my Scotland

Comedian Arabella Veir reveals the places that shaped her soul – from cities to coastal retreats

- ARABELLA WEIR

When we came back to Scotland as kids, we always went to both grannies: one in Melrose and one in Dunfermline.

Melrose was magic. My granny lived in a beautiful house perched above the Tweed. We swam in the river: three kids let loose, utterly unsupervised, which sounds insane now. But it was heaven: drop scones, endless cuddles, no criticism. The only place I experienced true, unconditional love as a child. Years later, when I returned, I visited her old house. I rang the bell and said, “Sorry to bother you, but this was my granny’s house”, and the new owners said, “We've been waiting for you”. Mine and Robert Bruce's hearts are still in Melrose.

Glasgow has grown into one of my favourite cities. I got to know it when working on