Mid-November is still a rewarding time to see the most beguiling foliage in the Highlands, without having to pack your warmest gear. St Andrew’s Day, the national day of Scotland, falls at the end of the month and is traditionally celebrated with a glorious feast. An opportune time to curl up by the fire and sample the best local produce at The Torridon. You might just share your meal with a view of the first snowfall of the season.

Experience stargazing

The wilderness surrounding The Torridon is classified as a ‘Bortle 1 or 2 Location’. This means that it has some of the darkest skies in Europe and November brings the perfect conditions for our once in a lifetime stargazing experience. Enjoy a three-course dinner with dedicated astronomer Stephen Mackintosh, before he guides you across the Highlands, sharing his wealth of knowledge about the night sky, and revealing the best view of the outstanding Arcturus constellation. Head back to the hotel for a post-excursion Q&A, and a complimentary selection of photographs from your evening.

What’s growing?

A relative of cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower, you’ll find our kohl rabi at its sweetest this time of the year. The cooler weather intensifies its juicy texture and crisp flesh similar to our apples. Dating back nearly 2000 years, kohl rabi was once grown on the land of the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire in 800 A.D. Our team continue to prepare this vegetable luxuriously as we gently pickle, grate, and puree with an array of spices, to let the sweet kohl rabi flavour shine through.

Flavour of the month

A spot on the south facing wall of our Kitchen Garden ensures our pears soak up the winter sun. Often starting to ripen from mid-autumn, now is when our team thinks of creative and comforting dishes to showcase this wonderfully versatile fruit. You’ll find them caramelised down into sticky chutneys, delicately poached in a warming red wine, and paired with moreish brown butter ice cream on the 1887 dessert menu.