A MORE OR NESS PERFECT PLACE TO STAY

Our first night’s stop was at Ness Walk, a lovely five-star hotel tucked away on the banks of the River Ness, and only a short walk from Inverness town centre. Based around a restored, Grade B-listed 19th century house, but updated with modern design and architecture, Ness Walk had a warm, lavish, welcoming feel after a long day’s adventuring.

The three-course meal at the Torrish restaurant went down particularly well – hand-dived West Coast scallops with golden raisins, cauliflower puree and tiny chunks of black pudding for both of us to start, then the perfectly pink beef rump for me, soy-glazed duck with pink-pickled ginger for more adventurous Alex.

Dessert sounded equally good, but generous portions (and jumping the gun with too much delicious sour-dough bread and home-made butter) meant we had to turn back before reaching the summit on this occasion, choosing instead to rest in the bar. Visit: nesswalk.com