We're leaving soon on our two week honeymoon to Scotland, and we'd love some suggestions on places to eat (or buy food for picnics, which is our lunch plan most days). We'll have a car, and we're spending two days in London, two in Edinburgh, then going up through St. Andrews to Dunkeld for a night, up to Speyside for a night, then through Inverness to the Black Isle for two nights, staying near Ullapool, then Skye for two nights, North Loch Lomond, and back through Edinburgh to London. Anything in that general route we shouldn't miss? Sightseeing suggestions are also welcome. Also, are there going to be any restaurants in which my husband will need to wear a jacket and tie? (or a jacket at all? ties are easy to pack). We'd love a couple of very nice meals, and we're staying in a country house hotel (Ardanaiseig) with a dining room one night. Will he be OK with a shirt and slacks, or a shirt and tie, or even his nice microfiber rain jacket? Thanks for all the help!

Hi

I suggest that you ask the hotel if jackets are required.

Places to eat in Edinburgh-thousands and thousands (ok, I may be exaggerating slightly...)but I would suggest you try Rogue, the Marque, the Siam Erewan, Fishers in the City and/ or Viva Mexico.

Any good supermarkeyTsells picnic food. Marks and Spencer (M&S or Markie's) is partriculraly good. In Edinburgh Valvona and Crolla is a great deli.

I can't do you restuarants in St Andrew's, but you might like to try The Ostler's Close in Cupar, the Peat Inn in Peat Inn, or the Cellar in Anstruther.

In Dunkeld, the "best" restaurant in the neighbourhood is Kinnaird House, but the Atholl hotel has a nice dining room.

There's also a very good deli on the corner of the Square.

In Speyside (a bit of a culinary Black Hole) try Auchendean Lodge.

The Dower House at Muir of Ord is meant to be good. Nowhere at ullapool is great- The Summer Isles Hotel, maybe.

On Skye, the Three Chimney's is offically the best restaurant in tehecountry. I love the Eilean Iarmain too.

Sightseeing I'll do separately.

Non eof the above, with the possible exception of Kinnaird House, needs a jacket. You might want one tho'.


I don't think Ardanaiseig has a dress code as such, but I suspect YOU'D be uncomfortable in jeans.

DON'T let him wear his "nice microfiber rain jacket"

My husband and I spent three days in Dunkeld last November and, to our surprise, had some of our finest meals of a two-week trip in that beautiful small town. The dining rooms of both the Atholl Arms(?) (the white hotel on the right immediately after you come over the bridge) and the Royal Dunkeld(?) (a block farther down the High Street on the left) served wonderful, upscale dinners. Your husband won't need a coat and tie at either place; a nice button-down shirt and slacks will suffice.

I don't recall exactly what we had for dinner at both restaurants, but I remember it all being delicious. I do recall that the Athol Arms had fabulous haggis among the appetizers and truly sinful sticky toffee pudding among the desserts.

We didn't have any fancy meals in Edinburgh (some decent pasta at a few Italian places and a lot of pub food). But if you're looking for something middle of the road, I loved the Chicken Kiev at Dirty Dicks (I think that's the name; it's part of a small chain of pub-restaurants, one on Rose Street in New Town and one on the Royal Mile). I went back for it the night before I left Edinburgh for one last taste of all that garlicky butter sauce. Yum!

I apologize if I've gotten some of the names of restaurants wrong above. My memory has blurred somewhat since last fall. Obviously time to go back again!

A good restaurant in St Andrews is The Doll's House, which is just next to the library on South Street.