I only stopped to look. Then I bought a puffin, or two!

I have bought two puffin jugs from FISK Gallery, which perhaps tells you more about my enthusiasm for the place than any recommendation could. One was for Sally‑Ann and the other for a good friend, although choosing presents here can involve looking at things I would quite happily keep myself. The gallery stands beside the road at Polbain, on the Coigach peninsula, somewhere I include in our tours when time allows and the detour suits our guests. Even when nobody has expressed a particular interest in arts and crafts, I generally stop because the variety gives people a chance to discover something they hadn’t thought to look for.

The work comes from locally based makers, and the shelves bring together ceramics, jewellery, photographs, books, textiles and more substantial pieces of craftsmanship, including the extraordinary knives made by Gabriel at Kernunos. Some objects need a closer look before you appreciate them. I’m particularly taken with beach pebbles wrapped in coloured wire, a description that sounds considerably less attractive than the finished jewellery. You might find yourself admiring something costing a few pounds, then become distracted by a piece requiring a rather more serious discussion about the holiday budget. I have watched guests make purchases at both ends of that range.

What appeals to me is how comfortably those different things sit together. The artists are serious about their work, but I feel at ease browsing here, and the person looking after the gallery is often one of the makers whose work you are enjoying. Books deserve attention too. Lesley introduced me to Study for Obedience by Sarah Bernstein, a locally based writer whose novel was shortlisted for the 2023 Booker Prize, and I bought it for Sally‑Ann as a Christmas present. Between the books, pottery and jewellery, you can spend quite some time discovering what people in this part of the Highlands are creating.

You may be looking for a substantial reminder of your travels, something that will prompt questions when friends visit, or a small thank-you for the person feeding your cat while you are away. FISK gives you plenty to consider, and I have seen genuine delight when guests discover something they didn’t even know they liked. Check opening arrangements before making a special journey, and bear in mind that there are no visitor toilets, a detail that has occasionally caught us out. Give yourself time to look around, whether you have a purchase in mind or are simply curious about what is inside.

To learn more, book one of our North Coast Explorer private tours.