What is so irresistible about the rural, wild enormity of Scotland? Is it the scale, variety and sheer freedom of the landscape? Or is it the pleasant independence, idiosyncrasy and hospitality of the people?
Whilst dallying on the A84, travelling west to east and mentally computing coffee options in Crieff or Callander I felt I should finally give the Broch Café a shake. I have often passed its unprepossessing exterior. It’s an old building extended up to a second storey with utilitarian, weathered pine cladding. There are pleasing views across a meadow and burn up the glen and into the surrounding hills.
There is free parking as outdoorsy people come and go along the road and paths. Inside is a basic café with 4 or 5 tables but the real pleasure is to sit outside, under the red umbrellas that shield one, as rain arrives and sunshine retaliates simultaneously. The Broch caters to a stream of hungry walkers, families of MTB riders, dogs and their owners, pensioners, campervanistas and one’s fellow discerning PMen in their Vs.
The welcome from the staff was warm. Soup and decent sodabread came fast, £6.50. On their way back to the counter the staff liberally distributed biscuits to visiting good doggies. Bonus point. The coffee, old-school Lucaffe, is only a single shot but it was no bother to ask for two. The coconut flapjack was very good. An older couple arrived pushing flattened ebikes and tried to charge them. The kind owner made time to come out to help them plug their electric bikes. They should try an acoustic bike, I mused.
Whilst it shouldn’t seem enormously difficult to run a decent café, loyal readers and fellow lords and ladies of the highway know it is. But the Broch is exactly that. In common with many cafés aimed at outdoors types, the Broch encompasses the best traits of a Scottish rural café; practical, friendly, good value and sincere.
The things I greatly enjoyed about the Broch though, are the thoughtful touches. A horned wooden mini-coo to hang your dog lead on, plentiful bike racks and charging, even covered seating for take-out customers who are spattered in mud.
Best of all the Broch has a Bouledrome. Or Place de la Pétanque to my Gallic readers. Un homme difficile dans une camionnette may be lucky enough to observe l’action from the Tour-de France themed triple bike seat.
When passing, you should stop in for a game. You will be made very welcome. If you don’t have your balls, just come in anyway, it’s a great wee place.
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