Two self-styled ‘Tearoom Explorers’ have been searching for the best scones served in Perthshire.
The explorers - Ann Lindsay and Sally Robertson, neighbours living in Trochry, Dunkeld - aim to share the best, independently-owned tearooms with as wide an audience as possible and have started a blog.
Recently they have tied in their tea and cake habit with the idea of the trail of the Stone of Scone and the imminent crowning of a new King.
On May 6, a golden coach will carry Charles III to his coronation in Westminster Abbey and afterwards to a sumptuous feast.
Meanwhile, 500 miles north in Scotland, the two intrepid tearoom explorers have donned their hats and set off to uncover the historic Coronation Road taken by the Kings of Scotland as they made their way to be crowned on the Stone of Scone.
However their feast was the trusty Scottish scone bought in the independent tearooms they found along the way – scones to Scone!
Ann Lindsay, author of books including ‘Hidden Scotland’ and ‘Lost Perthshire’, who researched the route, said: “There are many variations of the route – however many started in Holyrood and went via Falkland Palace to Scone crossing the Tay at Elcho Castle.
“The Royal train would have taken many days to complete the route”.
Instead of a golden coach, they drive around in a bright blue car emblazoned with a Happy Tearoom Explorers logo.
They’ve encountered less cheering from spectators perhaps than in London, but they have been met with happy smiles along their route.
Their initiative started after Covid, when they realised how many treasured gems had been forced to close.
They wanted to support a future in which the independent tearoom is at the heart of Scottish community life.
Ann and Sally were fascinated by the people who set up these enterprises and have been writing about these inspirational and wonderful characters on their blog www.tearoomexplorers.com
Of Cafe Calluna on Pitlochry’s Atholl Road, they wrote: “Vibrancy, passion and excellence at the heart of this cafe in Pitlochry.”
When they visited Karelia House near Aberfeldy they found: “A hobbyist’s paradise meets wonderful coffee and cake.”
In the Highland Perthshire wilds they paused at Rannoch Station Tearoom and noted: “...sheer comfort” and “the cheeriness of the staff... plus such delights as unsophisticated platefuls of ‘dippy eggs served with buttered sourdough toast soldiers’, toasted teacakes, porridge as well as a great selection of wondrous baking.”
The tea and coffee fans encourage anyone with a favourite independent tearoom to get in touch and share their recommendation.
They will then get out to visit as many tearooms when they can – writing up the stories of the people behind the tearooms on www.tearoomexplorers.com
This will include the tearooms they visited on their trip from Holyrood to Scone.
The website is a free resource for everyone who loves a great tearoom.
There are no negative reviews – just space for the best tearooms in Scotland.
As one of their fans quipped: “There’s more to life than Starbucks!”
They are both deeply committed to seeing thriving communities.
Tearoom Explorers is their latest imitative and follows on from an award-winning tourism project promoting the history and legend of Strathbraan.
