When driving through the north of the city, you reach a point where Glasgow abruptly stops. On the Southside, the city centre flows seamlessly into the suburbs, then into other towns without any obvious boundaries or changes. This journey is different.
Travel up the Crow Road, through Anniesland and into the affluent outpost of Bearsden. Keep going and very suddenly the terraced houses, 1930s tenements, fly-overs, traffic lights and rows of shops disappear, replaced by the jagged edges of hills, winding country roads, farm land and sweeping views.
The great outdoors. It’s on our doorstep but most of the time we’re preoccupied with our own neighbourhoods.
Of course, we all know it’s out there – somewhere to go to stretch the legs, get some fresh air and take selfies for Instagram.
You can also venture in this direction when you feel like cake.
Three Sisters Bake in Killearn village is around 30 minutes drive from Glasgow. The cafe is nestled in the modern extension to the village hall.
Ask for a table by the window to take advantage of the impressive view down from the Campsie Fells towards Loch Lomond. You also have an excellent vantage point to observe your neighbours, the sheep in the adjacent field.
This is the second cafe operated by Gillian, Nichola and Linsey Reith alongside their band of friendly and enthusiastic servers, bakers and chefs. The sisters first found success in Quarrier’s Village near Bridge of Weir and have been a presence at pop-up events and markets in Glasgow and across Scotland. They also have a burgeoning wedding cake and catering business with receptions often taking place in Killearn or cakes being delivered to other venues.
Their mantra is fresh, colourful, local food bursting with flavour. It’s a very modern take on the country tearoom offering hearty dishes alongside a selection of delicate confections.
For lunch, there’s a really creative menu to explore. We’re drawn to their Seasonal Heroes section that includes healthy deli salads, quiche made with free range eggs from Corrie Mains farm and tartlets. For a more substantial bite, look for comfort food at its finest with the Hog Roast: slow roast Robertsons of Ardrossan pork shoulder in an apple and shallot gravy, on homebaked focaccia with Galloway Lodge bramley apple and cider chutney and leaves £.8.95.
They excel at simple combinations of complimentary flavours here, like a mature Scottish cheddar, Stornoway black pudding & Galloway Lodge poacher’s pickle toastie on white farmhouse loaf for £6.95 that we’d happily eat every day.
Visitors are encouraged to share and mix and match dishes. We enjoyed picking our way through the Ploughman’s Tasting Board which featured Three Sisters Bake’s rich chicken liver parfait and generous wedges of Carron Lodge brie and cheddar cheese with pickle and thin slices of homebaked wholewheat soda bread.
Then there are the cakes which range from showstopping, beautifully constructed layered treats to classic homemade variations of Scottish staples. We chose the carrot cake and it disappeared in record time.
Three Sisters Bake is the very definition of destination dining, a cafe with a strong sense of place, connected to its rural setting but designed for visitors from Glasgow who want to enjoy some time with friends and family.
There’s also a cookbook, Three Sisters Bake: Delectable Recipes for Everyday, so you can try out their signature cakes at home.
Three Best Cakes From Three Sisters Bake
Wheat free chocolate orange cake
Salted caramel popcorn cake
Double chocolate cake
Find Three Sisters Bake on Facebook or follow them on Twitter.
Three Sisters Bake
Killearn Village Hall
Balfron Road
Killearn
G63 9NL
Tel: 0333 344 7344 (Option 1)
Email: info@threesistersbake.co.uk
Glasgow G63 0NN, UK