Latest news with #Ardnamurchan
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
First foot passenger fare approved for Corran Ferry
A foot passenger fare will be introduced for the first time on Europe's busiest single-vessel car Council said a £2 charge could generate £20,000 a year on its Corran Ferry service in crossing of Loch Linnhe's Corran Narrows carries about 10,000 foot passengers alongside 270,000 cars and 11,000 commercial vehicles each council's economy and infrastructure committee approved the new fare, saying it would "contribute to the sustainability of this vital transport link". The fare will only apply to passengers aged 23 to 60 years charge will come into effect in the summer and will include cyclists, although there will be no extra charge for the previously agreed to a 10% increase on vehicle fares in crossing links the wider Lochaber area with communities in the Ardnamurchan peninsula in the alternative journey by road around Loch Linnhe takes about two hours.
Scotsman
6 days ago
- Business
- Scotsman
Ardnamurchan unveil ‘cheeky' The Midgie whisky for 2025
After a successful debut last year, Ardnamurchan's The Midgie whisky is back for summer 2025, and it's going global. The team at the Highland distillery have announced their delight at the global release of its mischievous summer dram. Following its sell-out UK debut in 2024, 16,500 bottles of The Midgie whisky will begin buzzing their way out of their warehouses and into whisky glasses around the world. Distilled and matured with care and a cheeky sense of Highland humour, this year's Midgie is a lively marriage of peated and unpeated spirit distilled in 2017, 2018 and 2019, matured in a combination of Bourbon barrels and Port casks. Bottled at a robust 48% ABV, it promises a balanced bite – just like its namesake – with sweet, smoky, savoury and summer flower notes that linger longer than a summer evening on the peninsula. The Midgie 2025 is expected to fly off UK shelves at an RRP of £55 and will be landing in markets across the world from June. True to Ardnamurchan style, each bottle comes equipped with a QR code on the back label, letting you dive deep into the whisky's origins, cask breakdown, and everything you didn't know you needed to know about one of nature's smallest but most persistent nuisances. 'Launching for its second season, the Ardnamurchan Midgie Single Malt is spreading its wings further than ever before. "A frenzy of tropical and fresh summer fruits combine with our West Highland maritime profile, adding persistence and bite,' said Alex Bruce, managing director of Adelphi Distillery ltd. 'Whether you're sitting by a loch in Scotland or sweating it out in a summer city halfway around the world, you're officially on notice: The Midgie is coming. And it's delicious.' Ardnamurchan celebrated 10 years in operation at the end of 2024 with a special anniversary bottling of a 10 year old whisky. The business also teamed up with luxury watch manufacturer Marloe to release the Glenbeg Blue set, which included a special single cask bottling presented in a case alongside a special edition watch.
BBC News
23-05-2025
- BBC News
First foot passenger fare proposed for Lochaber's Corran Ferry
A foot passenger fare could be introduced for the first time on Europe's busiest single-vessel car Council said a £2 charge could generate £20,516 a year on its Corran Ferry service in five minute crossing of Loch Linnhe's Corran Narrows carries about 270,000 cars and 11,000 commercial vehicles a agreed to a 10% increase on vehicle fares in March, but left a decision on foot passengers to next week's economy and infrastructure committee. In a report, officials said the £2 fare was considered to be aged five to 22, over 60s and disabled people would not be crossing links the wider Lochaber area with communities in the Ardnamurchan peninsula in the alternative journey by road around Loch Linnhe takes about two MV Corran, or its back-up the Maid of Glencoul, operates on the their report, council officials said the numbers of foot passengers were far lower than the vehicles estimated 10,258 adult passengers a year would pay the new £2 fee.
Daily Record
21-05-2025
- Daily Record
Scotland's 'best outdoor dining restaurants' for summer 2025 crowned
Five eateries across the country have been named the best for al fresco dining. The best restaurants in Scotland"for outdoor dining" have been named. The top eateries for an al fresco meal were crowned on Wednesday by experts at restaurant-reservation service OpenTable. With Scotland enjoying clear skies and warm temperatures in recent days, OpenTable research has revealed that 60 per cent of people in the UK prefer to dine outdoors when the weather is nice. As Scots flock to sun-soaked terraces and beer gardens, OpenTable's new Top 100 Restaurants for Outdoor Dining for 2025 list reveals the best places to make the most of al fresco season. Out of the 100 restaurants included in the roundup, five are located in Scotland. Four of these are situated in Glasgow, while one is found in Edinburgh. The first Scottish restaurant to be named among the best for outdoor dining is Ardnamurchan. Located on Hope Street in Glasgow, the restaurant serves up a range of Scottish meat and seafood dishes. The eatery sources "unique and artisan products" from the Highlands and Islands. Its a la carte menu includes dishes such as Ardnamurchan Estate braised wild venison stew, charred Shetland coley, and grilled Isle of Skye landed langoustines. Elsewhere, Bucks Bar West Regent Street is a lively venue in Glasgow that specialises in American-style fried chicken. Among the options available are classic buttermilk fried chicken, Nashville hot style chicken, and various wings. In addition to having both indoor and outdoor seating available to book, Bucks Bar West Regent Street also offers live music. Every Saturday, the restaurant and bar hosts rock concerts with bands and DJs. Also in Glasgow, Kelp is dedicated to serving up high-quality and sustainably sourced Scottish seafood. Situated on Cowcaddens Road, it is the sister restaurant of Ardnamurchan. Almost every different type of sea food on Kelp's menu comes from somewhere different in Scotland. Among the dishes on its a la carte menu are oysters, razor clam tostada, Isle of Mull cheddar tart, and Orkney crab dougnut. The final Glasgow restaurant to be named among the best places in Scotland for outdoor dining is The Prancing Stag. The family-run and award-winning neighbourhood restaurant can be found in Jordanhill. The Prancing Stag serves up mains including fillet of Scottish salmon, Cairngorm roe deer, and fish of the day. Meanwhile, it also offers Sunday Roast specials every week. Over in Edinburgh, the last restaurant to be included on OpenTable's list of the best al fresco destinations is Angels with Bagpipes. The acclaimed eatery can be found just off the iconic Royal Mile. The kitchen and wine bar offers a variety of both small and larger plates. Dishes include Scottish crab with lemon and crumpet, smoked salmon with crème fraîche and cucumber, and sirloin steak with peppercorn sauce and fries. Additionally, it is not just humans soaking up the rays this year. According to OpenTable, dining at pet-friendly restaurants has increased by 17 per cent year-over-year and 21 per cent of UK dog owners now regularly take their four-legged friends out for a meal. UK and Ireland's Senior Director at OpenTable Sasha Shaker commented: "More than half of UK dog owners find it difficult to discover pet-friendly restaurants, with 32 per cent sharing that they would definitely eat out more often with their pet if it were easier to discover more suitable spots. "That's why we've launched this list, to make dining out a joy for diners and their furry friends. "From a seaside supper to a beer garden bite, our Top 100 Restaurants for Outdoor Dining celebrates amazing al fresco spots across the country, with plenty of places where pups are not just welcome but encouraged." The full list of the top 100 restaurants for outdoor dining in 2025 can be found on the OpenTable website. Scotland's top restaurants for outdoor dining
Times
07-05-2025
- Times
17 of the best beaches in Scotland
Wild, rugged and bracing even on a sunny day, Scottish beaches are for the hardy. But for those willing to brave the elements, there are turquoise waters and brilliantly white sands to rival any you'll find in the Caribbean — albeit 20 or 30 degrees cooler. Family-friendly options are plenty, but even more abundant are places that make you feel like you're at the edge of the world. Where there's nothing but you, the views and the wildlife. Pack a picnic, bring a dram or two, and wrap up warm. Here are some of the best beaches in Scotland. This article contains affiliate links, which may earn us revenue This is a journey as much as a destination. Even after you've driven to Keoldale, in north Scotland, allow half a day to cross the Kyle of Durness on a wee tin ferry, catch a minibus to Cape Wrath then hike for 30 minutes. The reward is a fabled beach at the end of the world, its white sand cupped within the highest cliffs in Britain. Camp overnight in Kearvaig Bothy if you can. You brought food and firewood, right? Or alternatively head to Cape Wrath Lighthouse where you'll find dorm-room accommodation and vegetarian and vegan fare at Ozone Cafe next door. • Best places to camp wild (or wild-ish) across the UK • Read our full guide to Scotland Advertisement 2. Sanna, Ardnamurchan Sanna beach, Ardnamurchan ALAMY It's a long drive on single-track roads to reach the most westerly point of the British mainland. Geologists love Sanna because you walk in over the crater of an ancient volcano. Terrific, but just wait until you see the beach beyond, a ridiculously beautiful expanse of silver sand and rock that peters gradually into turquoise sea. It's a place to elevate the spirit, especially at sunset. Better still, there's usually a breeze — no midges. Stay at Ocean View, a three-bedroom cottage just off the dunes of Sanna beach. • Best things to do in the Highlands 3. Luskentyre Sands, Isle of Harris Luskentyre beach on the Isle of Harris ALAMY Bone-white sands wrapped around dunes, from an estuary (that shifts through an endless spectrum of colours) to northernmost Traigh Rosamol beach, this is a real beauty. Here the turquoise sea is as crisp as chilled champagne, the air heady with ozone, the only sign of human life the few white crofts along the shore. Come at mid-tide (it's a narrow ribbon when it's high) and it'll stir the soul however leaden the sky. It's so beautiful it should be mobbed, but fortunately it's in the Outer Hebrides. The accommodation options include Taigh Mo Sheanair, a rental cottage which has doubles with en suite bathrooms. • Most beautiful places in Scotland Advertisement 4. Sands of Forvie, Aberdeenshire Forvie, Aberdeenshire GETTY IMAGES Forvie National Nature Reserve is nearly four miles of shifting sand dunes and wildflower dune heath around the Ythan estuary, 18 miles north of Aberdeen. It's a place of stark beauty and abundant life: thousands of terns, eider ducks nesting among the heather in spring, seals hauled out by river-mouth mudflats. A wetland hide is a grandstand to watch waders. Or take the 3.5-mile Dune Walk circuit to walk along the beach — sidetracking at its far end to a viewpoint at Hackley Bay. Newburgh is the nearest town and where you'll find Newburgh Inn, a comfy pub with rooms. • Best luxury hotels in Scotland 5. St Ninian's Bay, Shetland St Ninian's Bay GETTY IMAGES Meaning 'sandy isthmus', the word tombolo isn't just a delight to say, it produces beaches like this shapely corridor of sand, extending offshore for a third of a mile to St Ninian's Isle. Hidden as you approach from Bigton, it appears suddenly; a moment of theatre as delightful as a magic trick. Walk across to St Ninian's for a blustery stroll to see chapel ruins and puffins on cliffs. A schoolboy did it in 1958 and found a trove of Pictish silver. Keep your eyes peeled. The Coach House at Stewart Hall is a smart two-bedroom cottage set in gorgeous gardens. 6. Traigh Mhor, Barra A Twin Otter plane at Traigh Mhor, Barra ALAMY Clear the beach if an orange windsock flies at low tide — a Twin Otter plane from Glasgow will shortly be arriving for the world's only scheduled beach landing, while a bank of photographers wait upwind like aeronautical paparazzi. At other times it's simply a gorgeous spot to shoot; a broad expanse of white among machair and wild primroses that glows gold in raking light. A wee red-roof house provides foreground interest. Your accommodation options are rather more limited here but Barra Sands Campsite offers tent and caravan space. Advertisement • Best things to do in Scotland 7. Seacliff, East Lothian Seacliff beach in East Lothian ALAMY Bring the kids for a fairytale adventure near Edinburgh. The ochre sands at the end of a private road (fee for entry) take the starring role, but what a supporting cast. There's St Baldred's Cave to explore, gannets wheeling on Bass Rock, ruined Auldhame Castle in woods plus spooky Tantallon Castle, smashed by Cromwell's artillery, on a bluff. Like all good adventures there's a surprise too — pipsqueak harbour the Gegan, hewn from ruddy sandstone. Accommodation-wise your best bet is to head to nearby North Berwick where many of the rooms at the Nether Abbey Hotel offer sea views. • Best places to stay in Scotland 8. Achmelvich Bay, Sutherland Achmelvich Bay, Sutherland ALAMY Welcome to one of the most beautiful beaches in Scotland, a half-moon of silver sand and turquoise waters in a granite foreshore, with a splendidly bonkers 'Hermit's Castle' folly to discover behind the western end. The catch is fame: this is on the North Coast 500 route, with a car park behind, plus there's a campsite, caravan park and glamping pods. If it is crowded — that means anything over two dozen people in these parts — walk north at low tide to an unnamed sandy cove. Advertisement • Best of the North Coast 500 9. Rackwick, Orkney Rackwick, Isle of Hoy GETTY IMAGES You'll drive to Rackwick car park to see the distinctive sea stack the Old Man of Hoy, but you'll linger for a location befitting a Norse epic tale. Its golden sand is bookended by muscular cliffs, seals bob beyond the breakers, and oystercatchers and curlews pipe in the marram grass. It's particularly magnificent when storms detonate; Burnmouth Cottage, a heather-thatch bothy from a now-vanished crofting village, is behind if you're keen. The poet George Mackay Brown called Rackwick 'Orkney's last enchantment'. If anything, that undersells the place. Accommodation-wise your only option in the vicinity is the Rackwick Hostel, which has two rooms with two bunk beds in each. • Best things to do in Orkney 10. Camusdarach, Arisaig Camusdarach beach GETTY IMAGES Camusdarach near Mallaig was the location for the 1983 film Local Hero, but its appeal isn't limited to movie buffs. As well as powder-white sand and rock pools, the Isle of Skye dominates the skyline. Smaller and quieter bays lie at its south end — keep your eyes peeled for otters scampering along the shoreline. There's superb kayaking in the skerries — local operators run trips — while behind is a good campsite. Put it together and you have all the ingredients for a perfect family holiday. There's a smattering of campsites and holiday homes nearby, including the Ceithir Raithean, which has a hot tub with views of the sea. Advertisement • Best wildlife holiday ideas 11. Sandwood Bay, Sutherland Sandwood Bay, Sutherland ALAMY Although the waves are good enough for surfing, most arrivals here are roadtrippers on a half-day break from the North Coast 500. Use the car park at Blairmore to hike in on a good path across moorland. After four miles you'll descend over sand dunes to a magnificent beach among wild cliffs, a sea stack at one end. They say it's haunted by a sailor seeking lost riches — actually, the treasure is all around you. There's a bothy nearby at Sandwood Loch, but you're better off camping at the still rather wild Sheigra Beach Honour Campsite. 12. West Sands, St Andrews, Fife West Sands, St Andrews, Fife ALAMY Fronting the famous golf course of posh St Andrews, Scotland's best town beach sweeps north over two glorious miles. Like many urban stretches of sand, it is all things to all people — students lark over summer barbecues near the town, kids hoof footballs, runners recreate the opening scene of the 1981 film Chariots of Fire. Numbers gradually thin until it's just you and the hardy dog walkers, strolling into a salt-hazed infinity. Alternatively, there's a car park at the far end of West Sands Road. For a snack try Dook, a handy beach café serving deli sandwiches, cakes and coffee. You could hardly go wrong with a stay at the Old Course Hotel, a stately pile overlooking West Sands Beach and the Links Golf Course. 13. West Beach, Berneray Island, North Uist West Beach, Berneray Island, North Uist If you saw a photograph of West Beach, with its three miles of silver sands and pale turquoise sea, you'd guess it was in Thailand. This Outer Hebridean beauty looks tropical and, while the temperature isn't, rare orchids and wildflowers blaze among the machair sand dunes in summer. Little visited, it also provides a good opportunity to spot corncrakes and otters. There are a handful of hostels on the island — try John's Bunkhouse, just off the causeway access to Berneray. 14. Big Sand, Gairloch Big Sand, Gairloch Spoiler alert: the golden sand here is indeed expansive. At almost four miles long, it's fine enough for castles; broad enough for vigorous games of Frisbee or to give the dog a run; large enough to swallow beachgoers from a caravan site behind. A sea of sand dunes provides welcome shelter from the wind. What the name doesn't reveal is the jagged horizon of peaks, south to the Isle of Skye and Torridon. Base yourself at Sands Caravan & Camping, which has glamping pods and caravans for those who don't have their own, and the Barn Cafe, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. 15. Traigh Ghael, Mull Traigh Ghael, Mull ALAMY Calgary is the most famous beach on the Isle of Mull, but the most heavenly is Traigh Ghael: 'white beach' in Gaelic. Like paradise, it requires effort to reach. You'll need stamina and tide tables before attempting two tough, boggy hours through the Tireragan Nature Reserve. Buy maps from an honour box at Knockvologan Farm at the trailhead. The reward is red deer, perhaps otters, a sidetrack to a ruined Clearances village, then white sand wild beaches which expand at low tide — all the highlights of the Highlands in one day. Relatively close by is Bunessan Inn, a small property with sea views. 16. Oldshoremore beach, Sutherland Oldshoremore beach, Sutherland ALAMY Known locally as Am Meallan, Oldshoremore beach pairs a mile of golden sand at low tide with turquoise waters that lap at its shallows on a sunny day. You could well just stop here — and there's a campsite close by — but the beach marks the start of a five-mile circular trail that takes you to even more wild and rugged corners, including Polin beach. The only downside is that it's remote — it's a short walk from the nearby car park but getting there in the first place isn't easy. Oldshoremore Croft Cabin is just a short walk down to the beach. 17. Grobust beach, Orkney Grobust beach, Orkney GETTY IMAGES Prepare to have a few cobwebs blown away at Grobust beach, a gorgeous stretch of coastline facing north on Westray, one of the northernmost Orkney Islands. There's little shelter here, which means you're exposed to the elements wherever you stand. Aim for a sunny day, therefore, when the light will bring out the sparkling blue of the sea, and turn the sandy beach a brilliant white. Nearby you'll also find the remains of a Stone Age settlement where the Orkney Venus was dug up. Set at the edge of the village of Pierowall, No 1 Broughton is a small family-run B&B facing the sea. • Best nudist beaches in the UK Additional reporting by Qin Xie
