Artisan coffee, vegan food, and craft beer might not be what comes to mind when travelling in rural Scotland but the North Coast 500 has it all! Here are a few of my favourite stops from our Scottish road trip:
Perk
Specialising in coffee and doughnuts Perk was the perfect place to fuel up before hitting the road. It’s a small cafe with a constant flow of customers. Not got much of a sweet tooth? Perk also have a great selection of lunch options like sandwiches, soups and toasties. They had a really good variety of vegan options in both their baked goods and savoury options
36 Church St, Inverness IV1 1EH
Black Isle Brewing Co
Organic beers from the highlands. Another must for us when setting off on a road trip is picking up some local craft beer. The brewery is just a short drive from Inverness, and tours are offered daily between 10-3.30pm. We didn’t have time for a tour but the welcoming staff gave us great chat through all the beers and their process, which helped us get a great selection for our holiday including some awesome non-alcoholic options. They also have a lovely market garden onsite where they grow organic fruits, vegetables, and herbs which are used in their bars which are located in Inverness and Fort William.
Old Allangrange, Munlochy IV8 8NZ
Norse Bakehouse
A family run bakery and pizzeria with vegan options located in Tongue. This was a lovely stop on the North Coast 500; we were lucky enough to catch a sunny day when we arrived at Norse Bakehouse so ordered sandwiches and sat outside in their garden to enjoy the view over the bay. We also made friends with a fluffy sheep, and the owners’ playful dogs across the other side of the fence. The jackfruit sandwich was generous and delicious, I will forever be grateful for places who make the effort to make exciting vegan options instead of it always being falafel. They were also incredibly welcoming to Harley, our border collie, giving him treats and water. A definite favourite for all the family.
Woodend, A836, Rhitongue, Lairg IV27 4XW
Cereal Bakery
A bakery, bookshop, cafe, and shop selling local produce. Cereal is aesthetically stunning after a huge renovation project to bring life back into the historic Burr’s of Tongue Trading Post. The bakery isn’t open every day so we actually camped out an extra night just so we could visit after following Niall and Wing Mon’s own-business journey on Instagram. It was so worth the wait, the space has such a relaxing atmosphere, it was the perfect place to plan the rest of our trip over a great oat latte and some baked treats.
Burr’s of, Tongue, Lairg IV27 4XF
Cocoa Mountain
Chocolate goods made by hand with the best ingredients. Cocoa Mountain offer a range of chocolate products, including vegan options. They have two location on the North Coast 500 route. We actually visited both! On the way to Dornaoch beach we picked up some chocolates to finish off our picnic. We enjoyed these so much that a few day later we popped back into the Balnakeil branch to warm up with a vegan hot chocolate after a wander round the creative craft village. If you only have time for one stop I’d highly recommend Balnakeil as you can have a look in lots of talented local creatives’ studios as well as getting your chocolate fix.
8, Balnakeil, Durness, Craft IV27 4PT
Applecross Inn
This was recommend both by our neighbour and by Black Isle Brewery and with that kind of high praise of course we had to go! After a lovely walk round Applecross House (saying hi to deer and highland cows), then through the woods, we were happy warming up in the cozy surrounding of the Applecross Inn. A traditional pup setting with sea views, the menu is homely with offerings like sandwiches, pub classics, and locally caught seafood. I had a hearty bowl of vegan chilli which was packed with fresh flavour and exactly what I needed to replenish. They also had a good selection of non alcoholic drinks perfect for a road trip and locally brewed beers which we picked up for later.
Shore St, Applecross, Strathcarron IV54 8LR
Driftwood Cafe
Located in Lochinver, Driftwood is a friendly local cafe serving homemade cakes, sandwiches and snacks. This a buzzy little spot was an excellent unplanned lunch stop with freshly made soup and delicious vegan sausage roll.
12, Lochinver, Lairg IV27 4JY
The Torridon
A 5* hotel might seem like an odd recommendation from a couple who sleep in a van BUT The Torridon also has great dog friendly food and drink options in the Beinn Bar. Such a warm welcoming space with a wide selection of drinks, including their own gin.
Annat, By Achnasheen, Wester Ross IV22 2EY
The Wildcat
A lively vegan cafe offering breakfast, lunch, cakes, coffee and zero waste groceries. This is a must stop every time we’re heading through Fort William. My personal favourite option is the Tofu and Mushroom Florentine, I have no idea how they create such magic in such a small kitchen.
21 High St, Fort William PH33 6DH
If we have the same taste why not check out my other travel guides?
