Our Scone Spy cafe critic gives high scores all round to The Hayloft, Falkland

IT’S a glorious spring day and Scone Spy is out and about having fun.

It’s one of those days that makes you think all is right in the world.

The sun is shining and there isn’t a cloud in the sky.

It feels like this could be a spring and summer as good as we had in the 1970s – because we never had rain in May back then, did we?

I’m in one of my favourite spots in all of Scotland, Falkland.

This lovely wee corner of Fife is a charming place for a wander.

With cobbled streets and lovely old buildings, there’s a feeling of not much having changed in centuries.

That’s why TV shows such as Outlander are filmed here. It’s not unusual to find film crews and glamorous stars wandering around.

Today, though, it’s much quieter. It’s a Tuesday morning and, on my way for a walk around the countryside, I stumble across The Hayloft.

As regular readers will know, I often get tip-offs from fellow scone fans and I do enjoy that.

There’s also something thrilling about stumbling across somewhere unexpected.

And so it is with The Hayloft.

It’s a tiny wee place up a flight of stairs – if you’re in a wheelchair, you might find access difficult.

The cafe has whitewashed walls and attic windows. It feels light and airy as the sun streams through.

I’m with an old friend – sorry, doll, but you are getting on a bit – and when we first arrive, we’re the only customers.

I opt for a toasted sandwich and my friend decides on a ploughman’s lunch.

My toastie is nice. But you know that envy you get when your dining companion’s order turns out to be so much better than yours? I’ve got that.

Because my chum’s ploughman’s lunch is a feast of loveliness.

It has homemade oatcakes, apple slices, chutney and a wee mountain of cheese. I’m having that next time.

I think she won’t have room for a scone after such a huge plateful, but she struggles bravely on. As do I, of course.

Our scones are lovely, light and crumbly. I get a chocolate-y traybake thing, too, just because that’s the way I roll. I know, I’m a devil.

We’ve been so busy blethering that we haven’t noticed the place filling up. Mind you, it doesn’t take much to pack out this dinky tearoom.

The rest of the customers look like regulars. There’s chat and banter between the tables and the waitress obviously knows some of them.

We catch snatches of chat. One woman is telling her friend something so funny her friend can barely speak for laughing.

If there’s any better way of spending a morning than catching up with friends in a lovely cafe like this, I’ve yet to learn what it is.

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