A pub in a remote village has been named one of the 10 best in the UK despite its location far from major towns or cities.
Arisaig is a small village in Lochaber, Scotland, set against the stunning backdrop and craggy coastline of the Scottish Highlands.
The area is home to just 300 people and distant from other towns, with Mallaig, a community of 680 to its north, the closest at seven miles.
Despite its detachment from major settlements, Arisaig is popular and reliant on tourism, which serves as its primary industry.
Among the village’s main pulls is its flagship pub, the Crofter’s Rest, which is now one of the country’s best.
Crofter’s Rest operates out of the Arisaig hotel, which looks out onto the islands of the inner Hebrides archipelago.
The Daily Telegraph listed the location fourth on its list of pubs “worth travelling for”, dubbing it “snug” and “atmospheric”.
Will Hawkes, a travel writer for the publication, said it has “all the elements you would wish for”.
While he added that it can be a difficult location to reach from the closest city, Glasgow, it is “worth it” for the food, drink, music and festivals.
He said: “The last time I stayed, I arrived by train.
“It’s a five-hour chug up from Glasgow, but worth it, both for the scenery – taking in everything from the stately sweep of Glenfinnan Viaduct to Rannoch Moor – and the convivial atmosphere on board.
“There’s nothing quite like arriving in the heart of the Highlands on a warm summer’s evening.”
Others feel the same, with the pub and hotel having won the hearts of hundreds of reviewers on TripAdvisor.
One reviewer posting in October 2023 said the Crofter’s Rest is a “fantastic wee pub and restaurant”, adding they were “blown away” by the food.
Another added the pub was a “great place for a drink and even better for a meal.”
