⚓ Scottish AnchoragesCharles Warlow

Eating and drinking out

The Crinan Basin café
The Crinan Basin café

Here in alphabetical order of anchorage are some cafés, restaurants, hotels and pubs that I personally like — either because of the good food and drink which need not necessarily be expensive, or the location, and usually but not always the feeling that there is someone in command, ideally the owner.  Plus some which I have heard have good reputations. On reflection this is an amazing list given the (very out of date) reputation that Scotland is not a place for good food. Many of the restaurants take great pride in buying local and what a great selection there is from fish to the venison, and from langoustines to the raspberries.

But beware, some of these places do tend to come and go, ans some are closed on several days during the week. Check on their websites or telephone before setting forth in the dinghy in the pouring rain. And in the summer book ahead as they often get very full. 


Achnacroish, Lismore: Isle of Lismore Café

Ardbeg, Islay: the distillery restaurant, lovely building too

Ardantrive Bay, Firth of Lorne: Waypoint Restaurant 

Ardfern, Loch Craignish: Galley of Lorne for the real ale more than the food, the café across the road should be reopening soon

Ardminish Bay, Gigha: Boathouse Restaurant

Arinagour, Coll: the Coll Hotel, highly boatie friendly, and the village café

Asknish Bay, Loch Melfort: Loch Melfort Hotel

Bowmore, Islay: Lochside Hotel

Calgary Bay, West Mull: café in a great artistic setting

Canna: tea room/café 

Craighouse, Jura: the Jura Hotel, the Antlers

Craignure, Sound of Mull: Craignure Inn, Arlene's coffee shop

Crinan, Firth of Lorne: the café, and Crinan Hotel

Dunstaffnage, Lower Loch Linnhe: Poppies

Eigg: Galmisdale Bay Café and Bar

Easdale, Firth of Lorne: Oyster Bar and Restaurant, Puffer Bar and Restaurant  

Fearnach Bay, Loch Melfort: the Gunpowder Kitchen and Bar

Fionnphort, West Mull: Ninth Wave Restaurant

Fort William, Upper Loch Linnhe: The Crannog, and The Lime Tree

Inverie, North of Ardnamurchan: The Old Forge

Iona: Heritage Centre

Isle of Eriska, Loch Creran: Isle of Eriska Hotel, posh, very posh

Kentallen Bay, Lower Loch Linnhe: Holly Tree Hotel

Kilfinichen, West Mull: Tiroran House Hotel

Loch a'Choire, Lower Loch Linnhe: Boathouse Restaurant

Loch Aline, Sound of Mull: Whitehouse Restaurant

Loch Leven: Seafood Café

Little Horseshoe Bay, Firth of Lorne: Kerrera Tea Garden

Muck: Tearoom and Gallanach Lodge

Oban: Ee-Usk, Piazza, The Waterfront, Coast, Manor House Hotel, The Oban Inn

Poll an Dùnain, Loch Leven: Loch Leven Hotel

Port Appin, Lower loch Linnhe: Airds Hotel, and The Pierhouse

Port Charlotte Hotel, Islay

Puilladobrhain, Firth of Lorne: Tigh an Truish

Saulmore Bay, Lower Loch Linnhe: Oyster Inn

Scalasaig, Colonsay: Colonsay Hotel, and The Pantry

South Ballachulish, Loch Leven: The Laroch

Strontian, Loch Sunart: Kilcamb Lodge Hotel

Tayvallich, Loch Sween: the coffee shop and the Tayvallich Inn

Tobermory, Sound of Mull: The Mishnish, The Chip Van, An Tobar, and Café Fish

Ulva Ferry, West Mull: The Boathouse Café, lovely

Loch Tarbert, Kintyre: Starfish

Some other places which are further away from anchorages might be prepared to ferry you back and forwards provided you spend your money with them. Try phoning.

A suggested gastronomic cruise to hard to get to places without a boat: the Whitehouse Restaurant at Loch Aline to Tobermory and Café Fish, to the Coll Hotel and ending with the other Boat House on Ulva. 

A more up market cruise north from Oban and back for the serious foodie: the Waterfront in Oban to the Boathouse at Loch a'Choire, to the Pier House at Port Appin to the Loch Leven Seafood Café to Crannog at Fort William to Airds Hotel at Port Appin and back to Oban and Ee-Usk!