Scotland the best
Super shopping
From pottery to plaid...discover the best of Scotland’s crafts hidden away around the country
Crail Pottery
At the foot of Rose Wynd, signposted from main street (best to walk). In a tree-shaded Mediterranean courtyard and upstairs attic, a cornucopia of brilliant and useful things by the prolifically talented Grieve family since 1965. Huge variety of useful and beautiful ceramics still being made downstairs. This is the East Neuk memento. Open 9am-5pm (weekends from 10am). Don’t miss the harbour nearby, one of the most romantic neuks in the Neuk. crailpottery.com; 01333 451212
Balnakeil Craft Village
From Durness and the A836, take Balnakeil and Faraid Head road for 2km west. Founded in the 1960s, this craft village is still home
to downshifters and creatives, ie talented people. Paintings, pottery, print-making, glass, wood and jewellery in prefab huts where community members work and hang out. Cocoa Mountain (01971 511233) make heavenly thin chocolate you get all over the north, including Dornoch. balnakeilcraftvillage.weebly.com
Kinloch Anderson
A trek from uptown but firmly on the tourist trail and so much better than the High Street, ie the tartan-tainted Royal Mile. Independent, family-run company since 1868, they are experts in Highland dress and all things tartan. They design and manufacture their own tartans, have a good range of men’s tweed jackets; even rugs. kinlochanderson.com; 0131 555 1390
Galloway Lodge Preserves
On the High Street, same building as the Post Office. Packed with local jams, marmalades, chutneys and pickles. Pottery by Scotia Ceramics, Highland Stoneware and Dunoon. Good presents and jam for you. gallowaylodge.co.uk; 01557 814001
Peter Irvine is the author of the essential travel guide Scotland the Best published by Collins, priced £15.99