The Cottage Guidebook
Food scene
Some of our favourite local places for coffee, cake, lunch, dinner and breakfast. Some are in walking distance, but most do need a car to get to and have beautiful sights to see around them too.
Our closest place to eat and easy to walk to along the Peffery Way (old steam train line) into Strathpeffer. Tasty homecooked meals, cakes and coffee until early evening. Friendly local staff. Sit on the old station railway platform or inside. There is a small museum, The Highland Childhood Museum and, and a boutique gift shop on the platform too.
Museum Café
Our closest place to eat and easy to walk to along the Peffery Way (old steam train line) into Strathpeffer. Tasty homecooked meals, cakes and coffee until early evening. Friendly local staff. Sit on the old station railway platform or inside. There is a small museum, The Highland Childhood Museum and, and a boutique gift shop on the platform too.
A simple lunch and dinner menu plus bakery goods. Perfect woodfired pizza from 5pm, as well as a really lovely bakery and cafe throughout the day. A good selection of gin, beer and wine to have in or buy to take out. A one mile walk from the cottage, in Strathpeffer village. Closed at 10pm and all Sunday.
7 locals recommend
Deli In The Square
1 The SquareA simple lunch and dinner menu plus bakery goods. Perfect woodfired pizza from 5pm, as well as a really lovely bakery and cafe throughout the day. A good selection of gin, beer and wine to have in or buy to take out. A one mile walk from the cottage, in Strathpeffer village. Closed at 10pm and all Sunday.
Wonderful afternoon teas in a grand setting. Really nice for lunch and dinner too, special but affordable. Possible to walk here from the cottage on woodland tracks, about 4 miles away in Contin.
10 locals recommend
Coul House Hotel
Wonderful afternoon teas in a grand setting. Really nice for lunch and dinner too, special but affordable. Possible to walk here from the cottage on woodland tracks, about 4 miles away in Contin.
Jacobite Restaurant serves bar meals and has a main dining room (weddings can book this out on a Saturday so do check). Serving every evening 5pm to 9pm, prides itself on local Scottish produce and menu theme. The hotel is huge but is set in nice gardens and has been refurbished lately.
Ben Wyvis Hotel
Jacobite Restaurant serves bar meals and has a main dining room (weddings can book this out on a Saturday so do check). Serving every evening 5pm to 9pm, prides itself on local Scottish produce and menu theme. The hotel is huge but is set in nice gardens and has been refurbished lately.
Tasty homecooked meals in the clubhouse lounge and bar. You don't need to play golf to use the clubhouse
for a drink or meal. Great views of The Strath.
Twilight round of 18 holes only £20, golf buggies for hire.
6 locals recommend
Strathpeffer Spa Golf Club
Golf Course RoadTasty homecooked meals in the clubhouse lounge and bar. You don't need to play golf to use the clubhouse
for a drink or meal. Great views of The Strath.
Twilight round of 18 holes only £20, golf buggies for hire.
Our very own unique theatre and music venue with some well known acts often playing here such as KT Tunstell, Tom Walker, Jake Bugg, Skippanish. Serves Sunday lunch on certain days.
8 locals recommend
Strathpeffer Pavilion
Our very own unique theatre and music venue with some well known acts often playing here such as KT Tunstell, Tom Walker, Jake Bugg, Skippanish. Serves Sunday lunch on certain days.
Great views as well as perfect breakfast (poached eggs and smashed avo the best) and lunch. Located behind Dingwall.
8 locals recommend
Highland Farm Cafe
Great views as well as perfect breakfast (poached eggs and smashed avo the best) and lunch. Located behind Dingwall.
We love this little Thai restaurant in Dingwall. It has not got many seats so might be good to book first, or take-away.
16 locals recommend
Miss Ying Thai Food & Shop
16 Tulloch StWe love this little Thai restaurant in Dingwall. It has not got many seats so might be good to book first, or take-away.
Courtyard Coffee Shop & Cafe
Harpers CtGood coffee/tea and cake, and lunches in Dingwall
Nice visitors centre and tours. Our most local distillery by Muir of Ord of The Singleton. Cake, sharing platters, coffee and lots of whisky!
43 locals recommend
Glen Ord Distillery Visitor Centre & Whisky Shop
A832Nice visitors centre and tours. Our most local distillery by Muir of Ord of The Singleton. Cake, sharing platters, coffee and lots of whisky!
Brilliant for breakfast and lunch, serves up until 6pm and with a great farm shop and deli attached. Lovely views over the water too. Located near Evanton.
55 locals recommend
The Storehouse
Brilliant for breakfast and lunch, serves up until 6pm and with a great farm shop and deli attached. Lovely views over the water too. Located near Evanton.
Allangrange Arms
54 Millbank RdGood country pub with food. Munlochy.
IV10 Cafe Bar Deli
18 High StGorgeous for lunch or dinner, or just a coffee. Fortrose.
Rosemarkie Beach
Kincurdie DriveCasual daytime food in a cafe, right on the beach in Rosemarkie
Slaughterhouse Coffee
Coffee ummmmmmm. Cromarty.
This is an organic brewery about 12 miles away, taste and buy some really good local brews. Near Munlochy.
33 locals recommend
Black Isle Brewing Co
This is an organic brewery about 12 miles away, taste and buy some really good local brews. Near Munlochy.
Cafe Biagiotti
11 High StLovely for coffee, pastries and lunch. Beauly.
Really good deli food and perfect breakfasts and lunches. Also serve wine. Beauly.
37 locals recommend
Corner on the Square
1 High StReally good deli food and perfect breakfasts and lunches. Also serve wine. Beauly.
Really really the best place to visit Loch Ness from, this pub sits right on the shores and has perfect walks from it. Dores, on the southern shores of Loch Ness.
74 locals recommend
The Dores Inn
Really really the best place to visit Loch Ness from, this pub sits right on the shores and has perfect walks from it. Dores, on the southern shores of Loch Ness.
Perfect spot after a beach walk for food or coffee, beer, wine etc
11 locals recommend
The Courthouse Cafe Dornoch
Castle StreetPerfect spot after a beach walk for food or coffee, beer, wine etc
Best place for fish and chips, 40 minutes away in Ullapool but worth the outing. The takeaway bit is the best value.
6 locals recommend
The Seaforth Bar and Restaurant
Quay StreetBest place for fish and chips, 40 minutes away in Ullapool but worth the outing. The takeaway bit is the best value.
Pretty Plockton is well worth the drive and there are a few choices for eating. It's also a beautiful train ride from Dingwall, on a limited schedule.
48 locals recommend
Plockton Inn
Innes StreetPretty Plockton is well worth the drive and there are a few choices for eating. It's also a beautiful train ride from Dingwall, on a limited schedule.
A bustling cinema and live arts centre in Inverness by the river. Also serves food.
161 locals recommend
Eden Court Inverness
Bishops RoadA bustling cinema and live arts centre in Inverness by the river. Also serves food.
Perfect mix of good food, good value, great atmosphere. Need to book! Inverness
141 locals recommend
The Mustard Seed Restaurant
16 Fraser StPerfect mix of good food, good value, great atmosphere. Need to book! Inverness
Hootananny
67 Church StThe place to go for live scottish music. Inverness
Very popular for a meal out, slightly pricier than average for a reason; delicious and a nice atmosphere. By Inverness Castle. Need to book.
82 locals recommend
Cafe One
75 Castle StVery popular for a meal out, slightly pricier than average for a reason; delicious and a nice atmosphere. By Inverness Castle. Need to book.
Higher end, delicious dining by the riverside in Inverness. Need to book.
123 locals recommend
Rocpool
1 Ness WalkHigher end, delicious dining by the riverside in Inverness. Need to book.
Beautiful and interesting places
Our favourite places to visit in the area. All have beautiful scenery and things to do or see.
A local market town with all the amenities you need, such as supermarkets, bakery, butcher, car repair, fuel, public swimming pool, gym, library, hardware store. 4 miles from the cottage. It also an a good (and free) local area museum (run by volunteers so shorter opening hours).
15 locals recommend
Dingwall
A local market town with all the amenities you need, such as supermarkets, bakery, butcher, car repair, fuel, public swimming pool, gym, library, hardware store. 4 miles from the cottage. It also an a good (and free) local area museum (run by volunteers so shorter opening hours).
The long hill in front of the cottage. There is a Pictish Fort ruin at the top and great views of the area and Loch Ussie.
Knockfarrel
The long hill in front of the cottage. There is a Pictish Fort ruin at the top and great views of the area and Loch Ussie.
A town about 10 miles away with a very pretty square, places to eat and an ancient cathedral ruin.
34 locals recommend
Beauly
A town about 10 miles away with a very pretty square, places to eat and an ancient cathedral ruin.
Spot dolphins, walk miles along the beach in both directions and get a great hot chocolate. Famous lighthouse at one end where it is common to see dolphins at high tide. Our most local seaside beach, 35 minutes drive.
32 locals recommend
Rosemarkie
Spot dolphins, walk miles along the beach in both directions and get a great hot chocolate. Famous lighthouse at one end where it is common to see dolphins at high tide. Our most local seaside beach, 35 minutes drive.
A historic harbour village by the sea with good cafes and gift shops, and close to Rosemarkie beach. Fortrose Cathedral is an interesting ruin from the 1200's.
13 locals recommend
Fortrose
A historic harbour village by the sea with good cafes and gift shops, and close to Rosemarkie beach. Fortrose Cathedral is an interesting ruin from the 1200's.
A pretty village by the sea at the tip of the Black Isle, with lovely cafes, pubs and walks. It has a cute arts scene going on too, with a gallery studio, antique shop, pottery, a few boutiques. There is even a Stevenson lighthouse! Dolphin spotting trips leave from here.
The giant rigs sit on the Firth for repair here, which either adds interest for visitors or annoys many locals!
33 locals recommend
Cromarty
A pretty village by the sea at the tip of the Black Isle, with lovely cafes, pubs and walks. It has a cute arts scene going on too, with a gallery studio, antique shop, pottery, a few boutiques. There is even a Stevenson lighthouse! Dolphin spotting trips leave from here.
The giant rigs sit on the Firth for repair here, which either adds interest for visitors or annoys many locals!
Loch Glass
Remote and beautiful loch for walking or mountain biking.
30 minutes by car from us. This is a very small city, easy and enjoyable to walk around and with many places to eat and drink, walk along the riverfront and see old buildings with lots of history. Don't miss The Islands.
165 locals recommend
Inverness
30 minutes by car from us. This is a very small city, easy and enjoyable to walk around and with many places to eat and drink, walk along the riverfront and see old buildings with lots of history. Don't miss The Islands.
A fantastic museum and huge area for walking the battlefield site. Nice cafe too.
Culloden Battlefield
A fantastic museum and huge area for walking the battlefield site. Nice cafe too.
The best place to go when you want to see Loch Ness. Popular wild swim spot. Walk along the waters edge for a good mile and on into ancient forest, along the riverside, all the way to Inverness if you wish.
(It is much better than Drumnadrochit for lochside access, which is a coach tour destination and also hard to get down to the loch edge - but Drum is also a nice spot to stop for the village itself).
21 locals recommend
Dores
The best place to go when you want to see Loch Ness. Popular wild swim spot. Walk along the waters edge for a good mile and on into ancient forest, along the riverside, all the way to Inverness if you wish.
(It is much better than Drumnadrochit for lochside access, which is a coach tour destination and also hard to get down to the loch edge - but Drum is also a nice spot to stop for the village itself).
The more touristy place to visit Loch Ness on the north shore. Nice places to eat and the home of Urqhart Castle which is a really fun place to visit to learn about the history of the area.
21 locals recommend
Drumnadrochit
The more touristy place to visit Loch Ness on the north shore. Nice places to eat and the home of Urqhart Castle which is a really fun place to visit to learn about the history of the area.
Outdoor pursuits heaven in the Cairngorms. Loch, mountain, river, glen, it's all easy to reach from here and the town is fine for all amenities; lots of outdoor pursuits shops and eating choices.
Hire bikes, skiing equipment, canoes, paddle boards etc
64 locals recommend
Aviemore
Outdoor pursuits heaven in the Cairngorms. Loch, mountain, river, glen, it's all easy to reach from here and the town is fine for all amenities; lots of outdoor pursuits shops and eating choices.
Hire bikes, skiing equipment, canoes, paddle boards etc
Something a bit different in a beautiful setting! Aviemore
78 locals recommend
Cairngorm Reindeer Herd
Something a bit different in a beautiful setting! Aviemore
So beautiful, a huge sandy beach, framed by mountain and pines, on a on a pristine loch. Great to swim from or hire a paddle board or kayak here. Also a great base to walk into the hills from.
81 locals recommend
Loch Morlich
So beautiful, a huge sandy beach, framed by mountain and pines, on a on a pristine loch. Great to swim from or hire a paddle board or kayak here. Also a great base to walk into the hills from.
Gorgeous loch to swim or hire equipment. Also has a dry ski slope.
47 locals recommend
Loch Insh Outdoor Centre
Gorgeous loch to swim or hire equipment. Also has a dry ski slope.
Ullapool
Wonderful scenery, places to eat and drink and more of a West Coast vibe
Gairloch
Go to Big Sands beach and visit the quaint harbour in Gairloch
A town with character and a beautiful sandy beach with walking in every direction. Plenty of food options locally.
66 locals recommend
Nairn Beach
A town with character and a beautiful sandy beach with walking in every direction. Plenty of food options locally.