HOTEL of the week
WHAT AND WHERE A revamped property in the centre of Inverness, gateway to the beautiful Highlands and the happiest city in the UK (according to an abundance of surveys on the matter). The Mercure has been given a makeover and their premium rooms are quite snazzy, with on-trend soft furnishings, Nespresso machines and a welcome hamper including wine and snacks – notable mentions going to the haggis and black pepper crisps, the Highland fudge (we have never tasted anything sweeter) and the chocolate Nessies.
ON THE MENU The hotel’s brasserie has tempura calamari with chilli and red pepper salsa and charred lemon, and deconstructed black pudding Scotch egg (whatever next?) with crispy pancetta and rocket to start. Mains range from a hearty steak and Doom Bar ale pie to the chef’s signature dish of chicken chorizo and spinach ballotine with sundried tomato salad. Breakfast offers all the usual suspects as well as Scottish touches such as tattie scones and haggis, and cranachan – a mix of raspberries, oats, whisky and cream, which is more properly a pudding. But what the heck, we’re on holiday.
WHILE YOU’RE THERE Inverness itself is pretty unremarkable, if we’re honest, but who cares when it has so many treasures on its doorstep. Of course, the first and most obvious port of call is Nessie-spotting on the stunning Loch Ness, where you can take a boat or drive the 23 mile length of it (if you’re used to smaller lakes the size will stagger – it contains more water than all those in England and Wales put together). There’s also the pretty seaside town of Nairn, great for little ones, and dolphin-spotting at nearby Chanonry Point. Go at low tide and you’re highly likely to spot them feeding just offshore. If you’re lucky you’ll see seals too. Inverness is also the start and end point for the best-by-500-miles road trip in the UK – the North Coast 500, a journey winding all the way around the northern Highlands and taking in the most breathtaking scenery in the British Isles. WAKE-UP CALL
Rooms from €79 a night. mercure inverness.co.uk, 0044 844 815 9006