The perfect base to discover Skye, Applecross and Torridon

The Isle of Skye is usually the draw for most travellers to this part of Scotland, however, take a right at Kyle of Lochalsh and drive up to Plockton (or take the train from Kyle of Lochalsh or Inverness railway stations for a relaxing scenic journey, which is what we did). If you’re planning on doing the North Coast 500 then Plockton is just off the official NC500 route so you could use it as a stopping point along the way.

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Location

Known as the ‘jewel of the Highlands’, Plockton is sheltered from the sea on an inlet on Loch Carron that has the benefit of seal-watching trips available from the village (guaranteed seal sightings according to Callum!). The TV series Hamish Macbeth was set here (masquerading as the fictional ‘Lochdubh’), and cult movie the The Wicker Man was also filmed here.

If you are using Plockton as a base, the surrounding area has Torridon, Applecross, the iconic Eilean Donan Castle, and the Isle of Skye are all within driving distance.

There are shoreline trails around the sheltered bay of Loch Carron and stunning woodland walks out towards Duncraig Castle on the other side of the bay, and great views from the Carn na Frith-aird Viewpoint above the village, looking towards the Applecross Peninsula (driving across Bealach na ba is worth adding to your bucket list). This is the kind of place to escape to for relaxation.

Character

The Plockton Inn has rooms, a pub and a busy, casual restaurant decorated in marine colours with the walls adorned in Cath Waters artwork (she has a shop located in Dunvegan on Skye). This is somewhere perfect for couples and those who are looking for great food in a beautiful location. Should you want more social activities, the cosy pub hosts live music and quiz nights, and there is another bar a 5-minute walk away at the Plockton Hotel.

Accommodation

A selection of bedrooms are available: single, twin, double and family-sized. We stayed in Sorley’s House named after the Gaelic poet who lived in the house whilst he was headmaster at Plockton High School. This is located across the road from the main inn building.

The rooms are well-proportioned with en-suite bathrooms and lots of colour. Splashes of highland countryside and sea blue colours abound with artwork from highland artists Daniel Campbell and Rona Douglas showcased.

plockton inn room 3

Reading material provided in the room includes a book on the North Coast 500 and country walks in the Wester Ross and Lochalsh area.

The en-suite bathrooms have complimentary Arran Sense of Scotland toiletries.Our room had a digital flat-screen TV, a hospitality tray with a futuristic-looking kettle, a teapot, Hoogly brand Tea, Highland Coast Hotels branded fairtrade coffee, homemade biscuits and fresh milk; with a sofa to relax and enjoy a cuppa whilst reading the in-room books. Free reliable WiFi is also available.

Food and Drink

With its location, it is no surprise that this is predominantly a seafood restaurant. We picked dishes from both the winter table d’hote menu and the specials board. It was hard to pick, with so many tasty-sounding dishes from slow-roasted shoulder of lamb to tagliatelle with a rich tomato sauce and charred vegetables.

We picked mussels in white wine garlic and cream; a Scottish salmon plate from the specials board which included hot (potted) and cold smoked salmon, pickles, dill & chive butter and sourdough bread to start. Both starters were an ideal size to wake our tastebuds.

For our mains we went for Scottish salmon with crushed new potatoes, pea puree, fennel gratin, peas and broccoli; and crispy skin hake with parmesan and spring onion creamed potato, tomato fondue, charred greens and herb oil. Both plates had perfectly cooked fish with crisp skin, flavoursome potatoes and delicious veg.

To end our meal with dessert, Mark picked the special, which was apple and cinnamon strudel with caramel toffee ice cream, whereas I stayed with the winter menu and picked bread and butter pudding with custard.

Both were delicious and thankfully we didn’t have far to roll home to bed!

The next morning saw breakfast served in the restaurant with a help-yourself buffet of fruit juice, cereals, yoghurt, fresh fruit and pastries.

There is a wide choice of hot breakfast dishes on offer including porridge; full Scottish breakfast (a vegetarian version is also available); smoked salmon and scrambled eggs; smoked haddock and poached eggs; poached eggs with muffins, either Benedict or Royale. Finally, there is a plate with a selection of meat and cheese and boiled eggs.

The breakfast was to a high standard, and it was great to have potato scones included but they were undercooked, as were the eggs, which needed an extra 30 seconds for the whites to cook fully.

Other Details

Free parking is available. Of the 12 rooms, one has been specifically designed for those with accessibility needs. For specific inquiries, they recommend guests call ahead to confirm. Dogs are welcome in the bar and guest rooms.

Overall verdict

This is a welcoming hotel with a relaxed atmosphere which made for a comfortable stay. The location is idyllic, delicious food is served and the location makes Plockton Inn the perfect base for exploring the stunning northwest Scottish Highlands. We enjoyed a good night’s sleep and hot shower during our stay. Hoogly tea was new to us but made a good strong cuppa.

Our only gripes with the room were that the wardrobe was really tall for a small person to use and the power socket for the hairdryer didn’t reach the mirror in the bathroom.

Where is the Plockton Inn?

Plockton Inn, Innes Street, Plockton, IV52 8TW

Arriving by public transport

The Plockton Inn is a 15-minute walk downhill from Plockton railway station, and if you’re lucky, a local may offer you a lift back to the station (there is also an honesty box a short walk from there).

There are 4 trains per day to/from Inverness and Kyle of Lochalsh (with the exception of Sunday, when only 2 trains run). From Kyle, the journey takes 13 minutes and costs £3.50, while from Inverness it’s a 2 hour 22 min journey and will set you back £29.30.