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Dores Inn (The)

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Slug
Slug
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5 out of 5
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1
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Enjoy a Loch Ness View from the Dores Inn

  • April 5, 2009
  • Rated 5 of 5 by Slug from Huddersfield, United Kingdom
Enjoy a Loch Ness View from the Dores Inn

Thanks to the strangely reticent monster, Loch Ness is known the world over. As I travel to Loch Ness on a fairly frequent basis, I often wonder what visitors to the loch think to the reality of the place. Lock Ness doesn’t offer my favourite Scottish views, as most of the loch sides are planted with pine, lending a slightly glum air to much of the place. On one side of the loch, the busy stream of traffic on the A82 hardly encourages that wee beastie to pop its head above water, for fear of carbon monoxide poisoning and a fierce assault on the ears by speeding vehicles.

However, not all is lost. Fortunately, the other side of the loch has a minor road, which although completely clogged up by slow driving tourists during the summer months, at least offers a little peace and quiet off-season. It is on this side of the loch, where the excellent and recently refurbished Dores Inn is located, in the tiny village of Dores (duh!). The village is about 8 miles from Inverness.

Dores Inn is right by the shores of the loch, and is a very popular place even off-season. It’s hardly surprising, given the great view of the loch and the mountains behind. As we hadn’t booked, the wait staff asked us to return in half an hour, giving us a good time to explore a little up the side of the loch. It was a good job the beastie wasn’t spotted else we would have eaten him!

The Dores Inn appears to be created from a short row of small traditional white rendered cottages located right on the shore. The inside of the Inn has been completely modernised, but it is simply furnished with white or exposed stone walls, and simple wooden floors, chairs and tables. It is quaint looking with its low ceilings.

I was pleased to see that the bar stocked a good range of wines whiskeys and a good on tap beer – a couple of choices from the local Caledonian brewery. The owner apparently comes from Pontefract, and his black beer, is apparently coloured and flavoured with Pontefract cakes. I could certainly get a great liquorice taste, so I have no reason to disbelieve the rumour.

We were dining at our friends home later that evening, so we only chose a starter course at the Dores Inn. Despite their being full, they didn’t seem to mind our minimalist order. For main courses, I was pleased to see a reasonable choice of traditional meat choices, such as homemade burger, pie, and roast dinner. Most choices were of the meat variety, although vegetarians and fish eaters also had a choice or two. Most of the main courses were priced at around £9 - £12 each, which is reasonable for a meal of this standard, although the burgers looked very good value.

Meanwhile on the cheap seats (starters were around £5 -£6 each), my beloved chose the smoked haddock fishcakes for her starter. There was quite a selection to choose from, including two very tempting home made soups, and calamari, which looked fresh tasting, and satisfyingly uneven looking.

My beloved was pleased with her choice, two large fishcakes, very tasty, and with high haddock content. To accompany her meal, she enjoyed the strongly garlic tasting mayonnaise and the side salad.

I couldn’t resist the venison and pistachio pate, served with homemade beer bread, and salad. I loved the meaty taste of the pate, and was pleased that it was a crumbly almost dry pate, which added more bite, rather than smooth. The pistachios were whole and dotted through the pate, and they added a lighter taste. My pate went very well with the dark malty beer bread, although I had more pate than bread on my plate. Our service was very prompt and polite, and the staff are well presented.

Once we had finished our starter, we actually all agreed that this was a reasonable amount of food for lunchtime, and was certainly pleased we hadn’t ordered two courses. That said, as we left for the door, I had a certain regret that I hadn’t tried to fit in a little more delicious food. While I love Scotland, unfortunately there aren’t too many good quality mid-range eateries, so the Dores Inn doesn’t have too much competition.

From journal Visiting the Scottish Highlands

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