Food and Flowers

To many, Britain does not have a reputation for interesting and delicious food. However, our dining experiences in the Outer Hebrides showed this to be untrue.

It all began on the Virgin Pendolino Express from London Euston to Glasgow. During the 4-hour trip a full meal service with bar and frequent snacks were offered.

In Glasgow we chose room service at the Radisson Hotel and enjoyed a delicious paella.

In Stornoway, at the Caberfeidh Hotel, while we had a drink in the lounge we browsed the menu and made our choices. They were brought to the table soon after we were seated.

The dining room of the Caberfeidh Hotel has a reputation for superb cooking and it lived up to this reputation the night we were there. The service from the young waiters was attentive, but not obtrusive. Jan's mussels and my salmon were of gourmet standard.

For lunch at the First Fruits Tea Room in Tarbert we had a tasty chicken tikka marsala with the inevitable cup of tea.

For dinner that night, we ate at the Isle of Harris Inn in the bar as the restaurant was closed, it being a Sunday. The meal started with a glass of the local dark brew for me and I followed with local large scallops served in the traditional way with the orange cap of roe still attached - wonderful!

As mussels were readily available, Jan enjoyed several meals of them steamed and served in a light wine sauce.

Nothing can match the Hebridean scones! ----

---- But thay should not be mixed with Clansman, the local Hebridean ale.

For our last Hebridean meal, we sat in a restaurant overlooking Castlebay and Kisimul Castle, while enjoying the traditional plate of "haggis, neeps (turnips) and tatties (potatoes)".

And even on our last day in London, at lunch with our friends Wendy and Barrie Love at Sheekey's, we enjoyed superb oysters, the restaurant's famous fish pie and ended the meal with an extraordinary dessert called "Eton Mess". Its appearance seemed appropriate for its name!

In the far northern latitudes, spring comes late and so it was not unexpected to find many wildflowers in bloom in the Hebrides, adding colour to the lanscape.

While picking of wildflowers is discouraged, photography is encouraged.

Wild Hebridean Orchid

From north to south, yellow wild irises were abundant.

Wild Hyacinth

Buttercups

Bog Cotton

At a distance, bog cotton looked like a dusting of snow on the landscape.

For Part 6 - click on the following link:

www.hebrideanholiday6.blogspot.com