This is a newly opened coffeehouse in the small town of Bo'ness. At the moment it's pretty brave to…read morestart a business in Bo'ness's town centre (which is actually on the edge of the town, on the banks of the River Forth), since - along with every other town centre in Scotland - it has been in decline for some time. Nonetheless, Bo'ness Bakery seems to be an extension of decades-old Bo'ness institution Horne's the Baker's. And it deserves success. It's a well staffed coffee-house with baked goods of the quality you'd expect from a family baker. Cakes are made in-house and are great in texture. Also on offer are filled rolls and sandwiches, paninis, bagels, 'breakfast' rolls with hot fillings, and a range of coffees and teas. The house speciality seems to be pancakes with bacon and maple syrup. The coffeehouse ranges from practically empty to practically full - depending on the time of day. It has wi-fi and its clientele seem to be of all ages. The interior is immaculately clean and decorated with fresh flowers. Staff are attentive and efficient. I hope people support this coffeehouse, since Bo'ness needs one!

If you love great coffee and great baked goods, Aran is an absolute must!…read more We just wanted a little caffeine and sugar pick-me-up, so we didn't dine in or explore much of their menu. Their bakery case is clearly labeled with what's gluten-free, what's dairy-free, and what's vegan. We got empire cookies that were absolutely lovely (we should have gotten two more to bring home!): buttery shortbreads filled with jam, topped with icing, and a sugared jelly candy. We enjoyed them with an iced Americano (soya for me, oat for my partner) sitting outside in the sun at the Cross Well. While they were SUPER busy on a midweek day, the staff was friendly, patient, and went out of their way to find us to hand us our cookies and drinks when they were ready!

Food is fresh and flavorful. Cozy, coffee-shop atmosphere. Dog-friendly. Charming shops close by.read more

Linlithgow has long been known for its wells. There's an old rhyme which begins, 'Glasgow for…read morebells, Lithgow for wells' There are several ancient wells still to be found here, including Dog Well, New Well, Lion Well and St Michael's Well. This last is surmounted with the 1720 (perhaps earlier) statue of St Michael with the words underneath, St Michael is kinde to strangers. It's very worn (as you'd expect) and isn't used as a well any more. The saint is holding a shield bearing the town's coat of arms: a black dog, chained to an oak tree on an island, probably in the middle of Linlithgow Loch. St Michael is the patron saint of Linlithgow Church and also the burgh.