Inspiration

Stunning scenery, wild walks and fabulous food: five places to find Michelin-fêted restaurants in gorgeous landscapes

Sawday's Expert

5 min read

You might imagine a walking holiday is all OS maps, walking boots, and a cup of tea and a biscuit when you arrive back at your cottage or B&B. Now, you’ll need those maps and boots in order to discover rugged landscapes and enchanting views, wildlife-rich marshes, ancient forests and glittering lakes, but we’d like to point you in the direction of something a bit fancier than a cup of tea and a biscuit (much as we like them, too). Here are five superb Michelin-star or Michelin-recommended restaurants to rest your weary feet and tantalise your taste buds after a stomp around some wild countryside. Recommended by our local owners and in-house experts, you can expect impeccable tasting menus showing off hyper-seasonal produce, all in drop dead gorgeous settings. 

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Loch Bay Restaurant, Isle of Skye

Vicki, owner of Near Byre, recommends Loch Bay .

Anchored to the Scottish mainland since the construction of the Skye Bridge in 1995, the island’s stunning scenery is truly intoxicating. One of the largest of Scotland’s islands, it’s a mesmerising 50-mile-long checkerboard of towering mountains, glistening lochs, rugged moors and imposing cliffs. Popular as it is, you can escape the crowds by heading into far-flung corners, and walkers are spoilt for choice. Whether you’re looking for a challenge, or simply want to soak it all up on a gentle stroll, there are walks to suit all levels. Scramble up the Cuillin, the UK’s most challenging mountain; wander through the weird and wonderful rock formations of the Quiraing; stroll along Talisker Bay, one of the few sandy beaches on Skye – take a bracing dip, if you dare! If you find yourself in the Waternish Peninsula, book a table at Loch Bay Restaurant, a snug, intimate and informal Michelin-star restaurant, set in an old crofter’s cottage with lovely views to distant hills. Husband and wife duo, Michael and Laurence Smith, are the talented chef and urbane front of house. Smith is classically-trained and it shows in his perfectly executed dishes as he adds a French flourish to Scottish menus packed with seafood from the surrounding ocean. A real treat. 

View all our places to stay on the Isle of Skye >

Hjem, Northumberland 

Emma and James, owners of Laverick Cottage, recommend Hjem.

Wild and beautiful Northumberland is rich in both history and heritage. Renowned for its breathtakingly clear night skies and fiercely independent spirit it still feels undiscovered. If its charming, castle-crowned villages and wide, sandy beaches were located on the South Coast you wouldn’t be able to move for tourists. As it is, you can discover forests, lakes, islands, hills, moors, rivers and more, and you’ll mainly only rub shoulders with myriad wildlife and a few locals. Near pretty Hexham, Hjem, pronounced ‘yem’, is a Scandi-chic restaurant that marries the very best Northumbrian produce with precise Scandinavian cooking techniques. Head chef, Alex, hails from Sweden, whilst restaurant manager, Ally, grew up down the road. Alex learnt his craft working in high-end Michelin restaurants throughout Scandinavia, Ally has managed busy eateries all over the world, and they both jumped at the chance to set up on their own. Happily they’ve bagged a coveted Michelin star two years in a row. Take a seat in the airy restaurant and work your way through the impeccable tasting menu, a delightful mixture of light bites and larger dishes cooked to perfection. 

View all our places to stay in Northumberland >

Chapters, The Black Mountains in Wales 

Val, owner of Atelier Hay, recommends Chapters. 

The Brecon Beacons National Park is a breathtakingly beautiful rural landscape, all vast grassy moorlands, serene reservoirs, waterfall-splashed valleys and high mountain plateaus. The Black Mountains, a group of ancient red sandstone hills, stand proudly in its far-eastern corner and are a magnet for walkers year-round. We love the mythically-named Dragons Back circular walk with its ups-and-downs as you negotiate the sleeping dragon’s spine, spellbinding views from the highest point of the Black Mountains, Waun Fach, and a stop off at Castell Dinas hillfort (the highest castle in Wales). Once you’ve conquered the dragon it’ll be time for a spoiling supper. Bookish Hay-on-Wye with its quirky, off-beat image and plethora of independent shops and businesses is the perfect setting for a Michelin-star meal. There’s nothing pretentious about Chapters though, chef patron Mark McHugo encourages an easygoing informality where everyone feels welcome. Tucked in a leaded-windowed, stone building, it’s a cosy spot with a rustic feel. The menus are hyper-seasonal and local sourcing is key, they grow interesting vegetables and herbs in a bountiful garden just outside town in order to minimise food miles and pay homage to the seasons.

View all our places to stay near to Hay-on-Wye >

SOURCE, the Lake District 

Part of Gilpin Hotel

The Lakes, or Lakeland as the locals call it, have long influenced poets and writers. Wordsworth’s poem, Daffodils, was penned after a springtime visit to Ullswater, and Beatrix Potter’s books and illustrations endure and delight as they pay homage to her adopted county. The area continues to inspire; it’s easily the most-visited National Park in the UK. A magnet for outdoor-lovers, the Lakes are jam-packed with rugged hills, mountain tarns and glittering lakes just waiting to be hiked, strolled and cruised. Once you’ve exhausted yourself on bracing walks aplenty, you’ll be ready for a delicious dinner, and luckily the area is awash with good places to eat. SOURCE at The Gilpin in Windermere is run by Ollie Bridgwater, who took over the restaurant earlier this year following a decade at Heston Blumenthal’s three Michelin starred restaurant Fat Duck. He brings his incredible technical skills and passion for exquisite ingredients to wow guests with distinct flavours, seasonal and local produce, and a sprinkle of storytelling and culinary magic.

Other Cumbrian delights include inventive bistro The Yan in Grasmere, as well as places vying to boost their Michelin stars – L’Enclume in Cartmel, Forest Side in Grasmere.

View all our places to stay in the Lake District >

The Ingham Swan, Norfolk

Simon, owner of Shangri-La recommends The Ingham Swan .

Norfolk’s coast is all big skies, sweeping, sandy beaches and a charming subtle beauty. You’re never far from water here: walk along windmill-dotted rivers, explore the tranquil Norfolk Broads and the bird-filled sands on the seashore. Norfolk is home to no fewer than six nature reserves – Scolt Head Island, Titchwell, Holkham, Blakeney Point, Holme Dunes and Cley. Blakeney Point, the first coastal nature reserve in Britain, is the place to spot sprawling seals, and watching honking geese descend on Holkham marshes at dusk is a wondrous sight. There’s a sense of space in Norfolk, thanks to its long marshes, wild dunes and muted colours; sunsets here are a thing to behold. Coastal villages range from quaint to Victorian splendour – check out Cromer’s magnificent pier. Inland you’ll find genteel towns and big, buzzy Norwich with its fine cathedral and a lively market. Norfolk maintains a distinct identity and local lad Daniel Smith, chef patron at the Michelin-recommended Ingham Swan, a smart inn nestled in an ancient hamlet, champions the county. He showcases the best local ingredients, cooking with imagination and flair, in a friendly and relaxed setting.

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Ruth Richardson

Sawday's Expert

Ruth loves a good story. Following a decade living in London and working in publishing, her ears are always pricked for a spicy plot twist or unforgettable character. She delights in meeting hosts and discovering the history that brought saffron to her spaghetti, the hiking detours that will lead to temple ruins, and why someone cares so passionately about their special corner of the world. She loves that as a marketer for Sawday’s she can share these stories with others too.

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