Restaurants & Hotels in Scotland

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Harry's Recommendations : A selection of restaurants and hotels in Scotland

Following various trips to Scotland here are my own personal recommendations, for quality restaurants and for hotels. If you are going to be in the vicinity, I recommend a visit to any of the following:

In Argyll: Roineabhal Country House

Roineabhal (pronounced Ronnaval) is a small guest house, with 3 double rooms available. It's built in the style of a US ranch house, and is run by the owners Roger and Maria Seop. The comfort and quality of the accommodation we found was exceptional, but more important than that was the food! Maria cooks amazing breakfasts, afternoon teas and full dinners (including wine too) for an all-in price. I can honestly say we were overwhelmed by the hospitality we found at Roineabhal - excellent ingredients and appetising choice of dishes. There's plenty to see in the area, but if you just fancy sitting in the rocking chair on the veranda and listening to the burn running by, it's an ideal retreat at a very welcoming price.

Interesting places in surrounding area: Loch Awe, Loch Etive, Inveraray, Mull of Kintyre, Oban, Glen Orchy, Glen Coe.

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Kilchrenan, Taynuilt, Argyll , PA35 1HD
Tel: 01866 833207.
Web: www.roineabhal.com

In Caithness : Forss Country House Hotel

Forss House is situated about 10 mins drive from Scrabster and Thurso, at the top of the right hand bit of Scotland . Overlooking the Atlantic and very near Dunnet Head (northern most point of GB) and the Queen Mother's Castle of Mey. The hotel itself is a very traditional Scots house, with grand staircase, good public rooms and a lovely wee bar run by the treasure that is Anne with every malt whisky on the planet! Very good, locally produced food, ask for the Megram sole if it's available. Great stopover if you're planning to visit Orkney for the day - very much recommended.

Forss, by Thurso, Cathness , Scotland , KW14 7XY
Tel: 01847 861201
Web: www.forsscountryhouse.co.uk

In Durness, Sutherland: Port-na-Con Guest House

A little piece of heaven is Lesley & Ken Black's retreat on Loch Eriboll, on top of the left hand bit of Scotland ! Durness is remote, but overwhelmingly lovely with the most fantastic white, deserted beaches and beautiful blue skies. Port-na-Con was the old customs house and Lesley has turned it into a guest house with 4 comfortable and welcoming double rooms, with a conservatory which has panoramic view of the Loch and surrounding mountains Ben Loyal and Ben Hope. The best part of staying with Lesley is her wonderful meals, for which she is well known in the area. Wonderful cooking, imaginative menus, plus she's happy to prepare dishes on request (we opted for oysters and lobsters one night, caught in the Loch !) While you're here, you must visit Cape Wrath (boat ride and bumpy mini-bus journey over deserted moorlands, mountains and straths!); and the unbelievable Atlantic beach of Sandwood Bay and Durness golf course (you can walk it without playing) the most northerly golf course in GB.

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Loch Eriboll, Sutherland , IV27 4UN
Tel: 01971 511367
Web: www.smoothhound.co.uk/hotels/portnaco.html

In Eskdalemuir, Dumfries and Galloway : Hart Manor Hotel

Hart Manor is a luxury small hotel nestling in the borders, amid beautiful countryside, rolling hills, running streams and delightful peace and quiet. It's run by John and Kath Leadbeater and not only is it a very lovely little hotel with all the comforts you would expect, it is also an antique buyer's dream! John has furnished the place with all manner of beautiful furnishings and porcelain, including antique clocks with chimes you'd never get tired of hearing. Whilst you're deciding on your menu choices for dinner, he'll try and tempt you to buy one of his latest objects!

The food here is quite wonderful, great choice and enormous portions too! In fact Kath has published her own recipe book, plus you can purchase a selection of home-made jams, marmalades, muesli, etc. They have regular customers who come from as far as Sweden just to stay a week, eat everything Kath provides and then go home replete! It's a great base from which to explore Robert Burns country, the very unusual Samye Ling Buddhist monastery just down the road(!), and the lovely Kirkcudbright on the Solway Firth.

Eskdalemuir, Langholm, Dumfrieshire DG13 0QQ
Tel: 013873 73217
Web: www.hartmanor.co.uk