Scottish Fare in Skye — With Love, Kate

I won’t lie. Aside from a much-anticipated meal at Michelin-starred The Three Chimneys, we did not have the highest of gastronomical hopes for the Isle of Skye. Breathtaking scenery and isolated beauty were what we knew of this part of the world prior to visiting. And while that is what you should travel here for, the Isle of Skye definitely has its fulfilling gems.

Nestled along the shores of the Loch Dunvegan with a twinkling Michelin star, The Three Chimneys is Skye’s food offering to the gods. Conveniently (and strategically) located down the hill from our cottage, we ambled along for Sammy’s 30th having skipped lunch in favour of birthday cake in order to ensure rumbling tummies. The restaurant is in an old, converted cottage, with exposed walls and low-slung wooden beams. It is warm and inviting, hushed and relaxed conversations fill the rooms, with an air of occasion that upholds the kitchen’s status. Every detail of this destination is an ode to Skye, with thistles decorating the table and Harris tweed upholstery completing the chairs.

We all opted for the dinner menu, which at £65 for three exceptional courses with all the trimmings was the find of the year. Each plate was an unexpected delight, brimming with local flavours such as the Gorse Flower Brûlée and Dunvegan Crab. The meal was kicked off with a trio of rich mousses - the smoked blue cheese went down all too quickly. Take the opportunity to try a bit of Haggis - it comes served looking like a deep-fried meatball, and is so palatable you will wonder what all the fuss was about. That said, I considered the box ticked after a little taste from someone else’s plate.

Away from the rustic elegance of The Three Chimneys we found that daytime outings were usually in search of fish & chips or freshly baked scones and cakes if we weren’t cooking at the cottage. One of our favourites quickly became The Oyster Shed, which you will find tucked away around the corner from the Tallisker distillery. The boys - a shade of lush from their tour - were more than happy to top off the afternoon’s antics with freshly grilled scallops and piping hot fries. There is a cavernous grocers selling local wares, and we took home a delicious sauce to accompany the salmon for dinner that night.

Our favourite cake and coffee find was tucked away along a narrow, winding road sandwiched between crumbling barns and gleaming white cottages. The Red Roof Gallery is well worth the drive, and is conveniently on the way to Neist Point which we had explored earlier. Options of cherry bakewell, date and treacle scones and gooey lemon slice will have you deliberating, culminating in a quasi trade agreement where you each order a different sweet and begrudgingly share. Being city-folk, we were in need of a great flat white, which admittedly was a bit tough to find. Red Roof will sort you out perfectly.