Undiscovered Scotland

 

The Summer Isles Hotel stands in the strung out village of Achiltibuie, some 10 miles north-west of Ullapool as the crow flies, but considerably further along the single track roads that extend west of the A835 in this part of Wester Ross. You can read our hotel review for the Summer Isles Hotel here.

The focus of fine dining at the Summer Isles Hotel is the food, and especially the dinners, served in the hotel restaurant. But this is not the only food, nor the only very good food, served on the premises and it is worth setting out the other options before turning to the dinners.

The Summer Isles Bar, housed in one end of the hotel, has its own pleasant bistro-styled dining area and offers lunches and evening meals. When we visited the evening specials on offer cullen skink, home-made Scotch egg, Summer Isles fish cakes and Scotch beef rib eye. Meanwhile the seafood on offer ranged from Keanabulish oysters through to Achiltibuie grilled langoustines. Well behaved dogs are welcomed in the bar and - it is worth noting - guests are able to choose from bar or restaurant menu during evening service.

This is probably a good moment to talk about the Summer Isles Hotel's strong emphasis on local supply. Most of the seafood served in the hotel is very locally sourced, with much of it being caught almost within sight of the hotel. Many of the vegetables used are grown very locally, and venison and eggs are also from local sources. The hotel has to go slightly further afield for some of its other ingredients, but the policy is to serve food primarily from the Highlands, and wherever possible from Scotland.

The dinners served in the hotel restaurant are what has made the Summer Isles Hotel so famous. What is offered is a seasonal a la carte menu giving guests the opportunity to choose exactly what they wish to eat. Dishes on offer include Achiltibuie langoustine skewers, twice baked Isle of Mull Cheddar souffle, Achiltibuie Seafood mix grill and Highland venison cooked over coals. Desserts include rhubarb souffle, citros pannacotta and dark cholcolate fondant.

Dinner is served from 6pm and guests generally assemble in the lounge beforehand for a pre-dinner drink whilst watching the evening sun set over the Summer Isles. You can read our hotel review for the Summer Isles Hotel here.