Begg x Co Knitwear | Made in Scotland

 

Bi Coloured Beanie in Yellow + Natural | Shadow Rib Beanie Navy Asphalt | Slub Crew Sweater

I'm not a love story kind of guy. Generally if I've loved visiting a place I don't tend to feel the urge to return unless I missed something that I really wanted to see. Not in a "been-there-done-that" kind of way, it's more from a curiosity of experiencing things I haven't experienced before. 

But Scotland is an exception to this rule; pass this guy a stamp and envelope, because I'm about to mail my first love letter.

The air, the open roads, the sweet smell of distilling, the fly fishing, the friendly faces, the commitment to tradition, the silence in the hills, the feeling of belonging even as a visitor: that's my Scotland. Manufacturing is another I'd add to that list, as the majority of people I know from up North work in design and craft, in some way or form.

Orwell Ordon Scarf | Arran Vicuna Scarf 

Begg x Co is a small knitwear label based on the southwest coast of Scotland, in the town of Ayr. Lamsbwool and cashmere are used in such a way that feels familiar, yet special in every sense; with jumpers, scarfs and accessories all seen in colours inspired by and taken from the Scottish landscape. Begg x Co have fun with it - with vibrant cashmere hats sitting along side more traditional patterned cashmere scarfs and men's crew neck sweaters, and even the odd splash of added camouflage, catching eyes from every-which-way.

Let's book that train ticket shall we.

Photography by Jordan Bunker.

Behind The Design Series | Paulin Watches

 Eleanor Paulin, Designer at Paulin Watches 

For me, one of the most satisfying things that has come from writing this blog is being able to meet the people behind the designs. The last few years have been a great time to be a supporter of British design; not only have independent craftspeople and makers weaved their way into our everyday feeds, they have captured peoples' imagination and slowly given us time to follow their creative path.

But being an independent designer or brand doesn't instantly give you a bye to a quality product; a lot of brands pass me by for not being my taste, being poorly made, or something that's just a carbon copy of the next. You have to pick and choose – investing time into researching the the ideas behind the product, and if it's right for you.

The watch market is booming right now, with a definite Instagram-affect happening as we speak. But to set yourself apart from the others you need to be offering something a little different.
 

When you invest time and money into start-ups and smaller companies, in the main, you're backing the people that make the products happen, and I guess, for me, that's the most rewarding part. It's for the passion.

Paulin Watches is a great example; a British designed + built watchmaker, based in the heart of one of Glasgow's oldest districts. A trip up to Glasgow is always met with open arms, and over the years I've made some great friends there. I visited Paulin's workshop – which doubles up as their retail outlet – on a very soggy Tuesday morning in July, and the team were just as I imagined; warm, open and obsessed with their craft.

Exploring the Isle of Jura with Trakke + Jura Whisky

Image by Willy Iffland

It's not often I arrive home from a trip feeling totally content, but spending three days getting to know the beautiful island, and people of Jura was an experience I'm not likely to easily forget. We were invited to stay on the Scottish island by Jura Whisky, to celebrate their partnership between Glasgow-based Trakke, and the distillery itself – the result being a limited edition waxed cotton backpack.

Travel to this remote island wasn't easy, in fact it took two trains, a overnight in Glasgow, a plane, a ferry and an hour's bumpy taxi ride to reach the town of Craighouse. But it was all worth it just for those views.

We spent three days on Jura - a mountainous and boggy island, located west of mainland Scotland. An island famous for its whisky, but vast in its community spirit, local quirks and plush landscape. By intergrated ourselves into the community; drinking and dining with the locals, learning about the island's history and exploring the endless rocky terrain, we experienced a true sense of what it might be like to live somewhere so remote.

When the collaboration between outdoor brand Trakke and Jura Whisky was shared with me, I was instantly intrigued, but learning about the reasons behind why these two companies were coming together made for a more meaningful experience.

ASKET Everyday Essentials

 Wearing - T-Shirt + Sweatshirt c/o ASKET | Barbour Chinos | Watch c/o Farer | Glint Glasses

Though their unique measurement system, ASKET's aim is to make buying everyday essentials a whole load easier. Identifying that the "one measurement fits all" shtick doesn't wash is the easy bit, but ASKET have advanced on that issue a step further. Last month the Swedish brand introduced a sizing plan, which is applied across their new product range. Sticking to timeless basics; the T-Shirt + the Sweatshirt (and soon to add the Oxford Shirt), each being available in three colours - white, navy + grey melange - with a total size 15 combinations per piece.

I'm left in constant frustration with sizes; sleeves being too baggy,  t-shirts making me look like I'm in a Cribs tribute act, necks not being high enough, and fabrics being poorly made, I'm picky, sure, but I'm not one to settle for something that just doesn't meet a certain standard. While ASKET are yet to offer varying neck and sleeve types, the addition of a length choice is a much welcomed one. 

The T-Shirt is made from 180g combed Egyptian cotton, and The Sweatshirt features a 380/sqm Loopback knit construction, both being made in Portugal. For more information visit ASKET.

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Giveaway | Tickets to Explore Glasgow c/o Enterprise

Last month, we were lucky enough to visit Liverpool (view our City Guide here), courtesy of Enterprise, Official Rent-A-Car of the UEFA Europa League, to explore the city and get a VIP match day experience. Now Enterprise Rent-A-Car is offering Buckets & Spades readers the chance to explore another one of the UK's most famous cities - Glasgow!

To be in with a chance of winning VIP Match Day Assist courtesy of Enterprise Rent-A-Car, for Celtic FC vs. AFC Ajax (26th November, at Celtic Park) in the UEFA Europa League, with exclusive seats, chauffeur driven, hotel, hospitality and even post-match press conference access, simply head to our Instagram page and LIKE this image!

Terms + Conditions can be found here. Best of luck.

The winner of this giveaway is Loft Trading. Full details here.

City Guide | 4 Hours in Edinburgh

It seems we're starting to make a habit of spending half days in different cities - it was only earlier in August that we spent four hours in Manchester. This time we're back with a six hour guide to one of our most loved cities in the UK. Edinbugh.

With a spare few hours to keep ourselves busy on the day after our trip around Scotland with The Last Great Malts tour, we decided to lay off the whiskies for one afternoon and explore the affectionately dubbed, Old Smokey. You can listen to our Edinburgh podcast below:

Six hours wouldn't do the city justice, but you can cover some decent ground if you don't get too distracted by Edinbugh Castle - I'd suggest dedicating a whole extra day to the historical side of the city. But as we'd done that previous we decided to search for the best independent stores, coffee shops, and food and drink in the area.

Straight after recording another "award-winning" podcast and a browse in the best joke shop around, we started the day off at Cairngorm Coffee. A sweet little independent coffee shop that sits beneath a set of unassuming steps just off George Street. Dimly lit, with a traditional trader's decor, and beans supplied by Brighton's Small Batch Coffee. The iPads built into the tables was a neat touch too.

Straight after the caffeine hit we visited our friends at The Brotique; a men's lifestyle store stocking grooming products, stationery, leather goods, watches, and music + tech accessories, from brands such as Bellroy, Triumph & Disaster, Leuchtturm1917, Bang & Olfsen and Finlay & co. 100 bonus points for the amazing SNES set up in the back room!

 

At this point we had no idea where we'd be grabbing lunch, but after we nipped into the newly opened Kestin Hare, we followed their recommendation to eat at El Cartel. This tiny Mexican restaurant was just what we needed; tacos, deep fried mac + cheese, spicy coleslaw and a healthy slosh of mezcal impressed the pants off us.

Stopping of for a beer was always on the cards, and when we found out via Twitter that Innis & Gunn had recently opened The Beer Kitchen we noted it down for when the time was right. The Edinburgh brewers have been around for yonk, producing interesting largers and ales inspired by old recipes. The kitchen was modern, light, full of wood and full of beer. Winner! They also do food but we didn't have time to squeeze any in.

With time against us we didn't take many more photos, but a few more places worth mentioning are; Brew Lab Coffee, The Whisky Shop, Walker Slater Clothing, the National Museum of Scotland and our hotel for the night, the wonderful G&V.

Have you visited Edinburgh recently? We just can't wait to go back.

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Exploring Scotland on The Last Great Malts Tour

Scotland was never on my radar much before last year. I visited once, maybe twice before, but it had always been that classic case of 'it's local, and it's not going anywhere'. That may be true, but it's not a particularly good excuse for neglecting a bit of exploration - and we're always meaning to broaden our horizons.

Scotland, it turns out, has a lot to offer this blog - stunning countryside, happening towns, whisky galore, and very friendly people. Last year's Glenrothes trip could have filled a number of posts - and we were only there for one night. In the end, we stuck with some damn fine distillery shots and a piece on a VW graveyard.

This year, it was back to almost the same spot in Speyside, on Scotland's East Coast: an area packed with whisky distilleries. And this time, rather than just one, we'd be visiting five, covering six hundred miles of the Scottish Highlands. So, you can probably guess that this post on its own won't really do the experience justice. Sorry in advance for that.