Scotland has a lot of coastlines, and it's a rich resource we've tapped into for generations. From calming days by the sea to adventures on the beach, the seaside is often the first place we think of when the sun shines.
And, of course, that also means food and drink will be involved and thankfully, our wee country is blessed with some truly top-notch coastal eateries. Just ask food critic and writer Jay Rayner, who has just named two of them in his list of the best value places to eat around the British coastline in the Observer.
Speaking about the list, Jay said: "Here are my recommendations for great places along our beautiful coastline where the food is terrific and the price qualifies as great value.
"For sake of doubt, these aren’t listings cobbled together from a reading of vaguely convincing websites. I’ve been lucky enough to eat the food provided by every one of them, often more than once. Yes, it’s a personal selection, but it’s one that’s been properly road-tested, in the service of proper appetite. "
The Cheesy Toast Shack, St Andrews, Fife
With a menu featuring toasted delights including the likes of Scottish cheddar with smoked ham and pickle; manchego with chorizo, red pepper and jalapeno chutney; and of course, the delicious mac'n'cheese; Jay describes The Cheesy Toast Shack, with its two sites at Woodburn Place and Kingsbarns Beach, as an " absolute gem"
Jay said: "There are few food items better engineered for the elemental challenges of a trip to the Scottish seaside than a cheese toastie, and there are few places that do them better than these two takeaway operations on the beach in St Andrews.
"These are serious items, built to keep you going as the winds blow and the sea crashes. The bread is cut thick. It’s bronzed and a little oily outside, with a deep filling. And all of them cost around a fiver."
Oban Seafood Hut, Oban, Argyll and Bute
A trip to Scotland's coast wouldn't be complete with some form of seafood and Jay's second pic is the iconic Oban Seafood Hut, with its cosy green shack exterior which hides an Aladdin's Cave of seafood delights.
Jay said: "People talk in hushed tones about the crab sandwich, just £4.95 for something the thickness of an airport novel, only with more drama and intrigue. Or try a sandwich of salmon, hot smoked on site.
"A heaving portion of fat king scallops, or langoustines from the very waters you eat next to, comes in a deep bath of garlic butter and costs £10.50. Or there’s crab claws at £11.50. The crockery is entirely disposable and the whole experience prone to messiness, but all in the very best way. There’s an awful lot of very good seafood available in Oban; this is the one option you shouldn’t miss."
You can see the full UK-wide list here.
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