Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(
01997-421487;
www.coulhouse.com
;
s/d £85/165; )
At Contin, south of
Strathpeffer on the A835, Coul House dates from 1821 but has a light, airy feel in contrast
to many country houses of this vintage. It's family run, and the welcome is genuine and
professional. Beautiful dining and lounge areas are complemented by elegant rooms with
views over the lovely gardens; superiors look out to the mountains beyond. There are
forest trails for walking or mountain biking right on the doorstep and a good restaurant.
Red Poppy££
(
01997-423332;
www.redpoppyrestaurant.co.uk
; The Pavilion; mains £10-16;
11am-8pm Tue-Sat, lunch Sun)
In the restored historical Victorian spa pavilion, Red
Poppy is a much-needed dining option. There's a large selection of meals, including game
dishes such as wild-boar steaks, and the dining is in elegant surrounds. It's a little cheaper
at lunchtime.
BISTRO
Getting There & Around
BusStagecoach
(
www.stagecoachbus.com
)
operates buses from Inverness to Strathpeffer
(45 minutes, at least hourly Monday to Saturday, four on Sunday). The Inverness to Gair-
loch and Durness buses, plus some Inverness to Ullapool buses, also run via Strathpeffer.
Tain
POP 3500
Scotland's oldest royal burgh, Tain is a proud sandstone town that rose to prominence as
pilgrims descended to venerate the relics of St Duthac, who is commemorated by the
12th-century ruins of
St Duthac's Chapel
, and St Duthus Church.
Sights
Tain Through Time
(
01862-894089;
www.tainmuseum.org.uk
; Tower St; adult/child £3.50/2.50;
10am-5pm Mon-Fri Apr-Oct, also Sat Jun-Aug)
Set in the grounds of St Duthus Church is
Tain Through Time, an entertaining heritage centre with a colourful and educational dis-
play on St Duthac, King James IV and key moments in Scottish history. Another building
MUSEUM
