Gallery Life
Highland Roads and Highland Light: A Scottish Journey
There are some trips you talk about for years before you finally take them. I had been promising to take my son to Scotland for some time, having the previous year discovered the magnificent Torridon Hotel and all its culinary delights. Also, we really wanted to drive the infamous ‘Skyfall Road’ near Glencoe which was made famous by James Bond and ‘M’ in his glorious DB5. Alas, we were not travelling in a DB5 but very happy to be in our Land Rover Defender, which was more than up for the job!
So, with the car packed, the Highlands stretching out ahead, and that mix of James Bond grit and Top Gear adventure fuelling our adrenaline, this September, we finally did it.
The Road North
We began in Ayrshire at the Trump Turnberry Hotel, a world class golf resort that looks out over rugged coastline and rolling fairways. Dinner at The Clubhouse, aptly named The Duel in the Sun, came with beautiful views across the course. Afterward, Harry and I tackled some pitch and putt — though I’ll admit the course probably won that duel.
From there we drove north into the Highlands, the road climbing and curling until it delivered us to The Torridon, one of Scotland’s most remarkable hotels. May I just pause at this point to say, if you are even just toying with the idea of staying at the Torridon, toy no longer…just do it! It is absolutely beautiful; fabulous and delightful all in one. Returning this time, for my second visit, I was a little nervous it might not live up to previous expectations but I can safely say it far outpassed them. It is just like staying in a dear friends home, right there on the shores of Loch Torridon and as relaxing as putting on a favourite jumper and slippers. Go there, you won’t regret it.
A Taste of Scotland
If the scenery fed the soul, the food did much the same. At The Torridon’s pub, The Bo & Muc, we tucked into venison curry and lamb cutlet — hearty, local, and perfectly done and washed down with a delicious Guinness or two; the barman Duncan being an expert on the subject! The following night was something else entirely: a seven-course tasting menu in the hotel itself. Each plate was a little work of art, and together they became a memory that will stay with us, all paired perfectly with a delightful range of wines.
Light on the Hills
But it was the landscapes that left the deepest mark. Vast skies, glassy lochs, hills that shifted colour by the second. Stand there long enough and you understand why so many artists have been drawn to Scotland — how they’ve tried to capture not just the look of it, but the feeling of standing amongst those ancient hills, rocks and waters.
At The Stag Gallery, we’ve gathered our share of Scottish works over the years. Paintings that echo what we saw on that trip — castles on lochside shores, cattle grazing in Highland fields, bridges and sunsets caught on canvas…Visiting the Highlands in person is an unforgettable experience that deserves to be savoured by all. But until we can get there again, we shall just have to enjoy a painting or two on the wall instead!
