New Hosts at The Dores Inn.

After reading the article below we decided to check out the Dores Inn to see if it was good enough to recommend to our guests......things we have to do !

New mine hosts at Dores Inn promise fine local food.
Press & Journal: Published: 12/11/2008

A HIGHLAND couple whose restaurant at a wildlife haven has built a reputation for fine local food will spread their wings next week by opening the doors of their latest venture on the banks of Loch Ness. Farmer Quintin Stevens and his wife Michelle, who have run the Storehouse of Foulis visitor attraction at Evanton on the Cromarty Firth for three and a half years, have just renovated the Dores Inn.

As part of extensive refurbishment, they have fitted a new kitchen, dining area and cellar, and opened up the pub restaurant to allow views of the loch.

Mr Stevens said..It is an amazing location and we felt the south side of Inverness was lacking good eateries. What better place to be than plumb on the end of Loch Ness. We wanted to recreate a traditional pub with the emphasis on food, beer and wine, which I think there is a lack of in the area. We have recreated the menu with the emphasis on local food.

Former host and ex-Highland councillor Ella MacRae called time on the inn earlier this year, ending a half-century link with the place she first worked at as a waitress at the age of 15. The popular venue has become a firm fixture of music lovers who flood into the village for the annual RockNess festival. If all goes to plan the Stevens intention is to reopen the inn for business a week today.

The Dores Inn is positioned at the eastern end of Loch Ness with commanding views and looking onto a wonderful crescent beach - ideal for a stroll before or after eating.

We found the staff very friendly and wearing attractive uniforms. The new manageress is excellent, really making you feel welcome combined with a vast experience of the hospitality trade and knowledge of food and wines. It now serves food all day - from morning coffee and cakes to lunch, afternoon teas and an evening meal. We were very impressed with the menu, the variety of food and 'specials of the day' which made actually choosing our meals rather difficult - we kept changing our minds. The food was wholesome and delicious, the atmosphere was relaxing and the staff were very attentive. There was a choice of fresh home made desserts or large slices of chocolate or lemon drizzle cake which went down a treat. We thoroughly enjoyed our lunch and are so pleased to be able to recommend The Dores Inn to our guests and also to have somewhere pleasant and local to dine at ourselves.

Read more about the village of Dores.

Novenber sunset on Loch Ness.

Watched the sun setting on Loch Ness yesterday at 3.30 in the afternoon - spectacular.

Long tailed tits are back in the garden.

The distinctive sound of a flock of long tailed tits calling to each other was heard well before they appeared out of the trees and fluttered between the nut feeders and fat balls. They are easily recognisable by their small round pinkish tinged body and a very narrow long black and white edged tail, the longest tail of any British bird in proportion to its body. They did not stay for long and soon zoomed off to their next destination. See them in action.

Goldfinch in the garden.

A colourful goldfinch visited one of the nut feeders in the garden yesterday...a welcome sight as we do not see many of these although they are now becoming more common as garden birds.

Well fed squirrels.

Unlike the grey squirrels - which fortunately do not inhabit this far north - the red squirrels do not hibernate in winter so we have to keep all the nut feeders stocked up. We have seen them burying nuts lately in the grassy bank behind the cottage to dig up and eat in the future - possibly when it is really cold. They are very acrobatic and will eat anything on top of the bird table - seeds, bread, biscuits and are even partial to a piece of yorkshire pudding.

Pitlochry.

Went for a day trip to Pitlochry-about 100 miles down the A9-to MacDonald the Butcher's to fill up the freezer for winter. As we drove through the edge of the Cairngorm National Park the snow became more prominent on the mountain tops. The Cairngorm ski season has opened one month earlier this year because of the heavy snowfall on the mountains during late October.After a stroll down the high street and a look in most of the shop windows,several of which were adorned with christmas decorations,we left our order with the butcher and went away to have lunch. Drove to our secret location up the hill behind Pitlochry village along the colourful autumn lanes. Enjoyed a picnic on the bench by the pond gazing at the wonderful reflections and watching the ducks and cygnets which have grown since we last saw them in May.

Chill out at Chanonry Point.

Went with great expectations and a packed lunch to Chanonry Point on The Black Isle in the hope of seeing the Moray Firth dolphins. Checked the time of the high tide and got in position on the beach about one hour beforehand and waited excitedly.The crowd gathered and we all froze together..it must have only been about 2 or 3 degrees with a biting cold wind blowing in along the Moray Firth from the North Sea. A few sightings of the odd fin and nose but not enough for any photos. We did get talking to a fellow watcher who had come all the way from Edinburgh in the hope of seeing them, as her son sponsers one called Sundance. Fortunately for us we can easily come to Chanonry Point any time we fancy a break with the chance of seeing the dolphins.On the drive back home we spotted a red kite gliding above us. These have recently been reintroduced onto the Isle and have been breeding successfully. Stopped at Dores for a view down the Great Glen....beautiful with the snow still on tops. Back at home we found five female pheasants on the rockery, a cheeky red squirrel on the bird table and later in the dusk of the evening we were visited by a young stag and hind...what a lovely place to live whatever the weather.