we’re looking for a bit of nosh on an afternoon drive, we find somewhere with enough strings to keep an army of archers happy.
The Courtyard Café is just one of those strings at Knockraich Farm in Fintry.
There’s also an artisan dairy we see has won a host of top awards. It seems the Friesian cattle have much to be proud of. Good on you, gals!
They’re responsible for the acclaimed ice cream, scooped out at some of the country’s poshest eateries. Sounds promising.
There’s accommodation, too, and a fancy interiors showroom.
It’s been a fine drive across the Campsies. And having passed a succession cyclists puffing up the hills we’re SO glad we’ve been on four wheels, not two.
The wild moorland has been spectacular and now we’re very much in the mood for some tasty treats for the tummy rather than the eyes.
It’s just a few hundred yards away from the pretty Main Street, up a little lane.
Among a cluster of farm buildings we can see why the Courtyard Café is so called.
It’s, well, in a gravelled courtyard.
Inside it’s chic, with lots of flowers and plants bringing a bit of the outside in.
“There’s plenty of room through here,” said the friendly young waiter. “But you might fancy a seat here.”
“Here” was a small conservatory. And with the sun streaming in, settling down at the big wooden table was the best possible call.
The counter was positively groaning with homemade cakes – coffee and carrot, Victoria sponge and lime & raspberry.
But the chocolate cake looks too tempting as does the Mars bar slice. We’re keen to try the fancy ice cream at just £1.60 a scoop, but combining it with the fresh pancakes kills two birds with one stone.
They come warm and freshly-made and with a giant scoop of ice cream – just plain. It makes for a generous plateful.
There are plain and fruit scones, definitely homemade, and coming with either farm-made butter or cream and jam.
The scone is light and fluffy with plenty of fruit throughout, as were the pancakes, drizzled in sweet maple syrup.
Special mention goes to the staff. So often there are one or two harassed waiters or waitresses, looking after more tables than is comfortable.
Here the staff were as plentiful as the laden cake display, so service is super-fast and cheery.
As we start in on the moist chocolate cake four of the cyclists who made the Campsie crossing arrive.
There’s just a fleeting moment of guilt that we haven’t come close to having really “earned” our feast like they have.
So fleeting, it was gone before the cake!
Warm Welcome 10/10 Location, Location 9/10 Scone Score 10/10
READ MORE
Arran’s Cafe Thyme adds a taste of something different to the island
Enjoy the convenience of having The Sunday Post delivered as a digital ePaper straight to your smartphone, tablet or computer.
Subscribe for only £5.49 a month and enjoy all the benefits of the printed paper as a digital replica.
Subscribe