Shopping in Scotland
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Barras on Gallowgate
Glasgow’s flea market, the Barras on Gallowgate, is the living, breathing heart of this city in many respects. It has almost a thousand stalls and people come here just for a wander as much as for shopping, which gives the place a holiday air. The Barras is notorious for designer frauds, so be cautious. Watch your wallet, too.
reviewed
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Greensleeves
If you want to buy a designer dress without breaking the bank, have a flick through the racks at Greensleeves, which specialises in high-quality secondhand clothes, handbags and shoes, many with designer labels.
reviewed
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Mr Wood’s Fossils
Founded by the famous fossil hunter who discovered ‘Lizzie’, the oldest fossil reptile yet discovered, this fascinating speciality shop has a wide range of minerals, gems, fossils and other geological gifts.
reviewed
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Baltic Bookshop
Good for local history books and maps.
reviewed
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James McLaren & Son
Forfar, the county town of Angus, is the home of Scotland’s answer to the Cornish pasty: the famous Forfar bridie. A shortcrust pastry turnover filled with cooked minced beef, onion and gravy, it was invented in Forfar in the early 19th century. If you fancy trying one, head for James McLaren & Son, a family bakery bang in the centre of Forfar, which has been selling tasty, home-baked bridies since 1893.
reviewed
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Jo Malone
This sweet-smelling palace of posh cosmetics has in-store experts offering a ‘fragrance-combining’ consultation that will allow you to choose your perfect perfume, along with a range of other scents to ‘layer’ over it. Try the original nutmeg and ginger bath oil that made Ms Malone famous, or other intriguing combinations such as lime, basil and mandarin, or amber and lavender.
reviewed
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Inverawe Smokehouse & Fishery
Aficionados of smoked salmon should pay a visit to Inverawe Smokehouse & Fishery, 2 miles east of Taynuilt, where local salmon (and trout, herring and venison) is smoked over split oak logs. There’s also an angling school and trout fishery where you can learn to fly-fish, and a tearoom where you can sample the smokery’s mouthwatering produce.
reviewed
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Lime Blue
Put on your shades and tighten your grip on that purse – you’ll be dazzled by both the merchandise and the pricetags in this elegant and clean-cut jewellery emporium, with diamond-encrusted necklaces and rings by Leo Pizzo, finely crafted brooches by Picchiotti and watches by Versace. Downstairs you’ll find a broad range of silver jewellery, crystalware and other luxury goods.
reviewed
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Shilasdair Yarns
The couple who run this place, a few miles north of Stein, moved to Skye in 1971 and now raise sheep, hand-spin woollen yarn, and hand-dye a range of wools and silks using natural dyes. You can see the dyeing process and try hand-spinning in the exhibition area behind the studio, which sells finished knitwear as well as yarns.
reviewed
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Princes Square Shopping Centre
In a lovingly restored listed building dating back to 1841, Princes Square is the shopping centre for those who like a touch of class with their retail experience. Posh boutiques, jewellery stores and speciality shops are spread over five levels; then, when you're all shopped out, you can take refuge in one of the trendy restaurants or bars.
reviewed
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Armstrong’s
Armstrong’s is an Edinburgh fashion institution (established in 1840, no less), a quality vintage clothes emporium offering everything from elegant 1940s dresses to funky 1970s flares. As well as having retro fashion, it’s a great place to hunt for ‘previously owned’ kilts and Harris tweed, or to seek inspiration for that fancy-dress party.
reviewed
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Barras
Glasgow's flea market, the Barras on Gallowgate, is the living, breathing heart of the city in many respects. It has almost a thousand stalls and people come here just for a wander as much as for their shopping, which gives the place a holiday air. The Barras is notorious for selling designer frauds, so be cautious. Watch your wallet, too.
reviewed
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J
Helen Bateman
From sparkly stilettos and sleek satin pumps to 1950s-style open-sided court shoes and soft suede loafers, Helen Bateman’s shop has every kind of handmade shoe and boot you could wish for. You can even order customised satin shoes – slingbacks, pumps or kitten heels – dyed to any colour and decorated with whatever your heart desires.
reviewed
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Cruise
An ornately corniced and plastered foyer leads into three floors of white-painted, minimalist art-gallery-like decor. This and a second outlet at nearby 80 George St show off the best of mainstream designer labels for men and women including Paul Smith, Jasper Conran, Hugo Boss, Joseph Tricot, Armani and Dolce & Gabbana.
reviewed
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Annie Smith
Annie Smith’s back-of-the-shop studio creates beautiful and original contemporary jewellery in silver and 18-carat gold, with beaten and worked surfaces that reflect natural textures such as rock, ice and leaves. If there’s nothing in the shop that takes your fancy, you can commission Ms Smith to make something to order.
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Forbidden Planet
This place stocks a wide range of sci-fi comics, graphic novels, DVDs and T-shirts, as well as Star Trek, Simpsons and South Park merchandise. It’s also the place for Alien vs Predator action figures, Bleeding Edge dolls and Kurt Cobain lunchboxes (if you have to ask, you don’t wanna know…).
reviewed
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Underground Solush’n
A paradise for searchers of new and secondhand vinyl, this place has thousands of records – techno, house, jungle, hip-hop, R&B, funk, soul and 45s – plus a (smaller) selection of CDs, T-shirts, videos, books and merchandise. It’s also a good place to find out what’s happening on the local music/clubbing scene.
reviewed
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One World Shop
Stocks a wide range of handmade crafts from developing countries, including paper goods, rugs, textiles, jewellery, ceramics, accessories, food and drink, all from accredited fair-trade suppliers. During the festival period (when the shop stays open till 6pm) there's a crafts fair in the churchyard outside.
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Whistles
Crisp white and hot pink décor sets off the racks of designer clothes for women in this branch of the well-known London-based store. Lots of little black dresses here – just the place if you’re looking for something a little more formal for that special occasion – as well as quirky and off-beat styles.
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Scottish Gallery
Home to Edinburgh’s leading art dealers, Aitken Dott, this private gallery exhibits and sells paintings by contemporary Scottish artists and the masters of the late 19th and early 20th centuries (including the Scottish Colourists), as well as a wide range of ceramics, glassware, jewellery and textiles.
reviewed
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Armani
Designer of choice to Hollywood's richest and most beautiful, favourite of magazine style editors around the world, and all-round Italian design legend, Giorgio Armani's only Scottish Emporio is, appropriately enough, located in Glasgow's upmarket Italian Centre. Go on, splash out - you're on holiday!
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Peckham’s
Peckham’s is a busy neighbourhood deli selling all the usual deli stuff: smoked salmon, gravadlax and kippers, all kinds of cheeses, freshly made bread and sandwiches, and organic veggies. There’s also a great selection of wines and whiskies, and you can buy booze here until 10pm, seven days a week.
reviewed
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Aha Ha Ha
The guys at Aha Ha Ha have enough plastic poo, fake vomit, stink bombs and remote-control electronic farting machines to keep your average Dennis the Menace happy for a month or more. It’s also a good place to go if you’re looking for Halloween masks, costumes, magic tricks and practical jokes.
reviewed
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Crombie’s
Crombie’s is a top-quality butcher shop where the good folk of Edinburgh go to stock up on prime Scottish beef and lamb, and superb homemade haggis. It’s also famous for its gourmet sausages, with almost three dozen varieties ranging from wild boar and apricot to basil, beef and blackberry.
reviewed
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Green Welly Stop
The Green Welly Stop is a shrine to tourism. This little shopping complex has a very good (if slightly pricey) outdoor store, ideal if you’re looking for supplies before you grapple with your Munro. It’s also a good fuel stop, with hot meals served all day.
reviewed