The Applecross Inn, Highland food & Bealnach na Ba (pics)

[Gretchen]

I'm sure many of you are familiar with the Bealnach na Ba

Wikipedia said:

The Bealach na Bà is a famous, twisting, single-track mountain road, rising to 626 metres (2,054 ft) in the Applecross peninsula, in Wester Ross, Ross and Cromarty, Highland, Scotland. It is one of very few roads in the Scottish Highlands which is engineered in a similar fashion to the great mountain passes in the Alps, with very tight hairpin bends which switch back and forth up the hillside, with gradients approaching 20%. It boasts the greatest ascent of any road climb in the UK, rising from Applecross at sea level to 626 metres (2,054 ft), and is the third highest road in Scotland.

and possibly The Applecross Inn on the shore of the bay, and a popular stay for those brave enough to drive the Bealnach, such as we did at the end of October 2010

So for all the food connoisseurs and petrol heads I thought I'd share some of our photos from our trip. (These were all taken on my iPhone so please excuse the quality, and forgive me if they're sized wrong! I wasn't sure when hosting them).

The Inn




Fantastic menu, great views of the bay, and of course due to remote location much fresh, locally sourced food is available












Beautiful walks, and the Walled Garden and Potting Shed Restaurant where we ate lunch on several occasions














Lobster Bayonets from The Potting Shed were delicious




as was the Garden Vegetable Soup




I particularly enjoyed their Gaelic Coffee




And they serve a fantastic range of freshly baked cakes, from Lemon and Rosemary (which is very tasty) to Chocolate.


Due to the Inn being full, we stayed in a lovely cottage on the shore at the end of the street paying the B&B rates, and being made most welcome in front of the Inn's open fire for breakfast every morning





Full Highland



and big fresh Kippers being our favourites




We met a gentleman (who also turned out to be a car enthusiast) who was working out at sea and having his breakfast cooked and served at his request around 5am. Great service.



Waking or returning to find Seals and Stag on the doorstep, even spotting a Golden Eagle when we drove the pass was stunning






Dinner at The Applecross is just perfect in front of an open fire after a day exploring the bay and the mountain, and driving the pass. I recommend the Vennison Casserole (fresh from the mountainside), Haggis and Oatcake starter, and anything Fish, particularly the (huge) Oysters and the Scallops














We found this Raspberry dessert a little sickly




But several pints of Isle of Skye Red Cuillin settled our stomachs




I can't recommend The Applecross Inn enough. Johnny and I drove over 1350 miles (600 miles from my house alone). The drive was worth it for the food alone. The friendly atmosphere and the service provided at the Inn is perfect. The Inn owner, Judith, and her team are very welcoming and great company of an evening.

And the Bealnach... just breathtaking.



I cashed in a prize holiday to Mauritius, and we took this road trip. I'd definitely do the road trip again given the choice.

We're planning on returning hopefully again this year.

[Pferdestarke]

Great post, pictures and food. It's certainly made me want to go! Furthest I've been is Aberdeen.

[yorky500]

Looks fantastic, sadly, I can only visit places like these through the pictures posted, I very much doubt I will ever get there.

[v15ben]

I was up there last Spring.
Fantastic food and a breathtaking location.
The roads are so good that I had to turn round and do them all again

[jet_noise]

Dear Gretchen,

I hate you I hate you I hate you...
...only because I am jealous!
I've got to wait till June for my yearly dose

Also wot no langoustines?

regards,
Jet

[Mr Roper]

v15ben said:

I was up there last Spring.
Fantastic food and a breathtaking location.
The roads are so good that I had to turn round and do them all again

I was there a couple of years ago touring on my bike. Certainly a few parrrp moments riding over the Applecross

I also thought the food was very good and fitting for the location....worth making space in your diary if you've yet to do it.

[PaulHogan]

jet_noise said:

...Also wot no langoustines?

regards,
Jet

My first visit to the Applecross Inn

[Balmoral Green]

Damn! It's been a long time since I was last up there, just realised it was Summer 1988. We rented Cruary Cottage, which can be seen in some of your pics (it's the one out on its own on the other side of the bay). We were planning on doing the West Coast and Islands tour this summer, but we've decided to go to Tuscany instead.

[Laplace]

We were there two summers ago and hopefully heading up again this summer. We spent a week touring the West Highlands and Applecross was definitely the highlight along with the Bealach na Ba.
Fiah n chips and a pint whilst looking across to Skye after a days driving is tough to beat!

[thetapeworm]

A place that's high on my "to do" list for the langoustines alone, the rest looks amazing and of course the drive helps.

Thanks for sharing.

[martinmac]

We usually have a run up there every year but missed out last year as the road was being resurfaced. Great driving roads although a little challenging when the weather turns.

[Lastinclass]

I was up there last September. We had lunch at the Inn, it was superb. We also ate at Plockton Shores bistro in Plockton which as very good.
Planning to go back this year for a weekend. I'm lucky enough to be within driving distance to go for lunch and back in a day if needed.(8 hour round trip though)

[Lefty]

In case you didn't all know, Scotland (well, North of the central belt anyway) is f'kin awesome.

You're welcome

[jet_noise]

Dear PaulHogan,

PaulHogan said:

jet_noise said:

...Also wot no langoustines?

regards,
Jet

My first visit to the Applecross Inn

barsteward

I recently consoled myself with Lidl's finest frozen whole scottish scampi for 'tis the same beastie,

regards,
Jet

[RPastry]

nice pics, been a couple of times, last time passed an articulated lorry delivering sheep right at the top, didn't fancy his job much! had lunch at the inn on the way back, lovely place.

[whirligig]

Nice write up and pics. This is my neck of the woods and where my folks still are - love going up as much as I can with the kids.

Judi at the Inn is great at using dead fresh, very local produce as much as possible and very keen to buy any fish/veg/fruit from any locals. The Inn gets SO busy in the summer (esp at weekends) that it's great that the Potting Shed just along the road is now well established and that both places can make a living.

My brother is a fisherman (and part-time diver) so plenty of prawns and scallops for us - West Highland shellfish take some beating!

[Catz]

Good write-up.

I'm also lucky to have family in this area. I try to visit every month or so just to escape Scotland's Central Belt.

[Mojocvh]

Oh the irony. (OP)

[Gretchen]

Mojocvh said:

Oh the irony. (OP)

Apologies if I've offended in some way?

[Celt]

Think im taking my girlfriend there for Valentines day. Do you need to go along the beanlack na ba or will I have to make a point of going there? Is it open again, i knew it was closed last year for some time.