Scone Spy: Mamma mia! Get in line for your cake slider at Hettie’s Tearoom in Pitlochry

I HAVE a real treat to report this week.

A visit to lovely Pitlochry. Or, to put it another way, a trip down memory lane.

Long before Scone Spy travelled the country finding the best scones in the universe, many a weekend was spent in the Perthshire town as a kiddie.

And I am pleased to see not much has changed. It still has the same cheeriness.

I stroll along to Hettie’s Tearoom, having been tipped off by a regular.

And I manage to get a table right away.

I’m near the door and it quickly becomes obvious that I’ve got lucky.

Because a queue soon starts to snake out of the door. It clearly pays to book.

I’m so busy drooling over the yummy-looking cakes and scones that when the waitress asks if I’m ready to order, I’m not really.

But I don’t think I can wait much longer for a scone, either, so I blurt out that I’ll have soup of the day. And a scone.

And – oh, what joy is this! – a cake slider.

Perfect if you are indecisive when you’re faced with delicious treats, you get five different slices of cake.

And, even better, you get extra cream to go with them.

Well, it has to be done, doesn’t it?

I go for slider as well as the soup and scone of the day.

Truth be told, I don’t really fancy soup, but I’ve been so busy drooling over the scones and cakes that I haven’t really checked out the rest of the menu.

And the minute I order I get buyer’s remorse.

But when the soup turns up – it’s parsnip and apple – it’s perfectly nice.

As you know, though, I’m all about the main event.

The scone has been described as chocolate and white choc chip.

Which sounds more than passable. I imagine a standard scone dotted with choc chips and bits.

But when it turns up it’s actually a chocolate scone.

Yes, the dough is chocolate-y!

Mamma mia, what a time to be alive! And the cake slider? Five slices of splendidness.

My soup gets pushed to the side in favour of treats galore.

And I’m tucking in, but can’t help noticing that two women are looking over at my massive order and nudging each other.

“Look!” I feel like saying. “I don’t WANT to eat all this yumminess. I’m a professional – doing it for my readers!”

But I just give them a smile, raise a cup of tea in lovely bone china and enjoy my treats.

“Let’s get that cake thing,” one says. A wise choice.

It’s no wonder Hettie’s is such a Pitlochry favourite.

I walk back to my car with a spring in my step. Yes, even after all that cake.

I spot a gang of rough, tough-looking bikers.

As I pass, one of them gives me a grin and says: “Isn’t this lovely?”

Indeed it is.

Warm Welcome: 8/10

Location, Location: 9/10

Scone Score: 10/10

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