6 Best Restaurants in The Northern Highlands and the Western Isles, Scotland

This excellent little bakery–café serves house-made cakes, tray bakes, and pastries, along with artisan coffee and an array of tempting foodie gifts and souvenirs—all to be enjoyed with a stunning vista of Eilean Donan Castle. In summer, the café also displays evocative works by local artist Lorraine Tolmie. It's 8 miles east of Kyle of Lochalsh.

This charming family-run deli serves delicious housemade sandwiches, pies, soups, salads, and hummus to a long line of locals and tourists. It also has great cakes and baked goods. Those in need of takeout supplies will find shelves stacked with gourmet goodies, from smoked salmon and cured venison to farmhouse cheeses and Mediterranean olives.

A must for those with a sweet tooth, this "chocolate bar" within the Balnakeil Craft Village serves world-class truffles and stunningly rich hot chocolate made in its specialist "chocolate factory," which sources the beans from around the world. There are also sandwiches, cakes, and coffee available.

This rustic little deli-café, in an old mill on the edge of Broadford, serves delicious coffee, cakes, and savory snacks ranging from toasted sandwiches and baked potatoes to soups and salads. Come early for the Eggs Royale made with locally smoked Scottish salmon.

This renovated croft house café, which is tucked just off the twisting Golden Road running south from Tarbert to Leverburgh, has a simple, delicious menu that changes daily. It serves everything from filling house-made soups to sumptuous smoked salmon to mouthwatering cakes. You can also buy works of art by resident artist Andrew John Craig, along with other handcrafted souvenirs.

At the eastern edge of the Bealach na Ba, the steepest road ascent in Britain, this lovely café offers sandwiches, soups, and fine house baking against a stunning mountain backdrop. Enjoy the view through the café's large windows or from the outside deck, if weather allows. The café also doubles as a gallery, exhibiting the work of local artists, and has various handicrafts for sale. If you are skipping Applecross, you can get here from Shieldaig simply by heading south on the A896 for 8½ miles.