Badachro: giving guests a taste of the north
When Gordon and Vanessa Quinn quit the rat race of London and Edinburgh and relocated to Badachro in the Scottish Highlands, it was a life-changing decision in more ways than one.
The couple built their own home in this picturesque hamlet on the south side of Gairloch– the reason for opting for this secluded location in Wester Ross was because Gordon and Vanessa first met in the Badachro Inn, some 24 years ago. Their shared dream was to open holiday accommodation in the Scottish Highlands, and for the last 13 years they have done just that at Aird Hill B&B and their self-catering cottage Little Aird Hill, before launching Badachro Distillery four years ago. Distiller Gordon, who spent many years working in the advertising industry, explained: “Our B&B guests wanted something from the area to take home as souvenirs. So, with Vanessa retrained as a horticulturist, we wondered what we could make using the scents and tastes of the plants around us. We began experimenting with flavours, including juniper, and that was when we came up with the idea for creating our own gin and opening a distillery.” Their aim was to “express as much as Badachro and the surrounding area has to offer in a high quality, authentictasting gin”. Initially, Badachro Distillery created the fresh, natural Badachro Gin for the local pub and B&B guests to purchase. Today, Badachro Gin has amassed a huge customer base not only in Wester Ross and across Scotland but in Europe, however, the ethos of this quaint micro distillery remains unchanged – its ingredients and botanicals are still hand-picked by the couple, the gin continues to be handbottled, and the label is hand-written by Vanessa herself. Gordon added: “We are still a small artisan distillery that has production and provenance at its heart and we want to keep it that way.” Like the distillery of the same name, Badachro the hamlet is also small and punches well above its weight, and it is where Gordon and Vanessa are proud to call home. Although located three miles off the North Coast 500, on the so-called ‘over side’ of Gairloch, it is still considered to be part of the famous route. However, unlike some of the well-known stop-off points, Badachro is a well-kept secret on the road less travelled. In this former fishing village in the North West Highlands you can enjoy a wide variety of holiday or weekend pursuits, as well as exploring the distillery and learning all about the gin production process. There is a canoeing centre and, at the nearby Red Point Beach an opportunity to horse ride along the beach. Also for the adventurous, there are Argo cat driving tours and, showcasing local talent, a craft shop, while the nearby Shieldaig Lodge Hotel offers falconry as well as an alternative up-market place to stay near Badachro, in addition to the Quinn’s on-site holiday accommodation. Edinburgh-born Gordon added: “We [the distillery] are one reason for people to visit Badachro, but there are plenty more reasons to visit this hidden gem.”