Spean Bridge Restaurant, Smiddy House - Spean Bridge

A one-time smithy is the setting for this personally run 'luxury B& B' nestling among the foothills of some of Britain's loftiest peaks and only 15 minutes' drive from Ben Nevis.

Chef/proprietor Glen Russell's restaurant is spread over the ground floor of the building, with warming fires and candlelight creating just the right mood in the evening. The menu is an international mixed bag that pulls in ideas from Scotland via the Med to the Far East, so expect chicken liver, port and prune pâté, Scotch sirloin steak with all the trimmings and Highland fudge cheesecake in company with hot-smoked salmon and pineapple and tomato salsa, balsamic rack of lamb with barley risotto and rich Madeira jus, Malaysian-style beef and spiced poached pear with vanilla pannacotta.