The Albannach Hotel
Sutherland,
in Scotland’s far north, is a heart-stoppingly beautiful wilderness full of
mist (and often rain), long-abandoned crofting communities, the UK’s highest
sea cliffs (dotted with smugglers’ caves) and fishing villages, including
Lochinver. Here, in a whitewashed 19th century house set within a beautiful walled
garden, Colin Craig and Lesley Crosfield run The Albannach B&B, overlooking the loch and picturesque
village, with the majestic peaks of the Suilven and Canisp mountains towering
above it. Courteous staff and spacious rooms decorated in warm tones with large
comfortable beds and well-fitted bathrooms, make this a great base for a few
days’ sightseeing.
But
The Albannach is more than a fine place to stay; it’s also a great place to
eat. Dinner begins in the conservatory, where guests peruse the excellent wine
list and partake of some pre-dinner nibbles, such as stunning local oysters,
salty, sweet, creamy, freshly shucked and served on a bed of local
seaweed. The emphasis here is firmly on food and wine, with local meat and
seafood, organic vegetables from local crofters, and locally gathered mushrooms
and berries, featuring on the set 5-course menu. Dinner in the beautifully set
dining room is more like a dinner party in a gourmet friend’s home than a
restaurant experience.
For
lunch it’s worth driving out along the twisting single-track road that skirts
Lochs Lurgainn, Bad a’Ghaill and Osgaig under the eye of Stac Pollaidh to
Achiltibuie, and the Summer Isles Hotel restaurant
for a seafood platter of local oysters, langoustine, squat lobster, crab, cured
salmon, mackerel pâté, smoked mackerel and hot smoked salmon, served with
fresh, home-made bread, mayo and butter. (Tel.: + 44 1854 62 2282)
The
Albannach Hotel
Baddidarroch,
Lochinver
Sutherland,
IV27 4LP Scotland
Tel: +44 1571 84 4407