Afternoon Tea in the Scottish Highlands
Tea at Inverlochy Castle
In this case it was Afternoon Tea at Inverlochy Castle in Fort Williams, Scotland.
We stayed here when we travelled to Scotland a few years ago, it’s a hotel in the style of a grand country home, built in the 1800s.
Surrounding it are extensive views of lush green landscapes, highland cows and mountain scenery, not to mention the lake it sits on.
An Agatha Christie Setting
Inside, Inverlochy Castle is a place where an Agatha Christie mystery would feel at home. With a library, drawing room and grand front room with roaring fireplace, the latter is the perfect setting for Afternoon Tea.
The tea service itself was fantastic.
Unfortunately, I waited a little too long to take this photo. I should have taken it before we dipped into the nibbles and drink.
Oh well. Sometimes one gets distracted.
Fireplace, Plush Surroundings…
It was a misty day when we had our tea in front of the fireplace. I think there was piano playing in the background.
Compared to a London hotel experience, this was a little bit different. It really felt like we were guests in someone’s home vs guests in a hotel.
Now, I love Afternoon Tea in fancy hotels and this WAS a fancy hotel but being out in the country it had a more relaxed vibe.
And the seating was more akin to an English country house (even though we were in Scotland) rather than a hotel.
It all came down to the cushions.
I remember sitting on one of the low couches and feeling myself sink - in a good way. Low seating is not uncommon in city hotels that serve tea but at Inverlochy, the furniture looked less…what’s the word? Commercial, I guess.
If you are travelling to Scotland, there are numerous opportunities for Afternoon Tea, this is just one of them, but I will say that this was one of the best AT experiences I’ve ever had.
Maybe it was the castle setting, maybe it was the magic of being in the Highlands or maybe it was the above par service and just being on holiday. Or maybe a combination of all of the above.
No matter what it was, it worked.
Inverlochy Castle