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You just can't beat a codger's day out at a garden centre.  A full day's entertainment looking at lovely flowers and plants, and if you're lucky, a full range of other retail opportunities such as books, clothing, gifts and so on.  And if you want to nosh, then there's usually the chance to have a nice suppa and a scone.  Dobbie's is a prime example of this, and our most recent discovery is the new garden centre at Dunfermline.  And what a whopper of a scone you get there... A bit on the cakey side of the sweetmeat, but if it's size you're craving, this is the boy for you!

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It's a Sunday morning, and what could be finer than a stroll round South Queensferry, perhaps taking in some of the Dalmeny Estate, or just pottering along the prom where the brass bands rarely (and regrettably) go tiddley om pom pom...  Well, doint he foregoing, and then popping into the Rail Bridge Bistro for a small refreshment... 

 

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Valvona & Crolla is one of the most famous delis in Edinburgh. Situated near the top of Leith Walk, it is a fine venue for a coffee and scone or indeed for something much more substantial.  We stuck to the scones and were well pleased.

 

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Scoen from Hayes Garden Centre, AmblesideHayes Garden Centre, Ambleside, Lake District.  A fairly typical smallish garden centre with a good range of nosh. 

As to the scone - well, satisfactory, and OK if you're at the garden centre already and can't be bothered exploring any of the other little places in the town.  Not worth a special journey, though, if it's just a scone you're after. 

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Picture of Harrod's takeaway sconesA Harrod's takeaway scone:  good size, good price, and not at all unattractive.  But not in the top class, I'm afraid.  Are the top people who shop here being short-sconed?

 

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Picture of scone from Afternoon Tea package at Grange Hotel Holborn London

Grange Hotel, Holborn, London   Scone from a cream tea. Served warm with butter, jam and cream.  OK, but nothing to write home about.                                                                                                                                 

 

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Picyure of (very) fruit(y) scone from TheTea Room, Troon

Troon Tea Room - West Portland St, Troon. Lovely little place, well worth a visit.  Incidentally, Troon is riddled with tea and coffee shops.  Bit of a sconophile's heaven, I should say.  LATEST:  due to the ill health of the owners, the business has closed.  What a shame....

 

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Picture of fruit scones, from the tearoom at Hopetoun House, South QueensferryHopetoun House, South Queensferry.  This tea room can show the others a thing or two both in terms of ambience and in terms of presentation of a scone.  But no fruit scones on this visit!  Plain OK, but just not the same.  And whatever happened to the Selkirk Bannocks?

 

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