Dinner at the Shandwick Inn, Tain

On a recent trip to Caithness in the Far North end of the Scottish Highlands, we stopped for dinner at the Shandwick Inn, just outside Tain, on the A9. This eastern part of the Scottish Highlands is probably one of the parts of the Highlands I've travelled to the least, but it's a part of the Highlands that I really want to explore more.

Often when we are heading to a restuarant, I ask myself, "what exactly is the perfect meal I am looking for here?" It's a kind of silly question, but it helps me figure out an idea of what I want. Amazingly, this night my answer was exactly what was on the menu! I had said in the car on the way there that I really wanted a veggie curry for my dinner, and sure enough, a veggie curry was on the menu. Finlay, my husband, also got exactly what he wished for, with a veggie lasagne.

One thing I will say about dinner at the Shandwick Inn is that the portions are really generous. We paid around £20 for a main meal with a soft drink and I really believe that's such great value for dinner. Unlike in many palces across the Scottish Highlands, where the volume of tourists means that prices have become really inflated, the Shandwick Inn was incredible value for money.

If you're looking for somewhere in to end a tasty hearty meal on the A9 between Inverness and Caithness, or you're on the NC500 route looking for somewhere traditional for dinner, I'd really recommend the Shandwick Inn. It's right off the main road, making it an ideal spot for those travelling on these roads. It's a pretty big restuarant as well, making it ideal for groups. We visited on our way to a conference in Thurso and it was such a lovely meeting point on our journey.

I'm so thankful for a wee group who I shared dinner with that night, who are all involved in the Centre for Rural Ministry. What a joy it is to share a meal like this with friends!