Why I take my guests to the Badachro Inn

When guests on one of our private tours stay in Gairloch, I invariably offer to drive them to the Badachro Inn for dinner on at least one evening. It takes about 20 minutes to reach, but the journey around the southern side of Loch Gairloch is well worth making. The inn stands beside the sheltered waters of Badachro Bay, overlooking a working jetty and a natural harbour still used by fishing boats and visiting yachts. Badachro once prospered through cod fishing and curing, while boats working these waters now principally land lobster, crab and langoustines. That connection between the village, its harbour and the food arriving at the table gives the inn an authenticity that cannot be manufactured.

Sally-Ann and I have stayed nearby during winter for our wedding anniversary, when the Badachro Inn becomes everything I want a small Highland pub to be. The bar is snug and slightly old-fashioned, the fire is burning, the staff are welcoming and dogs are allowed inside. During spring, summer and early autumn, the experience changes as the conservatory and outside decking open towards the bay. You can eat while looking across the water towards the islands protecting the harbour, watching boats move between their moorings as the evening light settles upon the loch. It feels special without becoming formal, and completely rooted in the landscape around it.

I have eaten here on numerous occasions and return because the food is consistently good. You can order familiar dishes such as fish and chips, pies and warming stews, but the menu also makes excellent use of venison and local seafood, which may include langoustines, crab, lobster and scallops according to availability. Some of that seafood is landed at the jetty beside the inn, while the bar offers beer, local ale, wine, malt whisky and gin produced within Badachro itself. It is not the cheapest place to eat, but limited seating, good ingredients and an excellent reputation inevitably come at a price. For our guests, it offers far more than supper because the journey, the view, the atmosphere and the food combine to create a memorable Highland evening.

The Badachro Inn can also work as an extended lunch stop when guests are particularly interested in North Highland food and drink, although I prefer taking people there after the touring day has finished, when nobody needs to hurry back to the vehicle and count the remaining miles. Booking ahead is essential, particularly during the main visitor season, because this is a small pub with a considerable reputation. I would never drive guests out from Gairloch merely hoping that a table might be available. Menus, opening days and serving times can change during the year, so always contact the inn directly, but if you are staying in Gairloch and travelling with North Coast Explorer, this is one evening excursion I will be very happy to recommend and drive.

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