Spring Travel: Marking a win up north

Since hospitality is such a challenging business, and the Highlands not exactly being short of destination places to eat, it’s a remarkable achievement for the Northern Sands Hotel in Dunnet, Caithness, to have won the Scottish Hotel Restaurant of the Year Award at the Food Awards Scotland 2022.
Theresa Macgregor (Company Manager), Darren Munro (Head Chef) and Ryan Colquhoun (Chef de Partie)Theresa Macgregor (Company Manager), Darren Munro (Head Chef) and Ryan Colquhoun (Chef de Partie)
Theresa Macgregor (Company Manager), Darren Munro (Head Chef) and Ryan Colquhoun (Chef de Partie)

Bought and completely renovated by Martin Nicolson in 2016, the hotel opened for business the following year, and in the years that followed, quickly built up an enviable reputation with locals and tourists on Scotland’s North Coast 500 route – and it could now be considered something of an essential stop.

Using locally-sourced produce from across the Highlands, the Northern Sands Hotel offers traditional pub food in generous portions – a total treat for the hungry traveller – with select modern influences carefully scattered throughout its menu.

Situated just four miles from the mainland’s most northerly point, Dunnet Head, the hotel is within easy reach of the historic Dwarwick pier for sight-seers who also wish to take in the sweeping white sandy beach that spans more than two miles, as well as the locale’s enchanted forest.

The Northern Sands Hotel has become so popular that – while the team, many of whom have been there since it opened in 2017, were thrilled to win the Hotel Restaurant of the Year last September, they were unfortunately unable to attend the ceremony in Edinburgh in person, as their establishment was fully booked.