Just over a year ago we reported from ‘Aran’ in Falkirk and it got pretty close to a topscone award. It has since closed and today’s ‘Aran’ is in Linlithgow but run by the same people. In our original Aran post we said we would report from the Linlithgow establishment at some point in the future … so here we are!
Linlithgow is a very picturesque historic town and this cafe sits not more than two hundred yards from the Palace where Mary Queen of Scots was born in 1542. Unfortunately Aran is housed in a large 60s architectural monstrosity that does no favours to the town whatsoever. A plaque on the wall, however, indicates that it won a design award from the Saltire Society. What were they thinking?
You will remember, of course, that “aran” is Gaelic for “bread”. They take great pride in their sustainability and sourcing local produce. They bake everything themselves using 100% renewable electricity as well as recycling 75% of their waste. Highly commendable but what would their scones also be highly commendable?
Topless
Over the past year we have had our fair share of scone disasters. Aside from the relatively few places that have had below average scones, 
there have been places with no scones and others with outlandish flavour combinations. Here, however, we had another kind of disaster … topless scones! Because I had ordered a bowl of soup Pat went ahead and chopped the top of our shared scone before I could take a photo. Not only that she had eaten it before I even noticed. This is the first time we have posted a photograph of a topless scone and I cannot tell a lie … it was her! However, she did say that the top was very good and with cream it would have been a topscone. The bottom was delicious as well … one of the best bottoms I’ve tasted! So not quite a topscone but highly commendable.
Goodwill
This is the season of merriment and goodwill to all men (for men read men, women and everything in between and beyond). However, sitting here looking at the world from Linlithgow, where the town motto is “be kind to strangers”, we’re not seeing much in the way goodwill. No-one seems to have told the Putins, Sunaks, Ali Khameneis, Bidens, Netanyahus. However, here in Scotland, in three days time we will have our shortest day at slightly less than seven hours. From then on the days start to stretch and we begin again with renewed hope that all these guys mentioned above will try to enact that motto.
Pat and I are getting ready for the usual deluge of grandkids so sconological adventures may have to be left to one side over the festive season. We thank all our readers for your continued loyal support and wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and sconey 2024.
EH49 7EY tel: 01506 844477 aran FB
///stumpy.excusing.beaters
I agree with all of the above. Such a wonderful story with each and every scone visit. Keep up the good work in the New Year. Hope you’ve all had a lovely Christmas and have a Happy and Prosperous New Year xx
Thanks Irené and all the very best to you for the coming year.
Well,well,well,how wonderful to finish the ‘scone’year with this post from lovely Linlithgow. Like you I wonder how that building won an award for ‘Good Design’ It certainly doesn’t do justice to Linlthgow.
Anyway fortunately the Aran team seem to be doing a good job,I can imagine your face when you discovered the topless scone and can almost hear what you said !
Keep up the good work.I love the history ,the geography,the photography and especially the humour.
Merry Christmas to you and all your readers and here’s to lots of top scones in 2024!
Thanks Kath, much appreciated.
It is a joy to read all your scone blogs , they are always so informative and humorous . We have had some amazing memories made staying with you both and also bringing our friends as well to falkirk you are an amazing couple who we were very privileged to meet and would hope to see again when we are able to .We wish you and your family Merry Christmas and an amazing 2024 lots of love and best wishes from Ann and Paul x
Wonderful to hear from you reprobates and many thanks for your kind words … very much appreciated. Please pass on our best wishes to Yvonne, Dave, Kath and Alan. You all know where we are, love to see you anytime.
Thank you very much we hope to take you up on that offer x
👍🏻
Another amusing post. Thank you Bill and Pat for another year of your wonderful blogs in the search for a top scone, certainly we have a few places to try on our next visit to Falkirk. Best Wishes to you both x
Be sure to look us up on your next visit.
Merry Christmas and a very happy en healthy new year. Looking forward for new scone stories in 2024.
Christine and Hugues
Belgium
And the same to you!
I at first thought you said that the plaque was put up by the Satire Society which would have made more sense..
Absolutely!
A wonderful read as ever. Packed full of learning (eg Aran = Bread), good humour (tasting bottoms) and serious good wishes (please world leaders get a grip).
Thank you and very best wishes to all at team ‘All About The Scones’ for the forth coming festive season.
Thanks Brian. Unfortunately, sometimes we have to partake of scones without the beneficial accompaniment of Henry’s coffee but we not that these places are becoming fewer and fewer … excellent!
Happy Christmas Billy & Pat, just want to say a huge thanks from Issy & I for all the posts over the year.
We enjoy them thoroughly as we don’t have to step out of our house to haven adventures with you from all over Scotland and sometimes as far as Aussie-Land.
The other bonus is enjoying all the scones with you and never putting on any weight!
Hope you have a really wonderful Christmas with all the family and looking forward to next years travels in a more fair and peaceful world – fingers crossed xx
Cheers Tom, great to hear from you and Issy. Fingers crossed indeed!
I did cut the top off and eat it before I should have, you’d think I would know what to do by this time. No worries, it was a good one.
As himself has already said have a Happy Christmas and a Guid New Year. I gave up sending cards last year but our best wishes are still sent to each and every one of you.