Country trek earned us a place in cake heaven

Mar 27 2009 by Lady Who Lunches

I SIGNED up for Breast Cancer Care’s Pink Ribbon walk with the best of intentions. But two months later I fear that my training schedule isn't what it might be!

With a 20-mile walk round Scone Palace fast approaching on June 13, I roped fellow fund-raisers Linz, Jools and Nikki into joining me on a brisk cross- country trek from Pitlochry over the hill to the Highland Perthshire hamlet of Grandtully.

And since it's a well-known fact that you can eat as much as you like as long as you are exercising, I thought we might drop into Legends Coffee House for a reviving round of skinny lattes to keep our spirits up, before the return yomp back to Pitlochry.

But, what looked like an easy stroll through gorgeous countryside in my book of ‘100 Easy Perthshire Walks’ turned out to be a feat of endurance that would have left Bear Grylls breathless with admiration.

Such was the level of exhaustion when we reached Legends that all thoughts of skinny lattes went straight out of the window. Instead a round of full-fat hazelnut lattes (coffee sourced locally from a supplier at Inveralmond) and Legends' own blend hot chocolate were ordered while we studied the menu and slowly regained core body temperature and the use of our legs.

The menu features a huge range of speciality coffees and teas, designed to compliment the range of home-made soups, salads, sandwiches and homebaking.

Linz and I went for bowls of sweet potato and red pepper soup, while Jools and Nikki ordered the French onion.

Bowls scraped clean, we followed with toasted paninnis – with lemon chicken mayo and salty Parma ham and goats cheese fillings. They came beautifully presented with side orders of bean salad and vegetable chips.

To follow I ordered a slice of heaven – or St Clement's cake as it’s known around these parts! The lightest of sponge cake was sandwiched together with a zesty lemon and lime flavored crème patisserie and topped with a wicked butter icing. The other three were equally impressed with their wedges of chocolate cake which were at once both light in texture but extremely chocolaty. The portion sizes were all extremely generous, and if it wasn't for the fact that we were all ravenous, then doggy bags would definitely have been the order of the day.

Unfortunately the whole experience put paid to any ideas of a return walk back to Pitlochry. So laden down with lime and chilli chocolates (a favourite with Andrew Fairlie @ Gleneagles no less) and assorted loot from the fabby gift shop and chocolatier, we bused it back to the car-park instead.

Grandtully might be a little off the beaten trail, but it's worth the effort. Legends is simply one of the best coffee shops around.

lIf you would like to take part in Breast Cancer Care’s Ribbon Walk at Scone Palace on June 13, register online at www.ribbonwalk.org.uk or call 0870 145 0101. Entry costs £30 and in addition participants are asked to raise £250 for Breast Cancer Care. In return participants will receive a support pack with information on training and fundraising and a pink T-shirt to wear on the day. Food, refreshments, and entertainment is provided as well as a medal at the finish line.

Venue: Legends Coffee House, Grandtully, Highland Perthshire.

Food: Cake heaven!

Service: Fast and friendly.

Décor: Imaginative and quirky conversion of an old stable block.

Price: £56.92 (for two).