The Drouthy Cobbler, Elgin

Has moved on since Roger’s visit in 2010, this long narrow-roomed pub is located up a side alley, you need to look out for the A board at the outside of a small entrance way. On a gentle incline with a wood floor, exposed stone wall and the odd bit of lightly painted plasterboard. Three on, Cairngorm Trade Winds (good), Orkney Dark Island (exceptional) and a GK Halloween beer. Beware that there no halves, only schooners and pints for some unfathomable reason and on the lurchingly expensive side. Live music (entrance charge) and food. We ate here and whilst it wasn’t exactly budget it was clearly home cooked and you didn't want for portion size either. There’s little in Elgin for the daytripper, but this one’s worth a punt if you do alight and feel flush.

Hidden away in a small alley reached through an anonymous archway, and no signage on the pub itself either, so this one is hard to find if you don't spot the small boards by the High Street. However, once there, so find a surprisingly modern bar / restaurant inside the traditional-looking building. Most of the tables were being used by lunchtime diners, but there are also a number of wooden benches outside. No sign of real ale at first, until you spot three handpumps tucked away in a back corner. I found Ossian, Lia Fail and Cairngorm Autumn Nuts (in good form, but so it should be at £4.40 for a pint, with only schooner prices listed on the chalk-board).