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GOOD THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN MOFFAT
MOFFAT MUSEUM, CHURCHGATE
This is a small local museum housed in what was once a bakehouse, whose huge redundant oven still exists inside. It is here that you will learn of Moffat's rise to fame as a spa town, and perhaps of Moffat's fall from grace. Because, if truth be told, almost every small town and village has in some way fallen from grace. Once upon a time each had its own bakery, its own brewery, its own butcher, its own shoemaker, and so on, and often more than one. Nowadays most small towns get their bread and beer and meat and shoes brought in from somewhere else. And we wonder why the roads are so clogged up with traffic.
Amongst all the exhibits, I am particularly fond of one that sits outside. It is 'a reversible bench from a carriage used on the Beattock - Moffat branch railway.' It is evocative of a time when we did things right, when at each tram or railway terminus the conductor would re-set the reversible backs on the seats so that everyone would be facing the direction of travel. Nowadays we can't afford the luxury of having someone do such a thing. The result is carriages with seats facing both forward and backward. There's always someone sitting facing towards everyone else, and whose blank vacant face you have to somehow avoid for the duration of the journey, an impossible task, as we all know, because it is invariably a face belonging to someone with hypnotic powers, an irritating coupon that draws us back again and again and again. Bring back the reversible chair-backs, that's what I say.
This is a small local museum housed in what was once a bakehouse, whose huge redundant oven still exists inside. It is here that you will learn of Moffat's rise to fame as a spa town, and perhaps of Moffat's fall from grace. Because, if truth be told, almost every small town and village has in some way fallen from grace. Once upon a time each had its own bakery, its own brewery, its own butcher, its own shoemaker, and so on, and often more than one. Nowadays most small towns get their bread and beer and meat and shoes brought in from somewhere else. And we wonder why the roads are so clogged up with traffic.
Amongst all the exhibits, I am particularly fond of one that sits outside. It is 'a reversible bench from a carriage used on the Beattock - Moffat branch railway.' It is evocative of a time when we did things right, when at each tram or railway terminus the conductor would re-set the reversible backs on the seats so that everyone would be facing the direction of travel. Nowadays we can't afford the luxury of having someone do such a thing. The result is carriages with seats facing both forward and backward. There's always someone sitting facing towards everyone else, and whose blank vacant face you have to somehow avoid for the duration of the journey, an impossible task, as we all know, because it is invariably a face belonging to someone with hypnotic powers, an irritating coupon that draws us back again and again and again. Bring back the reversible chair-backs, that's what I say.
WHISKY SHOP, MOFFAT WOOLLEN MILL
I am not generally one for such places. There are usually hoards of folk ambling around stretching their legs from a coach trip and generally getting in the way. I have at times questioned this peculiar fascination tourists have for knitted garments, a ponderance that occasionally sees me fully expecting to turn a corner in the countryside to find fields full of cold bald sheep. But that's just me, and there can be no doubt that the items of clothing in such places are of good quality and well priced. In the Whisky Shop there is a small bar where you may have a free sample. If you are in any doubt as to the extent of their charity, you may find it in the notice stuck to the bar. It reads, 'Only three tastings per customer allowed.' Which isn't bad, until you realise that each tasting is but a thimbleful and barely enough to tickle your tonsils. You can, of course, get around the rules. I had my three samples, went to the toilet and roughed up my hair a little, returned for another three samples, walked a few steps and took off my spectacles, then went back for another three free samples, by which time I found I was unable to actually say the phrase, 'Three free samples,' and instead quietly and hopefully pointed towards a bottle of whisky. Worth a look, more so if you have a stock supply of false moustaches and noses in your rucksack.
I am not generally one for such places. There are usually hoards of folk ambling around stretching their legs from a coach trip and generally getting in the way. I have at times questioned this peculiar fascination tourists have for knitted garments, a ponderance that occasionally sees me fully expecting to turn a corner in the countryside to find fields full of cold bald sheep. But that's just me, and there can be no doubt that the items of clothing in such places are of good quality and well priced. In the Whisky Shop there is a small bar where you may have a free sample. If you are in any doubt as to the extent of their charity, you may find it in the notice stuck to the bar. It reads, 'Only three tastings per customer allowed.' Which isn't bad, until you realise that each tasting is but a thimbleful and barely enough to tickle your tonsils. You can, of course, get around the rules. I had my three samples, went to the toilet and roughed up my hair a little, returned for another three samples, walked a few steps and took off my spectacles, then went back for another three free samples, by which time I found I was unable to actually say the phrase, 'Three free samples,' and instead quietly and hopefully pointed towards a bottle of whisky. Worth a look, more so if you have a stock supply of false moustaches and noses in your rucksack.
WALKING IN MOFFAT
Moffat is very much a walkers' town. The tourist office has leaflets offering small walks of a few kilometres that will take you a little out of the town and allow your feet to meet with grass instead of tarmac. If you're a bit fitter there are also leaflets for walks of an hour or more going as far as the Grey Mare's Tail waterfall and the magnificent scenery around the glorious Tibbie Shiels Inn. Or, if you've planned it properly, you could tackle all 212 miles of the Southern Upland Way. It's a funny thing, but on the occasions when I tackle a big trek that ends by the sea, I find that first sight of the water brings floods of tears. As far as long-distance walks go, this one is awesome. But you've got to properly plan the whole thing. Do not leave anything to chance as the risk is too great.
Moffat is very much a walkers' town. The tourist office has leaflets offering small walks of a few kilometres that will take you a little out of the town and allow your feet to meet with grass instead of tarmac. If you're a bit fitter there are also leaflets for walks of an hour or more going as far as the Grey Mare's Tail waterfall and the magnificent scenery around the glorious Tibbie Shiels Inn. Or, if you've planned it properly, you could tackle all 212 miles of the Southern Upland Way. It's a funny thing, but on the occasions when I tackle a big trek that ends by the sea, I find that first sight of the water brings floods of tears. As far as long-distance walks go, this one is awesome. But you've got to properly plan the whole thing. Do not leave anything to chance as the risk is too great.
RATING
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