I love heading north to Scotland. Having lived there for four years, it’s always a pleasure to go back, passing through the Borders and watching as the landscapes outside my window get more undulating and dramatic. This month, I was visiting friends who are moving to Stirling – what better excuse for a day trip. Despite being blue skied, and cloudless, there was still snow blanketing the hills on the horizon. A walk into the centre, along tree- and daffodil-lined streets, past parks and up cobbled streets towards the castle was an incredibly pleasurable way to make the most of the spring sunshine. We stopped for lunch at The Birds and the Bees, with fantastic views of the Wallace Monument, before treating ourselves to afternoon tea at The Burgh Coffeehouse: the peppermint slice; yum!