Uk towns that have been a (surprise) let down to you

[toffee]

Pitlochry.

I love visiting Perth shire. Beautiful little towns , stunning views , even good cycle routes......and then Pitlochry.

What's wrong with Pitlochry?

We both love visiting there. We were last there in August. It was a sunny bustling place.

 

[iandg]

I used to hate Dumfries when my Mum lived here 15+ years ago. Thought it was ugly and "cold". Ended up here many years later and love it. There's some wonderful buildings and people are really friendly - and the beer's so much better than what you get in Stornoway

 

[pjd57]

What's wrong with Pitlochry?

We both love visiting there. We were last there in August. It was a sunny bustling place.

Didn't like it .
Didn't like the shops or pubs .
Prefer Aberfeldy or Dunkeld for my Perthshire visits.

 

[matticus]

Newquay.
The beach IS gorgeous!

And I'm sure surfers will dig it. Man.

But for somewhere reputed to be so gentrified ... well, it was surprisingly Blackpool, when I'd expected more Brighton. Padstow was a LOT nicer.

Odd.

 

[the_mikey]

Has Holyhead been mentioned ?
When we 1st went there (many years ago) it was a nice, busy little town. It is so depressing now.
Another place that suffered from the building of out of town shopping malls.

I visited Holyhead this year, it's clear it once had a thriving town centre but it's very broken now, I used it as a base for walks around Holy Island, including walks to North Stack/South Stack.

 

[Adam4868]

Newquay.
The beach IS gorgeous!

And I'm sure surfers will dig it. Man.

But for somewhere reputed to be so gentrified ... well, it was surprisingly Blackpool, when I'd expected more Brighton. Padstow was a LOT nicer.

Odd.

Snob....

 

[Grant Fondo]

Newquay

I first went as a kid in the 70's and it seemed quite 'quaint' ... last visit 5 years ago, oh dear! We didn't hang around too long.

 

[Profpointy]

I always get disappointed by Oban.
Several times on nice days I have been at a loose end and had a wander around while waiting on a boat which met a bus at the other end. Every time I gave up and got an earlier ferry and just sat around at Craignure for an hour in the sunshine waiting for a bus.
It seemed too crowded and sleasy with downmarket day trippers.

The distillery tour on the other hand is excellent - the best I've done. Got a taster of quite a few different things too, not just "here's your dram and that's your lot". To this day I regret not shelling out the hundred notes for a bottle of something very nice indeed they let us try (not a full shot but a little nip of something rather special). As it was cask strength it's in effect a litre's worth of drinking strength so "only" £70 a bottle sort of. Sadly I didn't go for it, though my pocket was still rather lighter after visiting their shop

 

[oldwheels]

The distillery tour on the other hand is excellent - the best I've done. Got a taster of quite a few different things too, not just "here's your dram and that's your lot". To this day I regret not shelling out the hundred notes for a bottle of something very nice indeed they let us try (not a full shot but a little nip of something rather special). As it was cask strength it's in effect a litre's worth of drinking strength so "only" £70 a bottle sort of. Sadly I didn't go for it, though my pocket was still rather lighter after visiting their shop

I have a rather jaundiced view I am afraid as we also did tours but for no charge. Most distilleries do tours nowadays and probably make more money from them than distilling.
Oban is an SMD joint so I have no experience of them beyond being told by an exciseman that a manager with 20 years experience had only one years experience but 20 times over. In the case of independents experience was much wider.
This was proved by one distillery where an SMD man went to an independent and lasted only a few months as unable to cope with making his own management decisions.
Nothing to do with the quality of the multi but I find independents have better whisky for my tastes.

 

[Profpointy]

I have a rather jaundiced view I am afraid as we also did tours but for no charge. Most distilleries do tours nowadays and probably make more money from them than distilling.
Oban is an SMD joint so I have no experience of them beyond being told by an exciseman that a manager with 20 years experience had only one years experience but 20 times over. In the case of independents experience was much wider.
This was proved by one distillery where an SMD man went to an independent and lasted only a few months as unable to cope with making his own management decisions.
Nothing to do with the quality of the multi but I find independents have better whisky for my tastes.

SMD?

Anyhow, I do very much like Oban 14 year old, which is their standard offering - I guess 50 quid or so these days and will certainly replace it when finished, which isn't far off sadly,

I've not yet started exploring independent bottlings, Scottish malt whisky society and such, but my "permanent" collection (ie those which'll be replaced when empty include the following

Oban 14 (as mentioned)
Lagavulin 16 (hopefully when there's a deal as full price is now £70 - luckily I stocked up)
Ardbeg 10 and Wee beastie (5 year old)
Coal Isla 10
Laphroig 10 - often on a deal and well priced regardless
Glenlivet French Oak 15. (see - I don't only drink Islay Island, and west coast whiskies !)
Edradower 10
Glenfarclas 105 (no age statement, cask strength) - their 16 year old I found a bit lacking, though perfectly smooth and drinkable
Talisker 10- another top notch smokey dram at sensible money
Knockando and Pultney are two more very nice drops of whisky at a very reasonable price

Penderyn Madeira cask
Penderyn Sherry cask - both no age statement but very nice and often on a deal - got a Madeira one for £28 last week.

 

[Dave7]

I visited Holyhead this year, it's clear it once had a thriving town centre but it's very broken now, I used it as a base for walks around Holy Island, including walks to North Stack/South Stack.

Some lovely walks around there. We used to do south stack regularly.

 

[oldwheels]

SMD?

Anyhow, I do very much like Oban 14 year old, which is their standard offering - I guess 50 quid or so these days and will certainly replace it when finished, which isn't far off sadly,

I've not yet started exploring independent bottlings, Scottish malt whisky society and such, but my "permanent" collection (ie those which'll be replaced when empty include the following

Oban 14 (as mentioned)
Lagavulin 16 (hopefully when there's a deal as full price is now £70 - luckily I stocked up)
Ardbeg 10 and Wee beastie (5 year old)
Coal Isla 10
Laphroig 10 - often on a deal and well priced regardless
Glenlivet French Oak 15. (see - I don't only drink Islay Island, and west coast whiskies !)
Edradower 10
Glenfarclas 105 (no age statement, cask strength) - their 16 year old I found a bit lacking, though perfectly smooth and drinkable
Talisker 10- another top notch smokey dram at sensible money
Knockando and Pultney are two more very nice drops of whisky at a very reasonable price
View attachment 672875
Penderyn Madeira cask
Penderyn Sherry cask - both no age statement but very nice and often on a deal - got a Madeira one for £28 last week.

SMD is Scottish Malt Distillers. Probably changed now but part of the Distillers Co. Ltd who are I think foreign owned but I have not checked that recently.
When I was asked what the best whisky was the answer was it is the one you like best.
Nothing wrong with your selection.

 

[Hicky]

Rhyl, Blackpool…anywhere like that.
More recently Abersoch…not the place it was 15+years ago by a long shot. You couldn’t pay me to go there.

 

[Jameshow]

I know all the nice places but am not telling, as you lot will ruin them!🤣🤣🤣

 

[Chris S]

I went back to Wolverhampton recently. The town centre is almost derelict.