Northern Highlands

[coccinelle]

I'm wanting to visit the Northern Highlands next year (Skye and above Caledonian Canal) and would like to know if anyone can suggest a base in a town where there are plenty of places for meals. I love fish so a coastal resort would be a plus. In the past we've toured countries but now prefer having a base instead of living out of a suitcase. Hope someone can help.

[mushroom25]

Ullapool is nice.
http://www.ullapool.co.uk/

[dunfermline]

Skye is a fab place,and i think Portree would be the ideal place for touring.lots of great places to eat all over the island.

[coccinelle]

Thank you mushroom and dunfermline for your answers. Skye will be too south to say visit John O'Groats in the day but would like to stay at least a night there. I'm now thinking of self catering but I've just posted another possibiliy of finding a B&B which allows their guests to cook something over say a barbecue or a covered kitchen. We have this in France but don't know what to google for UK sites.

[WesterRoss]

As you can guess from my name I live in Gairloch, Wester Ross. With my wife we run a B&B but I am not touting for business. However, Gairloch is a good place to base yourself, plenty of accommodation and good eating places offering sea food and local meat. Google Gairloch and you will find lots of information. I do not know of any B&B's who will let you cook your own food but you could always ask by email, before you book.
It is not possible to do John O'Groats in a day from Gairloch without a lot of driving. Be aware that driving times in the Northern Highlands can be longer than you imagine. The roads, some single track with passing places, are narrow and windy so although mileages may be small, driving time is much longer. Anyway, what do want to go to John O'Groats for. It is a terrible place, full of tacky souvenir shops. Believe me you don't want ot go there.
If you want a base further north, Ullapool, 60 miles north of Gairloch is a buy place. It is the ferry port for the boat to Stornoway.

Hope this helps.

[coccinelle]

Thank you WesterRoss for all that info. Actually, Gairloch is a place we're looking into at the moment as it looks so nice, local fishing boats coming in daily and plenty to do. We might try self catering (never done that before) to have the possibility of cooking our own fish etc. If you have any suggestions (you might personally know) for these I'd be really grateful.
John O'Groats' visit, is mainly to say I've been to the tip of Scotland but as you suggest, we might give it a miss if it really isn't worth it. I'd hate to lose a day to be disappointed.

[WesterRoss]

Have a look at the following website http://www.highlandwelcome.co.uk for self catering. I personally know the owners of Ceomara and Tir Aluinn. The first is in Badachro, the second in North Erradale. For others see http://www.westerrossretreats.co.uk
By the way, Dunnet Head is the most Northerly point on the UK mainland, not John O'Groats as many believe. That is worth a trip, no souvenir shops for miles around!

[coccinelle]

Thanks again WesterRoss. I've seen a few B&B I'm interested in so will be making contact later on in the year. Do you think a visit to Dunnet Head is worth it? or is it better to visit other areas?
I must tell you that we're coming up from Prestwick airport, want to visit Inverary castle and a stop over in Oban. Then come up the coast to Skye. We're now going to stay in Skye a couple of nights or maybe 3 with a jaunt over to one of the islands, then a stay of about 5 nights in say Gairloch. We did want to do a central stay but realise in Scotland that's not easy. I must say how grateful I am to you for all this info and hope one day I can repay you. You never know I might end up in your B&B!!!!