I have said it before and I will say it again: The Highlands are huge and worth taking the time to really explore! Recently, my husband and I enjoyed a short weekend break in Dornoch. It was such a wonderful time and I was so glad for the refresher.
Dornoch is a lovely little town in the Sutherland region of the Scottish Highlands. It is a beautiful coastal town with views of the Dornoch Firth. It is also home to Royal Dornoch golf course, one of the best golf courses in the world. With historical buildings, an amazing golf course, a beautiful beach and sea views, Dornoch really does have it all!
Where we Stayed
We had the joy of staying at Links House Hotel during our stay, and I can really say it was one of the most wonderful places I have ever stayed! We were made to feel so welcome over the weekend and the staff there gave us so many recommendations on what to do in the local area. If you are looking for a little bit of luxury in the Scottish Highlands, Links House would be top of my list.
What we Did
Although I will say that you can never rely on the weather in the Scottish Highlands, we were very blessed to have beautiful sunshine the whole time we were in Dornoch. This meant there was only one thing I really wanted to do: take a leisurely walk along Dornoch Beach. It was probably one of the best beaches I've visited in the Highlands, so I would definitely recommend it if you were visiting the area.
We also spent some time during our weekend visiting other really cool areas around Dornoch. On the Saturday, we drove across to Lairg and enjoyed lunch on Loch Shin. We then drove up to the Falls of Shin, where we lucky enough to spot some salmon leaping upstream-an experience I will never forget!
On the Sunday, as we headed home, we drove over to the Black Isle and explore some of the villages in that area. We had lunch in Rosemarkie and walked along the beach. We then drove onto Cromarty, where we hoped we would maybe spot some dolphins in the Cromarty Firth (we were unsuccessful this time).
What we Ate
Since we were staying at Links House Hotel as part of their Weekend in the Highlands deal, we had breakfast in the hotel included in our stay. Breakfast is definitely one of my favourite meals so it was really nice to be able to enjoy a luxury breakfast for the first time in a long time. The menu includes pastries, cooked breakfast options and cold breakfast options (including this wonderful yogurt and muesli dish I had on our second morning!)
On our first evening, we enjoyed dinner at the wonderful Court Room in Dornoch town centre. This restaurant is built in the former Courthouse in Dornoch and it is stunning! I enjoyed a wonderful Highland steak (something I haven't had for a long time because I normally order it at a restaurant). But the best part of the evening was hearing live musicians playing in the background. I don't even remember the last time I heard live music, so this really made my night!
On the Saturday, we had the pleasure of he tasting experience at Mara at Links House. This include a 7 course tasting menu, featuring some of the best produce Scotland has to offer. This was a real treat for my husband, who is a real foodie. Our favourite course was the scallops with pancetta, charred corn and almonds-it was so delicious!
After almost 18 months of lockdown, it was so wonderful to enjoy some time away with my husband in a place I'd never been before. We had such a wonderful, relaxed time (made even more special by the wonderful weather we had all weekend). Although we might have felt out of place because we aren't golfers, we were made to feel so welcome by everyone we met. Seeing a part of the Highlands so different from where we live was really incredible, and just added to how much I love the Highlands already. If you are thinking of stopping here on a wee Highland getaway or as part of the North Coast 500, I would highly recommend.
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