Our Food: Homemade, Local and Artisan
The experience
As you paddle down the Kyle of Sutherland you will be struck by the utter peace and beauty of the surroundings. It is a place where the sky meets land and water in a grand sweeping gesture and where you may hear the call of Whooper swans and herons, or even spot deer, an otter or a sea eagle.
The wider area is also a rich source of local produce, and it is food we enjoy in our home and enjoy sharing with friends and family. As well as experiencing the wonderful scenery, wildlife and peace of this beautiful part of Scotland, our delight is to welcome you to share in some of the bounty of local artisan and homemade food; a selection of the best of what the Highlands has to offer. As part of your canoe journey down the Kyle, along its wide expanse and through its meandering sheltered creeks, Ian will take you to one of the pretty wooded islands where you will enjoy a picnic lunch. The food is homemade, and locally and organically sourced wherever possible.
The Story of our Food
All our family's bread is handmade from organically grown flour, from Shipton Mill in Gloucestershire and from Golspie Mill in Sutherland and we get lots of requests from friends to bring some along when we visit. It was 2010 when I started growing my sourdough starter and I have not looked back since.
As well as homemade bread, we provide homemade oatcakes made with oats from Golspie Mill in Sutherland, soup, and home baking (for example, lemon drizzle cake, chocolate brownies, flapjacks or shortbread). The cheeses for the picnic lunch come from Highland Fine Cheeses in Tain, Rosshire, the smoked salmon comes from the family owned Luss smokehouse in Loch Lomond, the venison salami comes from the Great Glen Charcuterie in Roy Bridge, Lochaber and last but certainly not least, our venison chorizo comes from our very own Roaring Red Stag wild meat products based in Altass, near Lairg in Sutherland. The eggs to make our cakes come from the from the Cluckingham Palace hens at the Storehouse, Fowlis Ferry in Rosshire or Knockfarrel Produce near Dingwall, as do most of our vegetables when not from our garden. Knockfarrel Produce have also provided us with their organic gluten free sausages from their fine pigs for a barbecue we did for one our events.
In season, and harvest permitting, we also provide salad from our organic garden and home grown or local soft fruits.
We cater for most diets and we are only too pleased to accommodate you with gluten free, dairy free or sugar free options amongst others. Please just let us know and we will do whatever we can. We have previously made chickpea patties, beetroot hummus, coleslaw, soup, oatcakes, and gluten free brownies and cookies for our visitors with special dietary requirements.