11 Best Shopping in The Northern Highlands and the Western Isles, Scotland

Pick up a range of attractive ceramics, including lamps, vases, and bowls, all hand-thrown on the premises by studio potter Sue Blair. There's also a lovely little garden for visitors to enjoy. Borgh Pottery is 9 miles southwest of Port of Ness, on the road from Stornoway.

This well-stocked shop specializes in designer knitwear and has some of the nicest staff you could hope to meet. On cold winter days, they might make you coffee while you browse, then mail your purchases back home for you.

Specializing in quirky handmade ceramics and watercolors of local wildlife, this is a great place to pick up a distinctive souvenir from your time on Skye.

This popular pierside store specializes in candles, bath products, and reed diffusers with wonderful fragrances inspired by the island. The black pomegranate Seilebost hand and body lotion is particularly popular.

Handcrafted, Celtic-influenced, silver or gold earrings, brooches, and pendants are the order of the day at Hebridean Jewellery. Come for a tour of the workshop, and stay for an espresso and cake in the on-site café.

This small bottle shop sells the up-and-coming local producer's signature Seven Crofts gin, along with limited edition bottlings like the Ullapool Gin. You'll also find hand-picked craft beers, wines, and soft drinks for sale.

The huge sofa and television composed entirely of broken crockery are a witty introduction to the beautiful ceramic works of art made at Highland Stoneware. The potters and decorators busy themselves in a studio behind the shop, and visitors are encouraged to watch as they create pieces incorporating Highland themes. If you miss this one, there's a second Highland Stoneware store in Ullapool.

This charming little shop handcrafts its own soaps, aromatherapy oils, candles, and other pleasingly fragranced gifts. Founder (and soap maker-in-chief) Fiona is an aromatherapist.

It's rare for people to voluntarily walk into jail, but this place is the exception: it's an old prison that has been converted into a popular fashion store. The one-time cells now contain a range of elegant clothes and accessories, toiletries, housewares, and interesting gifts. It's so popular that there's now a second outlet at Inverness Airport.

Watch a weaver producing pure-wool tartans that can be bought here or at the company's other outlets in the area. There's also a nice little café. The store is 16½ miles southeast of Shieldaig; follow the A896 to Lochcarron, then turn south onto Church Street.

Distinctive gold and silver jewelry with Celtic themes is the bread and butter of Skye Silver. From pendants to rings, bracelets to earrings, the unique pieces here are inspired by the surrounding landscapes of sea and countryside, with motifs of island wildlife.