Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
colcannon
(mashed cabbage and potatoes);
or a dessert of hot marmalade pudding with
Drambuie custard. Robert Burns would no
doubt approve.
With only four small dining areas, the
Three Chimneys is an intimate sort of
place, with candlelight flickering off its
rustic stone walls and low beamed ceil-
ings. Nevertheless, the tables are set with
crisp white linen, crystal, and china, and
the service is faultlessly attentive. Special-
ties are fresh seafood, Skye-grazed lamb
and beef, and Highland game, accompa-
nied by handmade cheeses, free-range
eggs, and fresh local produce; breads,
oatcakes, and traditional pastries are
baked fresh every day in the kitchen.
Founding chef Shirley Speare, who
launched the restaurant in 1985 and gar-
nered its first accolades, has taken a back
seat since 2005, working behind the
scenes with her successor, Michael Smith,
who carries on the torch splendidly. The
restaurant also has a distinguished wine
list, developed by Shirley's husband and
co-owner, Eddie Spear.
Describing itself as a “restaurant with
rooms,” the Three Chimneys just happens
to have six suites for overnight guests in a
modern house across the courtyard. And
they all just happen to be luxuriously
appointed, with modern amenities such as
a TV, VCR, CD player, and minibar, not to
mention panoramic seacoast views. Rooms
are spacious, with a striking simple decor,
bold splashes of color, roomy tiled bath-
rooms, and doors opening onto a private
garden with its own chattering brook (or
“burn,” to use the Scottish term). Opened in
1999, the House-Over-By perfectly comple-
ments the Three Chimneys experience (not
least of all because there are so few other
lodging options in the immediate area).
Three Chimney's stunning remote location
has always been part of its attraction—the
B&B turns it into one of the most memora-
ble getaway spots in the world.
Hwy. B884, Colbost, Isle of Skye (
&
44/
1470/511-258;
www.threechimneys.co.uk).
(
Inverness (129km/80 miles).
Three Chimneys & the House Over-By on the Isle of Skye in Scotland.
