Airds Hotel

Argyll, Port Appin, Appin

Set in the Scottish Highlands, on the country’s west coast, Airds Hotel is not exactly on the main drag. Its remote, unspoilt location is half the appeal, of course; the other half is its restaurant, which is well worth the detour. The food here has long held a stellar reputation, but head chef David Barnett, who joined last year having trained under Martin Wishart, is raising the bar further through a light touch with local ingredients, not least the abundant seafood. His simple rendering masks a flawless technique across several menus, with the wine dinners a particular highlight. GW. 01631 730236