After having all cobwebs unceremoniously removed at Arnamurchan Lighthouse we retraced our route back to Kilchoan and Mingary Castle. Returning on the same road (the only road) we felt the sheep looked even more indignant.
First impressions of Mingary can be slightly off putting. There doesn’t seem to be any windows and you have to walk round to the western end to find a small door. Once through the door, however, you come in to an inner courtyard and everything changes.
How do they do it?
Sheltered from the wind it is warm and cosy in the summer sunshine. We were staying over in the MacDonald suite which ranged over two floors under the roof to the left of the above picture. This place is almost impossibly remote yet recently it has been showered with awards … AA Hotel of the Year, and chef/owner Colin Nicholson, Chef of the Year. Incredible!
We had to be careful. Dinner in the evening meant that we had to have our afternoon tea early enough not to spoil our appetite. 
These are the problems with which sconeys like us have to wrestle. The young girl looking after us (she had a university degree in Gaelic) was fantastic. Firstly she brought us a delicious variety of sandwiches and later presented us with three tiers of goodies. Savouries on top, sweet things in the middle and fruit and plain scones on the bottom layer. All the while keeping us continuously supplied with fresh hot tea. What about the scones? You can probably guess by now that they were absolutely perfect. Just the way we like them. Accordingly, an easy topscone and another serious competitor for Fonab Castle’s title of “best scone in the world”.
The media
You do feel remote here and far away from the travails of the modern world. It’s an extraordinary place. Reluctantly we looked at the news and discovered that the wall to wall coverage of Kamala Harris had been replaced by news of Janet Jackson’s upcoming tour. How fickle is the media? Which is more exciting … Kamala or Janet?
Tomorrow we head back home via the Corran ferry that brought us here. That will complete a little circular tour of this fantastic part of Scotland.
PH36 4LH tel: 01972 614380 Mingary Castle
///isolating.reconnect.liberated
I cannot understand how you make a judgement of “Best Scone in the World” when you gave not tried an Aussie scone. You may well be right, but you really should give ours a go. We may not have the ambience of Mingary Castle, but we would do our best!
Looks as though we need to add that to our bucket list too!
“Best Scone in the World” is an educated guess Jann. It’s also a challenge to others to see if they can win the title however unless you can reproduce something like Mingary then you Aussies might struggle. You could stand a chance of the “Best Upsidedown Scone” award. However, you will be delighted to hear that I did get another couple of sheds on our trip.
Your tour has made fascinating reading and fairly whets the appetite for travels in Scotland.
It also brought back wonderful memories of a family holiday in Ardnamurchan 15 years ago.
After 15 years I think you are due another holiday 😀
You are so welcome
I have to agree with Billy this is a serious contender for Best Scone, I wish I had had room to eat both scones, I really couldn’t but they were fabulous. The whole place was fabulous, what a difference from the night before. I’m sorry but I have to say a huge thank you to my other half for finding and booking this lovely place.
You have a pretty smooth man there Pat! I’d be impressed too
I agree wholeheartedly with both of you!