Jumping in St Monans

Today marked the beginning of our Scottish road trip! After checking out, we caught an Uber to EDI airport and where we picked up our car, a bold red Ford Kuga diesel SUV. Its engine roared with enthusiasm, making “KUGAAAAA” our unofficial road trip anthem.

Our plan was to ride along the scenic coastal route, deciding on our overnight stop as the day unfolded. Crossing the bridges we’d saw from the river the previous day, we set our sights on Stonehaven, a charming town about 30 minutes south of Aberdeen. We believed that northern Scotland would offer more amazing landscapes than the south.

Around 2 PM, we paused in St Monans, a small and quiet fishing village nestled in the East Neuk of Fife. The harbor, with its distinctive zig-zag breakwater, hinted at the powerful tides that shape this coastline.

We stopped by The Muffin Man, seemingly the only open café in town, where we enjoyed coffee accompanied by scones for J. and toasties for me. All very nice.

Continuing our journey, we traversed the gorgeous Scottish countryside, passing through cute villages and spotting cows, sheep, and goats. The vibrant green landscapes and unexpected sunshine made for an excellent reoad trip.

We arrived at the Shorehead Guesthouse in Stonehaven shortly after 5 PM. The drive had been longer than anticipated, and J. was feeling the fatigue of the road. Our room, situated on the top floor, offered a cozy retreat. The hosts recommended the Marine Hotel next door for dinner and drinks, which turned out to be a memorable experience.

At the Marine Hotel, two hings happened. First, we realized that being so close to Aberdeen presented an opportunity to take the Kuga on a ferry to the Shetland Islands. After checking schedules and prices, we booked a crossing for the following afternoon, £580 for two passengers, the car, and an inside cabin for four (the only available option), all the while sipping weird-but-nice local beers and eating trout and fish and chips.

Second, my persistent backache decided to make an unwelcome return. Oh well, who cares, we’re heading to the Shetlands!