The blog has been on a grand tour seeking Scottish Style in the Highlands. From Argyll’s West Coast to the East Coast of Aberdeenshire, I hope you will enjoy this personal journey of landscapes, places to stay, some great food and Scottish castles to visit. There’s inspiration at every turn with a colour palette that takes its roots from wild fuchsia and turquoise seas to the heather colours of moor and mountain. Be prepared to bathe in the fauna of forest greens, to see beautiful gardens, some ancient Scottish heritage and a lot of creativity.
Keep a look out
You might also like to keep a Scottish turrety look-out for three upcoming posts, that will appear after this one.
I will be sharing the interiors of Crathes castle with its exceptional gardens, to Craigievar – reputedly the inspiration for Walt Disney’s pink fairy castle (seen in this post’s opening image), both in Aberdeenshire. Then there’s Argyll’s imposing Inverary Castle which is still lived in today by the Campbell family clan.
Each one is different in style and offers a little insight into interior decoration and the sometimes fortress function of centuries-old Scottish castles. And of course, you can rely on them to always have the best and most strategic views!
Argyll
Via Loch Lomond and through mountainous regions there is so much to see on the ‘Road To The Isles’ and just North of Oban …
West Highland Line is a stunning train journey from Glasgow to Fort William and Mallaig or Oban that takes you via mountains and lochs inaccessible by road. Train line crossing Lochawe at Dalmally, Argyll. Seen on a walk to the nearby ruin of Kilchurn Castle. Photo: Charis White
There are so many old and ancient tree and fern species at Ardkinglas Woodland Garden including this tree with steps of Horse’s Hoof fungi. Photo: Charis White
Scottish war memorial overlooking Loch Fyne in Inverary. Photo: Charis White
Sadly shut the day we visited but comes highly recommended. Inver Restaurant and Rooms on the shores of Loch Fyne in Argyll. Their a la carte lunch menus feature “simply prepared fresh seafood, native meat and game in season. Cooked with a contemporary take on traditional and forgotten Scottish dishes.” Photo: Charis White
Pretty Silverweed which always catches my eye on the banks of the river Thames at Streatley in Berkshire. It also grows in the hedgerows in the Highlands. It was used for medicinal purposes but sadly was also harvested as a famine food during the Highland Clearances. According to Eilid Ormiston of The University of Highlands and Islands, “I understand it was mainly children who were sent to harvest it with their small fingers because of its tiny roots.” Photo: Charis White
Near Inver restaurant on the shores of Loch Fyne in Strachalan is this ancient church and buriel ground for 600 years of Castle Lachlan clan chiefs. from Inver restaurant you can walk around the ruin of ancient Lachlan castle, whilst passing by near the newer, appealing Castle Lachlan which is available for hire. Photo: Charis White
Respect to my friend Eilid who rows in her all-female crew in this gorgeously turquoise Appin Skiff. They have good views sometimes of Castle Stalker but at times quite heavy sea loch waves to contend with their heavy wooden oars! Photo: Charis White
Privately owned Castle Stalker which is sometimes open to the public, Argyll. Photo: Charis White
Lovely sauna with amazing sea views and sea wild bathing byWild Bathing, Argyll. Photo: Charis White
Solas Pizza is a mobile pizzeria business run from a converted horsebox by Argyll baker Holly Wesley. She is sometimes assisted by her fiance Kyle Ormiston, who is a qualified mountain guide. Delicious pizzas are made fresh from sourdough with Scottish and foraged ingredients. They recently did a wedding on the Isle of Lismore off the Argyll coast near Port Appin. To find out the venues for their pizzas/events please follow on Instagram/Facebook.
Carpets of pale pink sea thrift in May on the shore at sea Loch Creran, Argyll. Photo: Charis White
Stravaigin Sailing Holidays, offer sailing holidays, private yacht charters and multi-activity adventures on Scotland’s West Coast. Photo: Charis White
Locally caught langoustines from The Pierhouse Hotel Restaurant, Port Appin, Argyll. Photo: Charis White
Sutherland’s Grove is a stunning moss-covered pine forest with a gorge near Barcaldine in Argyll. Photo: Charis White
Aberdeenshire
We leave Argyll behind and travel via the Cairngorms and Grantown-on-Spey to see the landscape opening up into beautiful forests and open farm land as we head via some castles to the East Coast and the pretty old harbour in Stonehaven …
I cannot resist a storm door in a traditional Victorian Scottish villa and this B&B guesthouse in Grantown on Spey, Aberdeenshire had it all going on. Photo: Charis White
Douneside House Hotel, a beautifully decorated and comfortable previously privately owned country house with a history. Gorgeous gardens with croquet lawn with views of Aberdeenshie countryside, tennis, swimming pool and spa. Photo: Charis White
View of the sea from stunning Dunottar Castle, Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire. Photo: Rosie Wilson
Cousin Rosie and I at The Tolbooth Restaurant in the delightful old harbour in Stonehaven where the food was absolutely delicious and excellent service. I also had amazing Orkney mussels at The Ship Inn and would recommend nearby The Old Pier cafe for lunch and ice creams. Photo: Keith Wilson
Sandy bay of the charming old harbour in Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire. Photo: Charis White
Scottish contemporary art
Here are a few contemporary landscape artists who have caught my eye:
‘Misty Day The Highlands’, seen here, is an evocative abstract by Therese Lang at ThereseLangart.com.
You might also like to check out The Studio Applecross, a new gallery that has opened in Applecross, a small village in the Highlands by talented self-taught artist Sarah McCowan.
David Page is a founding partner in Page and Park architectural practice in Glasgow who now paints striking seascapes from his home on Mull. David’s work is exhibited in Calgary Arts Gallery on Mull.
Grand Island Hotel, Isle of Ulva
Great news that Banjo Beale, Ro and Grampa have announced that they are taking on a crumbling mansion on the tiny and sparsely populated island of Ulva off Mull to turn into a Grand Island Hotel. The BBC press office have announced that filming starts this summer and the programme is set to air in 2026. I cannot wait.
Blog rewind
If you missed them the first time around you might also like to read these Scottish style posts:
Thank you
Thank you so much for reading this! In the next three posts, I look forward to opening the door on interior decoration in some wonderful Scottish castles. In the meantime, I hope this information has inspired you to plot your own Escape To The Highlands.
Finally, I would like to give special thanks to Programme Leader for Marine and Coastal Tourism, Outdoor Adventure and Leadership Eilid Ormiston from The University of Highlands and Islands, for her invaluable information on the Highlands.
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