Heading north you can now get a one course lunch for just under £20 and visit the new tackle department at house of braur.
Well stocked up. I saw a pair of snips I liked at £50.
Quote from: bibio1 on February 09, 2014, 11:22:41 AM
Well stocked up. I saw a pair of snips I liked at £50.
Only £50? That's seems like a real bargain. Do they have any left? :lol:
Quote from: bibio1 on February 09, 2014, 11:22:41 AM
Heading north you can now get a one course lunch for just under £20 and visit the new tackle department at house of braur.
Well stocked up. I saw a pair of snips I liked at £50.
''Well stocked up.'' no wonder
I'm sure they'll set a pair aside for you if your passing in September.
Andy,
The a9 is a road true west fosters only get to see above Inverness. :D
Aye I was watching a video on the Helmsdale the other week and saw this- It said in the video that it had opened last January.
:shock: :shock: :shock:
I spoke to the manager of the department. He mentioned they are doing very well, very well indeed.
24 troot flees in a box for £20, nae Pete Ross though!
http://www.houseofbruar.com/house-of-bruar-trout-selection-prodnf13012/ (http://www.houseofbruar.com/house-of-bruar-trout-selection-prodnf13012/)
Have been in many a time but only for a wee look ! And the price of the reels is beyond me, Near enough £1500 for a salmon reel, there must be many a mad punter willing to lash out that amount of money. Of course you will need your Able pliers a mere £269 just shakin ma heid at who would pay that !
No bad prices,is their a sale on.
A
One for the wuperts I'd say.
Hoolet.
Stopped off for a nosey last year. 'Wooperts' and 'Henriettas' everywhere. We pushed the boat out and bought a pound of hand made sausages. They were the only items there that we could buy without to much grimacing and while there is no disputing they are a shower of 'robbing barstewards' , I have got to say the sausages were absolutely superb !
There is no denying the food hall serves up some tremendous foods but at a cost!
Stop of for a tea /soup and a cake and yer heart misses a beat when you get the bill, as for having a meal of sorts never even looked.
It's when you go into the Gallery that you start to realise that you're from another planet! I just look in amazement at how they can justify some of the prices asked for certain pieces.
Still I did get a wee laugh one time in the gents out door department where I'm not sure if it's still there a cast of a huge Atlantic salmon used to hang on the wall as you enter and I said very nice but a tad small for me !
The guy looked and I replied when you have hooked an 84 punner aff the Kenai that's a big fish and walked away laughin !
They never did get a sale !
My we're a cynical bunch - one week we're bemoaning the loss of tackle shops and the next week we're complaining about one that's opened :lol:
"£50 snips" that's nothing you must have missed the Abel ones costing £89.95 or even the £4.95 Airflo ones or £4.95 Streamworks ones.
"£1500 Salmon Reel" aye right enough, it's a hefty price to pay but it is hand made in Oregon, USA by a family company with three employees and it is widely recognised as the finest salmon reel in the world for the big fish rivers of Scandinavia and Russia. If you dinnae quite fancy a trip to the former USSR then thankfully there are also salmon reels from Vision for less than £50 which I thought was pretty good value. Not everyone wants to or can afford to fish in some of these places that might demand the capacity of the big reels...
I also see there is Seaguar flurocarbon at almost £25 for a spool! £25 for a spool of gut!! Just as well there is maxima chameleon as well as the maxima ultragreen, frog hair, powerflex, fulling mill and even profil leaders by Leeda because some folk still use that stuff. Can you believe it? :lol:
And I wouldn't even think about the rod room where they sell the Hardy Bros Zenith - hand built in Alnwick - at an eye watering £1500! Just as well there is also the good old Shakey Oracle Scandi and Spey rods for just over £100! Phew.....It seems that everyone can afford to fish after all :D If you fancy some more bling that Shakespeare, you can also choose from Greys, Vision, Guideline, Orvis, Scott Mackenzie, Sage, Hardy, Hardy Bros and LTS...
I thought the salmon and trout fly range is as good as I've seen anywhere in the country and I have been about a bit - and if you look closely you will see that there ARE even Peter Woss flies in size 8,10 and 12 if you want them...... :shock:
"Doing very well, very well indeed" I don't ever remember saying that. You should have introduced yersel'
That's right folks, you've guessed it, I run the department at Bruar :D Having fished throughout Scotland for over 30 years I saw it as an interesting opportunity, to work for a family who are passionate about fishing. As someone who is equally passionate about fishing I have strived to choose brands from across the game angling world - some well known, some not so, but most of all I can guarantee that we can look after folk whatever they want to spend - even if that is £269 for a pair of pliers! By the way the £9.95 ones were just around the corner :)
So next time you're passing do come in and say hello, we do some pretty good Mill End lines for less than a tenner....
Calum
:lol: nice one Calum
The Abel pliers were £50 and it wiz your colleague I spoke to grey hair...black eye brows.
Quote from: bibio1 on February 10, 2014, 12:36:02 AM
The Abel pliers were £50 and it wiz your colleague I spoke to grey hair...black eye brows.
Jings, you could have had yersel a bargain, because the Abel pliers are actually well over £200 :shock: Nope, the 'plain' Abel snips are £50 but you could have spent £89 for hand painted fish patterned ones if that's your thing.
Ah, my "colleague" aye, he's not the "manager of the department" that would be me ;-) Typical fisherman, he's always exaggerating........
Sorry my.mistake it was the snips that were £50.
Anyway I'd rather you got the business than John Norris.
Maybe you can do me a.favour and tell the kitchen to always have cauliflower cheese on. My misses hasn't stopped talkin about the fact there was none all day.
The best thing to do at the Falls of Bruar is visit the Falls along the paths up to the old Victorian river bridges. There is a nice rock arch before the first bridge.
Go to the rear right hand corner of the main courtyard shopping bit, through the gap in the building to the right, go onto the path and go upstream on the excellent path under the railway bridge and so upstream following the river-side pathway. Lovely pools in the gorge. Once you reach the first stone arch keep on the left path and go on upstream to the second bridge, cross over the gorge and come down the other bank to reach the first bridge. Take a camera. One of the best riverside walks in Perthshire. After that you can feel justified in buying two packs of sausages and a cup of coffee.
'Two packs'of sausages ! Showing off there a bit mate ! :D
Quote from: Bobfly on February 10, 2014, 01:07:55 AM
The best thing to do at the Falls of Bruar is visit the Falls along the paths up to the old Victorian river bridges. There is a nice rock arch before the first bridge.
Go to the rear right hand corner of the main courtyard shopping bit, through the gap in the building to the right, go onto the path and go upstream on the excellent path under the railway bridge and so upstream following the river-side pathway. Lovely pools in the gorge. Once you reach the first stone arch keep on the left path and go on upstream to the second bridge, cross over the gorge and come down the other bank to reach the first bridge. Take a camera. One of the best riverside walks in Perthshire. After that you can feel justified in buying two packs of sausages and a cup of coffee.
And mind and take a rod with you if you fancy a bit of scrambling as well. There are some spectacular pools that are stuffed wi wee brownies up to 12" on occasions....
in Calum's defence, i have to say that the fishing dept in house of bruar has come on in leaps and bounds from where it was when it first opened, not least in customer service, but also in diversity of gear.
i had a vested interest here as 1) i used to run a specialist independent outdoor shop and 2) i applied for Calum's job!
my initial reaction was "hmm, typical; just designed to catch the toffs with loads of money" and i have to say that customer service consisted of following me around the department eyeing me suspiciously. fair one, i'd have followed me around too, dodgy looking character that i am..... :lol:
however, the department has developed very nicely over the past year. my last serious visit was just before our spanish trip last year and i have to say the reception couldn't have been friendlier or more helpful. as Calum says, there's a range of kit to suit most pockets and some interesting stuff you maybe won't see anywhere else (proper swff rods or shirts anyone?). true, it's not a discount shop, but then we never sold our mountaineering gear cheap either. we sold at rrp and backed it up with great knowledge and service which is what i feel Calum and House of Bruar are trying to do.
i say "Well done & good luck" to Calum and his team. While i can't afford an Abel reel or a Hardy Zane, i'd certainly like to fondle one once in a while. and i'll buy the odd spool of fluoro too...
i'll actually be dropping by later today Calum, so hope you're there! :8)
Quote from: corsican dave on February 10, 2014, 09:16:19 AM
in Calum's defence, i have to say that the fishing dept in house of bruar has come on in leaps and bounds from where it was when it first opened, not least in customer service, but also in diversity of gear.
I don't think I've said anything offensive but if I have I apologise. Also I don't think calum need defend anything. It is what what it is. Whilst expensive because of the type of equipment it sells its no more expensive that John Norris prices for the same equipment.
I actually think it's a good idea.
The only thing HOB could improve on is a petrol station but that will never happen and cauliflower cheese everyday.
One final thing..... any discount for forum members?
Quote from: bibio1 on February 10, 2014, 09:26:45 AM
One final thing..... any discount for forum members?
Only Wildfisher Fly Lines offers that. :lol:
Quote from: Calum on February 10, 2014, 07:34:26 AM
And mind and take a rod with you if you fancy a bit of scrambling as well. There are some spectacular pools that are stuffed wi wee brownies up to 12" on occasions....
Tradition has it that tree planting in the area by the Duke was in response to a visit and poem by Robert Burns "The Humble Petition Of Bruar Water". Possibly just another example of Scottish romanticism bollox of course, but a good story nonetheless. :lol:
The poem is superb and worth a read and listen. The good old BBC once again! :8)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/robertburns/works/the_humble_petition_of_bruar_water/ (http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/robertburns/works/the_humble_petition_of_bruar_water/)
House of Bruar caters for a niche but is slowly diversifying as it's footprint grows, and for the better.
I haven't any experience of the fishing department as it's been a while since I've been in. It's en route for me if I'm traveling to or from wherever I am needing to run the A9, I'm usually on the lookout for discounted smart shirts :8) I'm rarely disappointed. Roadside on the A9 is very handy for me, as is the place on the A84 just outside Stirling. If the wellie shop at Tyndrum on the A82 could open a fishing department I'd be completely sorted :lol:
I'll checkout their fishing department next time I have time
The walk up the Falls of Bruar pathway circuit is really splendid in the Autumn. The view out and down the gorge being one of Scotland's best gorge views. Burns also wrote a poem about the Birks of Aberfeldy which is also a great walk although less spectacular than at Bruar. There is a statue of Burns at a seat beside the Birks path.
I must go in the shopping section to visit the tackle shop. I did not know it was there.
As the manufacturer of hand-made, bespoke, wooden fly-boxes aimed fairly and squarely at the upper end of the retail market (now with ripple foam liners) I can only welcome an exceptionally well-managed fishing department at Bruar.
The experience and knowledge of the manager is truly outstanding, and the Peter Wosses he ties are works of art.
To have such a facility stuffed full of mugs Wuperts discerning, loaded, clients is only to be applauded.
I'll be in on Wed./Thursday morning to discuss prices and quantities for the order.
Put the kettle on. :D
Quote from: Calum on February 10, 2014, 12:07:37 AM
My we're a cynical bunch - one week we're bemoaning the loss of tackle shops and the next week we're complaining about one that's opened :lol:
"£50 snips" that's nothing you must have missed the Abel ones costing £89.95 or even the £4.95 Airflo ones or £4.95 Streamworks ones.
"£1500 Salmon Reel" aye right enough, it's a hefty price to pay but it is hand made in Oregon, USA by a family company with three employees and it is widely recognised as the finest salmon reel in the world for the big fish rivers of Scandinavia and Russia. If you dinnae quite fancy a trip to the former USSR then thankfully there are also salmon reels from Vision for less than £50 which I thought was pretty good value. Not everyone wants to or can afford to fish in some of these places that might demand the capacity of the big reels...
I also see there is Seaguar flurocarbon at almost £25 for a spool! £25 for a spool of gut!! Just as well there is maxima chameleon as well as the maxima ultragreen, frog hair, powerflex, fulling mill and even profil leaders by Leeda because some folk still use that stuff. Can you believe it? :lol:
And I wouldn't even think about the rod room where they sell the Hardy Bros Zenith - hand built in Alnwick - at an eye watering £1500! Just as well there is also the good old Shakey Oracle Scandi and Spey rods for just over £100! Phew.....It seems that everyone can afford to fish after all :D If you fancy some more bling that Shakespeare, you can also choose from Greys, Vision, Guideline, Orvis, Scott Mackenzie, Sage, Hardy, Hardy Bros and LTS...
I thought the salmon and trout fly range is as good as I've seen anywhere in the country and I have been about a bit - and if you look closely you will see that there ARE even Peter Woss flies in size 8,10 and 12 if you want them...... :shock:
"Doing very well, very well indeed" I don't ever remember saying that. You should have introduced yersel'
That's right folks, you've guessed it, I run the department at Bruar :D Having fished throughout Scotland for over 30 years I saw it as an interesting opportunity, to work for a family who are passionate about fishing. As someone who is equally passionate about fishing I have strived to choose brands from across the game angling world - some well known, some not so, but most of all I can guarantee that we can look after folk whatever they want to spend - even if that is £269 for a pair of pliers! By the way the £9.95 ones were just around the corner :)
So next time you're passing do come in and say hello, we do some pretty good Mill End lines for less than a tenner....
Calum
I Missed this earlier- That's brilliant! :lol:
The fishing dept at House of Bruar lets face it was not somewhere you can pop in for " a tin of maggots" I was there in December just before Xmas when the family stayed in Pitlochry for a theatre visit as a treat for my retirement. Just to let you know I have visited Pitlochry
every year for a least a week for the last 20 odd years. Firstly when we had a touring caravan at Faskally & lastly in the static site at Milton of Fonab.
We always have a morning/afternoon at Bruar. Yes it is a "bitty upmarket" but that is part of it's attraction. The selection of clothing/goods etc is top notch but do not look for discounts as they are far & few between. To me it caters for passing A9 trade, tourists/foreign visitors, families & oldies out for the day & general holiday makers passing through or residing in the area & yes wupperts too, a goodly mix of people. From Regatta to Paramo wearers & everything in between. They even let weegies in all be it under escort. :roll:
The fishing Shop is well laid out stocked with in the main "top end" kit.I thought their fly section was superb Peter Ross & all. They had a nice display of old Hardy reels in a glass case, along with top notch American reels which I can only dream about & the The staff, well the guy that dealt with me was chatty & attentive. Did not get his name but I do not think he was Calum as I detected an Englandshire accent. I purchased a new Hardy lightweight fleece that had "just come in" & a shirt that I had never heard of before Hook & Tackle but have subsequently found out it is of American origin & finds favour with SWFF. Colour is Red Snapper, not a lot of them of Largs beach :lol:
All in all a nice place to spend a few hours even if I only buy my Crowdie Cheese & have a coffee & cream scone in the restaurant. Cauliflower cheese indeed :roll:
Tight Lines
On a serious note the burn does look great with crystal clear water.
I've not stopped at Bruar for years but I'm certainly going to call in now I know they've a fishing dept - and its managed by a wild fisher :)
So long as the service is good/what I'm after, I'm not fussed whether any shop is considered bargain basement, posh, high-end or whatever. I'll judge on how I'm treated as a customer.
I nearly always have a rod in the car Calum so I'll at least buy a Peter Ross from you to try in the wee burn :)
John
I've never stopped at The House Of Bruar. When I'm on the hellish A9 my only thought is to get it over with ASAP and get to my destination. It was not always so. Those places are popular with tourists, families out for the day, taking the kids and / or grannie and granda out for a drive. When my kids were small we frequently stopped off at places like that - Baxters at Fochabers being a favourite. Superb food in the restaurant and not overly expansive. Same idea: restaurant and various shops full of Pringle golf pullovers, trinkets, pottery, cookware etc etc - all attractive to tourists and day trippers with a few quid to spend and time on their hands. Brodie Castle is another on the same tourist route. Perhaps when senility finally takes over I'll go back. I'll maybe end up as the granda who is being taken for a drive. :lol: Until then I'll speed past them to my intended destination. Speed being a relative term on the A9 in that area.
They have their place and serve a demand. In my opinion they are better than the salmon farms, windmills and super pylons that may be a greater threat to their customer base than high price tags on fly reels.
As its 5 mins up the road from my caravan I pop in from time to time. It is exactly what you would expect, high end brands at high end prices. The Fly selection is staggering though!
Fred you mentioned a while back that Anglers Choice on the Kingsway Dundee was closed / to close. I couldnt believe it but its true and now with Gows gone there is not an angling shop in Dundee at all any more. HOB will now be the largest angling outlet north of Stirling!
Anglers' Choice has not closed yet Scott, but it is rumoured to be closing. Just they was things go in a changing world I suppose.
Quote from: admin on February 10, 2014, 05:13:05 PM
Anglers' Choice has not closed yet Scott, but it is rumoured to be closing. Just they was things go in a changing world I suppose.
Apologies I dont mean to pre-empt its demise, I was told at lunchtime its gone, but by a non-fisherman who passes it on his way into work.
I always found Robbie and Paul to be very welcoming and not half bad at selling either! They did a lot of varieties of live baits as well so for the non fly fisherman itsa loss too.
This thread has been a good wee advert for house of braur.
as i said, i popped in on my way back from perth today. no Calum (he was out fishing :D), but a very friendly reception from the other three guys (they weren't aware of the topic on here, incidentally). obviously all very keen fishermen: simon used to run the small tackle shop in pitlochry and one of the other guys (sorry i'm crap with names on first meetings)grew up a few miles from me in buckinghamshire and so we had plenty of gravel pit and canal fishing in common. so there's a wealth of experience there.
for anyone who hasn't been in recently or at all; please do. i think you'll be pleasantly surprised, especially at how it's improved over the last 6 months. there's no bottom end stuff; why should they? there's plenty of other folk like the supermarkets selling crap and if you're a true enthusiast, there's no fun or satisfaction in selling rubbish. but there's good gear across the price range along with the truly aspirational stuff. i would take a youngster here to be kitted out and expect to get change from £100 for rod, reel, line and a few fleas. it'd be a close thing, but you could do it....
having just splashed out on a new kayak i wasn't in a position to part with any money this time, but i'm sure i will again at some point!
Quote from: Otter Spotter on February 10, 2014, 05:22:47 PM
I always found Robbie and Paul to be very welcoming and not half bad at selling either!
I bought a 2 weight rod there a week or two ago. The guy who served me, eastern European I think was very pleasant, certainly knew about fly fishing and knew exactly what I wanted the light rod for.
Quote from: admin on February 10, 2014, 03:48:21 PM
I've never stopped at The House Of Bruar. When I'm on the hellish A9 my only thought is to get it over with ASAP and get to my destination.
i should've added that "let's stop off at the house of bruar" is no longer a phrase to strike fear into the heart of a driver on the A9 :8).
Quote from: bushy palmer on February 09, 2014, 12:21:40 PM
Aye I was watching a video on the Helmsdale the other week and saw this- It said in the video that it had opened last January.
I seen this video too, hooked uk a new season on youtube.
On my trips North I usually have a stop at HOB. At least you know you will pay through the nose but for decent stuff. Even the coffee is good. Much prefer that to the alternatives of Pitlochry or Aviemore. The worst of Scottish hospitality.
Tiso in Perth is competition for a good cafe but is just a bit early on the journey.
Last time I was in HOB I noticed quite a change in the range of "real" stuff for sale. A decent fishing section puts it back at the top of the list for me.
See you soon Callum. I take it Simon is the young chap I met when he had just taken over the shop in Pitlochry. Seemed very keen and knowledgable.
A.
Got to agree with Bibio that this thread is, albeit unintentionally, a handy PR job for HOB. However, while the various companions i've travelled past it with over the years all tend to rasp, snort and mock, I will (grits teeth) have to take a peek now. Damn it! The fly selection endorsements do sound enticing though.
Oh, and if we're talking PR, since I will, as most regulars know, be emigrating to Oregon later this year:
Given that UK prices for American products tend to reflect the US price in Dollars - i.e. $1500 (approx. £915) = £1500 over here - should anyone really feel the need/desire to own the Oregon-made salmon reel i'll happily source them out and post over with the addition of a "handling and postage charge" (including petrol - sorry, "gas" :roll: ) of just £85, resulting in a £500 saving against the HOB price. Sorry Calum ;)
Quote from: bibio1 on February 10, 2014, 05:54:10 PM
This thread has been a good wee advert for house of braur.
Aye, I'll be sending Calum the bill shortly. :lol:
We often stop off when traveling to or from my mothers, hand as its roughly the mid point. Fell foul of being distracted by the tackle section and lost track of my other half for a fatal 15 Min's, must be more careful next time.
QuoteMuch prefer that to the alternatives of Pitlochry or Aviemore. The
Aviemore I agree is in the main pretty bad or at least the few places I have vsited. Think you are a bit unkind but Pitlochry has in my opinion some nice places for a tea/ coffee
Victorias on the main drag in particular offers nice cuisine. The wee cafe at The Boating Station is fine for a quick snack. Couple of others ,none that I can say are rubbish.
Tight Lines
Just got the new Orvis catalogue through. Not much in there I can/will afford either.
Still it is nice to look.
47" Orvis practice caster for £39? At least the same colour as a Helios. :D
A.
Quote from: Highlander on February 11, 2014, 07:13:17 PM
Aviemore I agree is in the main pretty bad or at least the few places I have vsited. Think you are a bit unkind but Pitlochry has in my opinion some nice places for a tea/ coffee
Victorias on the main drag in particular offers nice cuisine. The wee cafe at The Boating Station is fine for a quick snack. Couple of others ,none that I can say are rubbish.
Tight Lines
What about the balinluig cafe. You can have anything you like as long as it's out a deep fat frier.
You've obviously not tried the Lochboisdale cafe . Deary me they just drop the sausage and burgers in the deep fryer , they don't even butter the roll , worst burger I've ever had in Scotland .
Logierait Inn, just off the A9 at Ballinluig is a brilliant place to stop off for a coffee or a meal. Excellent value for money and you even get to pee in a bucket! A polished galvanised Bucket! Even Alan would approve! And with the TAY on one side and the TUMMEL on the other you can't go wrong. If going for a meal a quick phone call is recommended. I should say I have no connection with the Inn other than being a very satisfied customer.
I like my mug of tea and a bacon roll/all day breakfast at the Ballinluig cafe - always good and quick service but don't think I've noticed salad on the menu yet though :lol:
I'm still planning to stop there for food but only after I've stopped at Bruar for a latte and a Peter Ross :)
QuoteI like my mug of tea and a bacon roll/all day breakfast at the Ballinluig cafe - always good and quick service
I'm good for that, but rest of the guys for the full breakfast !
Quote from: Alan on February 12, 2014, 01:19:44 AM
The boat house at Faskally is my usual A9 stop, 2 mins from the A9 and its in a different world
I'm still not stopping on the A9. Ever! :lol: The only disadvantage of moving to Angus from Aberdeenshire was more A9 when going north. It is a hellish road.
Quote from: Alan on February 12, 2014, 10:29:32 PM
I got 3 points on it twice last year :(
I so nearly did two years ago. I was cinvinced it was going to be an instant ban!
I got pulled over at dark O'clock in the morning on one of the 60mph stretches doing ninet. . . lets just say it started with a nine :oops:
Instead I got told to "go cannae" , asked where I was going, then given tips on how much over the speed limit I could acceptably go :shock:
I was in a real tackle shop this morning. By real I mean it's not an adjunct to a lifestyle centre in the same way as a genuine specialist plant nursery (like the one I used to run) is not a garden centre! Angus Angling in Forfar. Neil's dad was looking after the shop and I spent an enjoyable 1/2 hour chatting to him about all things fishing related. You just don't get that in garden centres. :lol: That said no one owes any of these places a living, if they don't shape up they ship-out. Angus Angling appears to be doing well.
Turned up to hire a van in Inverness once, passed over my paper licence, the wee lassie was aghast.
"Never seen one of these before!"
Nae points on it.
Quote from: Element on February 13, 2014, 10:09:31 PM
I might get another 3pts and £60 fine again on the A9 yesterday at dusk I went over the rise in the road & saw the distinctive van parked at the roadside, reckon I was doing 66-67 maybe.. but I may be able to get off it as I was heading into Perth A&E as my wife was taken there by ambulance... (SVT at 187 pulse for 20+ mins, all ok now though)... Dunno if they'll let me off or not, I'm keeping the text in my phone as evidence if I need it...
Hopefully you should be OK Tony - I think the prosecution threshold used to be 10% + 2mph.
My best ever car journey - lets call it 'Escape from Crask'! The last time I was there I was due to head down early on the Sunday but couldnt cope with another night in 'that bed'. I headed off around 11pm by the time I reached Tor I had seen several police cars heading up the way with all lights going. I put on disc 2 of delicate sound of thunder and booted it. I was in my driveway in Perth before the album finished, and I'd stopped on the way for a pee! Its an amazing road if you are ever fortunate enough to get it to yourself :-)
Having said that I dont drive souped up beemers any more so wouldnt be able to repeat.
I got 3 points on the way back down from Torridon last season for 69 mph which I thought was taking liberties!
Quote from: Otter Spotter on February 15, 2014, 10:42:42 AM
My best ever car journey - lets call it 'Escape from Crask'!
Was that during the sewage stravaig? :lol:
Quote from: admin on February 15, 2014, 11:30:47 AM
Was that during the sewage stravaig? :lol:
I will never, ever, so long as I live, forget the moment of realisation whilst on the phone to my Mrs, that I was up to my ankles in human waste :shock:
I wish I'd followed your example Scott. The year after I was violently sick all night. Not a great experience when there is no electricity and it's pitch black and cold. Never, ever again! When you look at what we have now at our new EOS venue it makes you wonder why we put up with it so long.
Quote from: Alan on February 15, 2014, 04:06:24 PM
You need special moments like that :lol:
Indeed. My 1995 experience of spending 24 hours stuck in Dhaka Airport, Bangladesh during a national strike watching cockroaches the size of domestic cats running around will never leave me. It was almost as bad as Greenock, but with the staple diet of fish suppers replaced by curried goat. :lol:
Now, if pit-stops along the A9 started selling curried goat they'd have my custom! I had an ash-pit cooked goat curry in Morocco years ago. Twas wonderful - and no :crap to follow :)
Once when I was offshore my wife's father was taken seriouslly ill. As my wife had been at a party she was not fit to drive so my father took my special edition Impreza from Fife to Raigmore in a hurry. Triple figure stuff up the A9 apparently. As a former stock car racer and autocrosser he can drive a bit. Not a police car was seen but then everything would have been a blur.
Back on topic.
Called in yesterday and had a wee sneak around. Top-end gear at standard RRP, nicely laid out. Some "standard" gear at the usual prices.
Lots of nice flees including a Peter Ross Bumble that the manager tried to sell me, but then he also invited me to fish the local river.
But what is the story about the guy living in his car on the side of the A9 just south of Bruar?
Quote from: Inchlaggan on February 16, 2014, 05:27:59 PM
a Peter Ross Bumble that the manager tried to sell me, but then he also invited me to fish the local river.
Be careful about accepting invitations from people who try to sell you Peter Rosses. :lol:
Quote from: Inchlaggan on February 16, 2014, 05:27:59 PM
But what is the story about the guy living in his car on the side of the A9 just south of Bruar?
Back off-topic ( ;) ), it's this:
http://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/local/perth-kinross/man-facing-second-winter-in-car-after-escaping-neighbour-problems-1.141712 (http://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/local/perth-kinross/man-facing-second-winter-in-car-after-escaping-neighbour-problems-1.141712)
Thanks M-H for the link, that's the man.
Like Element I've seen the car any number of times, with assorted detritus around it. Today was the first time it seemed "occupied". A washing line and another vehicle parked nearby and four folks having a chat.
Sad to say that if he was a Traveller he'd have been moved on long ago. Bit of a predicament for him all-the-same. Personally I think if it were me in that position I'd chose somewhere a little off the road. On the other hand I suppose his prominent position is the reason why he's been helped with the kindness of strangers.
Quote from: Midgie Hater on February 17, 2014, 01:04:10 AM
Sad to say that if he was a Traveller he'd have been moved on long ago.
A traveler as opposed to a loony? :lol:
Quote from: admin on February 17, 2014, 08:59:47 AM
A traveler as opposed to a loony? :lol:
:lol: well, I didn't like to say but...
On that basis then even loonies in lay-bys (hmmm, think I just came up with an esoteric new band name there...) are deemed more desirable than members of the Travelling community! Or perhaps less undesirable depending on one's point-of-view.
Alan, next time please try to find a bigger photograph :roll: ;)
Didn't realise his motor was dead now too. Yes, he's either hardy, has no feeling in his extremities or, as Fred says, bonkers!
But I have to say the story is a sad one. Of course, we don't know all that's behind the printed word in the Courier. That said. I've looked for pieces from elsewhere in a bid to fill in the blanks about why he was run out of town in the first place beyond his own personal account (old habits die hard). Usually local media who know their job (and, more especially, suffer from a lack of meaty news to fill column-inches) would leap on that straight away, smelling intrigue and scandal behind the predicament, or would follow up comments from members of his former community in order to widen the angle. Nothing's emerged so far which makes me think said community members don't want to get involved for fear of being seen either as cruel b'stards for putting him in this situation or fear of some sort of reprisal.The Beeb did a bit on him a while back too. Presumably, given the dearth of detail in their "report", it was simply filched from the Courier piece. Not that we journalists ever pinch, paraphrase and summarise stories from other sources of course :whistling
Looks like the House Of Bruar has supplied him with a jaiket.
Tight Lines
Does the naked rambler visit him from time to time?
I saw it by the roadside. I have got to say though it's tragic a grown man in this age is reduced to living beside the A9. He needs help.
Indepedence or not, An A9 lay bye would not be my first choice of somewhere to live. Nutter he may well be but he is not stupid. I am sure he knows that
(a) people will talk about him (we are doing so now)
&
(b) people will stop to talk & indeed help with provisions/money
To my mind where he is is totally unsuitable & could in time possibly cause an accident. He should be asked to move to a more suitable location. I am surprized that has not already been done. He does not seem to do too bad. Looking at the posted picture he appears better dressed than me. :roll:
Tight Lines
Alan I think you right that the guy is not stupid. He is actually parked on the grass, I would assume that he has done that as he could be moved on from the layby. The layby will be considered as part of the highway and under council control/byelaws.
Jim
Quote from: Highlander on February 21, 2014, 09:29:32 AM
I am surprized that has not already been done.
It's the Merc, it brings a touch of class and an air of prosperity to the lay by. Had he been in a Ford he'd have been moved on months ago for lowering the tone of the place. :D
Quote from: Alan on February 22, 2014, 01:11:38 AM
I reckon he could get the price of a camper van for that merc :8)
A good thought! Perhaps, since we've taken a concern to his welfare we should, as a community, attempt to source one for him, or to find someone wanting to offload a camper for said Merc. Failing that perhaps forum members can do him the odd food parcel drop to break the monotony of trout ;) Or even better set up a fund to provide him with a chemical toilet and weekly emptying service. Bags I
don't volunteer to be on the rota :crap Ok then, maybe dig him a latrine.
Hmm, just thinking aloud here: what, I wonder, is the concentration of faecal matter doing to the water quality of the Garry? (and perhaps to the size of the trout?) :shock:
Quote from: Midgie Hater on February 22, 2014, 02:09:55 AM
what, I wonder, is the concentration of faecal matter doing to the water quality of the Garry? (and perhaps to the size of the trout?) :shock:
I've heard there are some really big browns in the Garry around that stretch
Quote from: Alan on February 22, 2014, 05:34:35 PM
Not sure about now but it used to be stocked from about there up, i used to fish the bit lower down, a pound would be a big fish there, i had a salmon by accident in a tiny pool under a small waterfall just down from there, if it hadn't been trapped in the pool it would have been off up the river.
Thanks for the info Alan, but I was thinking of the big floating browns trapped in eddies from our Mercedes resident :shock:
I need the season to get underway :lol:
I like tackle shops so good luck to Callum, I think HOB is well placed for a break when going up or down, the last time I was in was nearly four years ago and a bit of a story as I transported wife from Nine Wells to Raigmore as there wasnt an ambulance available, an ambulance had taken my premature daughter earlier that day. Wife really wasnt well and lieing to hospital though hospital might have realised this but knew in the long run she would be happier in Raigmore, anyway by the time we got to HOB she really needed food, so we looked a bit funny as I carried her in but the food recovered her sugar levels which had crashed and it was just as well we stopped as there was a traffic jam further up the road. Haven't been on the road much since, but look forward to going in with Wife and daughther now nearly four the next time we pass :)
As for the guy living beside the road, nothing wrong with living in a car I have done so myself many years ago, dont get wet and dry themselves out unlike tents but why on the A9 ? I couldn't do that :?
What time does the HOB fishing department open on a saturday morning?
A couple of the boys are talking about maybe calling in on the way up north in a couple of months time.
Quote from: Otter Spotter on February 10, 2014, 05:22:47 PM
Apologies I dont mean to pre-empt its demise, I was told at lunchtime its gone, but by a non-fisherman who passes it on his way into work.
I always found Robbie and Paul to be very welcoming and not half bad at selling either! They did a lot of varieties of live baits as well so for the non fly fisherman itsa loss too.
I was in Anglers choice on Friday, Robbie was well pissed off when I mentioned that the rumour mill had him closing down. Apparently the situation is quite the opposite. With the demise of Gows in town he is expanding the shop to include firearms and other shooting equipment.
Apparently there have been a few malicious rumours about so I thought I'd at least post on here what I heard.
Called in July 14th, Tell you what Calum disnae work there any more, so that was a waste of time wanted to say hello. Still bought a few Salmon flies on special at £1.50 each so not a wasted journey after all. See the whole place has been turned around the fishing section is actually quite nice but as I said before high end stuff predominates.
Tight Lines
Yep, I called in a few weeks ago and discovered Calum was no longer working there. Felt pretty much as highlander does, good shop shame about the high end kit.
I was in it again a few weeks ago and must admit it is well situated for fisherman travelling north. It is high end and geared towards salmon fisherman. Apparently Sunday is the busy day and does generate significant returns. Good on them. If they are prepared to take the risk then the deserve the rewards.
It's handy traveling south too :lol: Can't knock a physical shop
To be fair House of Bruar is not exactly the best place to go if your after a bargain, so a high end tackle shop is fitting. Having said that there are some cheaper bits and pieces in there as well.
Seen this advertisement in this months t&s
[attachimg=1]
Calum is working as a Ghillie somewhere now.
Would be a good job (maybe) don't fancy the commute from Edinburgh though!
I was in the tackle shop at bruar today, bought a book, match the hatch. It's a cracking shop, not sure if its good value or not but loads of stuff to see. Worth a visit.