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ACHILTIBUIE - visited when staying in Ullapool
* SUMMER ISLES HOTEL - Last visit: 2006 - remote hotel in this tiny village north of Ullapool with a small bar selling 3 real ales, I only popped in for a quick pint

APPLECROSS - camped here one night
* APPLECROSS INN - Last visit: 2009 - whitewashed pub on the narrow lane through the village, inside is a long narrow room with some bare stone and a wood burning stove. But why pay much attention to the interior when the views from the front are stunning across to Raasay and the Isle of Skye, especially on a lovely sunny evening as when I visited. There are benches outside while across the lane is a beer garden right on the loch shore, I dont think I've ever had a pint (or 4! ) in such a beautiful location. 2 fine ales from the Isle of Skye brewery, decent food and good service despite it being quite busy - a perfect place!  photo  website

AVIEMORE - have stayed here for the night on a few occasions over the years
* CAIRNGORM HOTEL - Last visit: 2011. attractive stone building opposite the station, the public bar is one quite large room with fireplace, dark wood, lots of sports memorabilia and tartan decorations! There's also a dining room. Several TV screens showing sport, busy with a mix of visitors and locals. 2 ales both from the local Cairngorm brewery and friendly service. I stayed in the hotel, this isn't a hotel guide but I will say the breakfasts are superb (eg huge!) photo  website
* OLD BRIDGE INN - Last visit: 2011. old building with a small cosy bar, I first visited long ago. By the time of my most recent visit there'd been an extension added and the inside had been rearranged but it's still cost and old feeling with beams, dark lighting and real fire. 2 ales on my last visit, one from Cairngorm brewery. I'd eaten here in the past, but the food has gone quite up market (no doubt very good but not my thing!). There's also seating across the road by the river  Photo website
* WINKING OWL - Last visit: 2011.  the bar is in the upstairs roof space of this old building (downstairs is a club), an unusual layout with various seating areas lined with pale wood, parts of it feel like some sort of chalet. Decorated with skis, sledges and lots of beermats along with carved wooden squirrels, eagles and of course owls! 2 ales from Cairngorm brewery and very nice, the food is basic but good and big portions which makes me happy! Big screen with TV sport  photo   website

BALLOCH - stayed in Balloch for a night when heading elsewhere and went to a pub to eat, I think was this one..
* BALLOCH HOTEL (?) - Last visit: 1996 I remember it being a decent place with real beer, but that's all I can recall

BOAT OF GARTEN - stayed near here for a couple of nights
* BOAT HOTEL - Last visit: 1996 - went to eat in the public bar/restaurant of a hotel here and assume if must be this one. Cant remember many details but it did have real ale

EDINBURGH and surroundings - I've stayed here a few times and also stopped off when changing trains, a great city with many superb pubs.
* ABBOTSFORD - Last visit: 2011. - a traditional bar in an old corner building. One room around an ornate central bar, lots of dark wood and a fancy ceiling too! Plenty of ales from small Scottish breweries. photo  website
* ATHLETIC ARMS (aka DIGGERS) - Last visit: 2009. - west of the city centre near Meadowbank & Hearts' Ground, a good locals pub on the corner of rows of tenement flats. Inside is a bright bare floored main room with high ceiling, big windows and fixed tables. Also a smaller back room with dart board. Beer wise it has a couple of pumps for guest ale along with traditional fonts selling Caledonian brews & a house beer from Stewart. Several TV screens showing sport. photo  website
* BARONY BAR - Last visit: 2009 - large L shaped corner pub decorated with lots of big mirrors, ornate ceiling, real fire and a long bar with 8 real ales including a number of good Scottish beers. It was packed on my visit with people watching rugby on TV so I couldn't really explore it properly but seemed a fine place    photo
* BLUE BLAZER - Last visit: 2009 - a small cosy corner pub not far from the castle, the front room has a bare floor and real fire, behind is a comfortable little back room. 8 ales mostly from small Scottish breweries served from a mix of handpumps and fonts, though more expensive than most other Edin pubs I tried  photo
* BOW BAR - Last visit: 2009 - excellent little pub in the old town with a shop like front and one narrow room decorated with old mirrors, maps, posters and so on. All ales are on a traditional air pressure fonts with a big choice of interesting beers from Scotland and elsewhere. photo   website
* CAFE ROYAL - Last visit: 2009 - large and impressive outside but a stunning interior. There's a mix of comfy seating and tables with bar stools around the central bar with lots of dark wood and carvings and which sells 4 real ales incl guests. Other interesting features inclue a high ornate ceiling, fireplace, big windows and a wall with tile mosaics of famous scientists. There's also a separate small but equally fancy restaurant room with fantastic decorative windows.  photo
* CAMBRIDGE - Last visit: 2009. - smart modern café bar behind Rose Street with comfy sofas, a small bar at the front and more seating up some steps at the back. A couple of Scottish real ale.    
* CASK AND BARREL - Last visit: 2009 - a big open bare floored ale house type place selling a vast choice of ales, plenty from small Scottish brewers. 2 large areas either side of the central bar, mostly laid out for people to stand and drink with barrels for tables, but there's seating round the sides and back. It's always been busy on my visits with people watching sports on several TV screens. photo
* CLOISTERS BAR - Last visit: 2009 - an interesting old stone building converted to a laid back feeling bar with a comfortable main room with fireplace, bare wooden floors and bench seating plus more room to loiter and drink to one side by the tricky spiral staircase which leads to the toilets. It was busy on my visit with a mix of punters and a choice of ales including interesting Scottish brews      photo
* DALRIADA - Last visit: 2009 - in Portobello, an imposing building on the prom. A nice relaxed feel inside with real fire and a small choice of ales including a Scottish guest beer, it's laid out like a house with a hall entranceway and rooms off to the sides. The main room is light and airy with a big bay window giving a view out across the sea, the small bar is in its own little room  photo
* DIRTY DICK'S - Last visit: 2009. - A touristy bar on Rose Street, but very interesting inside with a dimly lit little room with dark wood and bare brickwork decorated with all manner of objects on the walls, hanging from the ceilings, on every surface. There's more seating in a back room. A couple of ales, Cally IPA and 80' I think but by the time of night I visited I was on the single malts!       photo
* DOCTORS - Last visit: 2009. - large corner pub with a big curved bar, lots of wood and quite open plan but divided up into different areas. TV sport and a good choice of ales, many from interesting Scottish breweries, decent food too (many of the Edin pubs here sell food but I only mention it when I've eaten it!)   photo
* GUILDFORD ARMS - Last visit: 2009 - another of Edinburgh's splendid ornate big corner pubs. A partly tiled exterior with big curved windows, inside is a spacious open room with decorative ceiling and large wooden bar with many handpumps offering a mix of ales, plenty from Scottish breweries. There's a raised seating area at the back and a dining area on a balcony upstairs. Access is via a revolving door, which can make leaving after a few pints a bit of a challenge  photo
* HALFWAY HOUSE - Last visit: 2011. - a little one roomed pub hidden up steps in an alleyway near Waverley station and decorated with railway memorabilia. A basic but cosy place with a jukebox and a changing selection of ales from small Scottish brewers. Food sold, surprisingly for this sort of pub it's more quality than quantity but at a decent price (and is very good, but not a big plate of stodge that you sometimes need when drinking!)    photo
* MALT SHOVEL - Last visit: 2011 - large pub with a very wide front, several doors and lots of windows. The bar area is at one end, the rest is seperate rooms on different levels including wood panelling, areas with sofas etc. 4 ales, all Caledonian beers eg IPA, 80' etc.
* OLD CHAIN PIER - Last visit: 2001. Out of the city centre at Leith and built into the wall of the Forth estuary, the bay window at the back overhangs the shore. Was busy with locals and visitors and plenty of beers on offer, including Holts which I had to try, I'd never had it outside Manchester before and it travelled well though had almost doubled in price!
* ORMELIE TAVERN - Last visit: 2009 - In Portobello - behind the red exterior, which includes an interesting clock and lettering is in a jaunty font, is one main room, traditional but attractive and quite ornate with a long bar plus a couple of small side rooms. 4 ales ranging from Cally IPA to more interesting Scots guests, TV sports shown, seemd a busy friendly locals pub.  photo
* SCOTT'S BAR - Last visit: 2009 - small basic pub on Rose Street with one opened out rather sparse room. On my visit there were 3 handpumps but only Cally IPA was on   
* STARBANK INN - Last visit: 2001. Not far from the Chain Pier in Leith, had a very nice fish meal here. Remember it being an open bare floored room with nice views over the Forth and and a good range of beers.
* STANDING ORDER - Last visit: 2004 A very busy large open plan Wetherspoons pub in city centre, with a couple of smaller separate rooms at the front. When I visited late on a Saturday night was a crowded drinking den with the usual Wetherspoons beers.
* TASS - Last visit: 2011. - one quite large room in an impressive corner building on the Royal Mile. Inside is a basic bare wood floored pub with some seating in a raised area, a few beers including a house ale and other guests including little Scottish breweries. photo

FORT WILLIAM & GLEN NEVIS - I've stayed in Fort Bill quite a few times
* BEN NEVIS BAR - Last visit: 2010 - there're many bars/hotels named after the Ben, this is the pub on the High Streeet nr the Grog. 2 rooms, a public bar on one side with pool table and a comfy lounge to the other, old with beams but refurbished in a quite modern style with bare floors and sofas. Views out of the back windows to the loch, there's a balcony at the back too. 3 ales, on my vist two were from Caledonian and the 3rd was from Orkney. photo
* BEN NEVIS INN in Glen Nevis - Last visit: 2010 - a converted stone barn with a bunkhouse and bar. The bar is a long narrow bare walled room with wood burning stove, interesting photo, high ceiling and an upstairs seating area. A couple of good beers from An Tealach, food too. Nice beer garden with stunning views. photo
* COBBS BAR at NEVISPORTS - Last visit: 2010 - a bar housed in the distinctive building of the Nevis Sports outdoor shop. When the shop is shut the way into the bar is through an uninspiring side door but inside is a one roomed pub with wood panlleing, lots of interesting climbing related photos especially of the Ben, real fire and a lively atmosphere at busy times. 3 ales from Scottish breweries such as Atlas and Syke, basic but good value food too. photo
* GLEN NEVIS BAR & RESTAURANT in Glen Nevis - Last visit: 2010 - I assume run by the nearby campsite, but free for anyone to visit. A big modern style building, the bar room is large, open plan and rather bland (despite the displays of kettles!) but it was selling 2 ales from the Atlas brewery, nice too though pretty pricey.
* GROG AND GRUEL - Last visit: 2010 - no visit to Fort William is complete without a visit to the excellent Grog. A small narrow cosy 'ale house', lots of dark wood and bare floors and often busy with a mix of punters from those who've been up Ben Nevis, less adventerous tourists and locals. Plenty of handpumps on the bar with various beers from independent Scottish breweries, also many whiskies. A limited bar food menu downstairs, upstairs is an informal restaurant with emphasis on Mexican meals, you can order beers from downstairs to go with your food. Photo    Website  

GAIRLOCH - stopped off here for a pint and food when driving through
* OLD INN - Last visit: 2008 - old whitewashed building in a very nice riverside setting near the harbour a mile or so south of Gairloch village. Besides a restaurant and hotel there is a traditional public bar, one long room with bare stone walls and flagstone floor, a stove, jukebox and a vast painting of a Highland scene. Plus most importantly a bar with several handpumps including a number of ales from small Scottish breweries, good food too.   photo    website

GLASGOW - have visited a couple of times for work reasons and also passed through when changing trains
* BON ACCORD - Last visit: 2008 - took a little while to find this place but worth it, very friendly service and around ten hanpumps on the bar. The only disappointment was that it was having an East Anglian beer festival so all the ales were from Norfolk etc instead of the Scottish ones I was hoping for! But they were all from unusual breweries and the one I tried was in fine form, there's also a good choice of malts, one of which was also sampled. Inside is a long wooden floored bar area with arched windows and large lounge area down a few steps with some very comfy armchairs - an excellent pub!    photo     website
* COUNTING HOUSE - Last visit: 2010 - a big Wetherspoons near Queen Street station in an attractive stone corner building. The main room has an impressive large dome ceiling over the central bar and other ornate features, there are also seperate rooms and areas to sit. A big choice of ales, many from small Scottish brewers.
* CRYSTAL PALACE - Last visit: 2008 - another Wetherspoons, this one is near Central Station but not so attractive with a vast open plan room in a modern style. Usual W'spoons service inlcuding some Scottish ales.
* HORSESHOE BAR - Last visit: 2008 - on a side street nr Central Station. One room round the large horseshoe shaped bar with a high ceiling and an interesting interior with lots of dark wood and mirrors. Sold 3 ales, Caledonion IPA and 80 plus something else which wasnt on. Football was being shown on several small TVs around the room.   photo
* POT STILL- Last visit: 2008 - small comfortable pub with one room by the bar and a raised seating area at the back. Behind the bar are many shelves lined with whisky bottles, there's a huge choice of malts plus a few Scottish real ales. I liked it here, but last orders were called early and we were encouraged to leave promptly while regulars were still being served which did spoil the relexing atmosphere. Perhaps the staff were tired of looking at my face, cant blame them  photo    website
* STATE BAR - Last visit: 2008 - a large traditional corner pub with wood panelling and cosy corners to sit in around the big central bar. A good choice of ales including from small English and Scottish breweries. Called in both during the day when it was quiet and relaxing and in the eve when it was busier and lively with music and a younger crowd of punters, seems a very decent pub.   photo

  - also in the late 80s or early 90s I called into a pub in the city when walking between Central & Queen Street station on eve, it was busy, I stood by some large windows, I dont remember any more about it!

GLENCOE - passed through here plenty of times and have stayed ona couple of occasions and visited the...
* CLACHAIG INN - Last visit: 2010 - situated well outside Glencoe village on a single track lane in a spectacular isolated setting surrounded by mountains. A large old inn extentions including accomodation. The pub has 3 rooms, a large comfy lounge, a small snug and a big public bar with flagstone floor, wooden benches, jukebox and pool table, this room also has live music at times and can be a lively place! There's also plenty of room to sit outside. A huge number of handpumps in the public bar with a wide choice of ales from small Scottish brewers.    Photo     Website
- and in middle of nowhere off the A82 south of Glencoe where I stopped for a pint and some food when passing
* THE KINGS HOUSE - Last visit: 2009 - remote old hotel on the edge of Rannoch Moor above Glencoe, round the back is the public 'climbers' bar which is a very small, cosy, dimly lit room with wooden beams, flagstone floor, lots of climbing photos and artifacts on the walls and 3 ales from small Scottish breweries including Atlas and Orkney, plus a small simple but good food menu.    photo  website

INVERNESS - to escape from the rain when camping in WesterRoss, I got the train here for a mini pub crawl
* BLACKFRIARS - Last visit: 2009 - large opened out ale house style pub with lots of bare dark wood and seems to be a live music venue. Several ales on sale, though sadly on my visit the usual guests from small Scottish breweries had all sold out (according to the lass behind the bar who seemed to know her ale!), so I had a Cally IPA instead photo   website
* CASTLE TAVERN - Last visit: 2009 - an impressive stone pub in the V of two roads right opposite the castle. Inside is a small cosy traditional bar with lots of wood and mirrors and raised seating areas, there's a large patio outside with views to the castle and a covered area. Plenty of ales on sale including a number from Scottish brewers.   photo   website
* NUMBER 27 - Last visit: 2009 - a smart modern cafe bar, a long narrow bar area, high stools, big windows etc and a dining area at the back. 2 handpumps, both selling Scottish ales including an excellent pint of Red MacGregor from Orkney    photo   website

KINGUSSIE - had a break between trains here once
* ROYAL HOTEL - Last visit: 1992 - don't remember too much about the beer or the surroundings but I do remember walking in, ordering a pint and some food and in the time it took me to put some songs on the jukebox and set up the pool table the food had arrived. I've never had such raw sausages!
I also called into a little pub in the village for a quick pint, all I can recall is a tiny bar behind which was a vast range of whiskies.

LOCHCARRON - camped here for a couple of nights
* LOCHCARRON HOTEL - Last visit: 2009 - a large white hotel on the waterfront, the pub area has a dining room at the front, a long narrow traditional bar behind and a seperate public bar/games room. There were 3 ales incl from Skye and Cairngorm breweries but the one I had was past its best and the whole pub seemed a bit run and had children running about, toys left all over the place, lots of loud locals in the back - maybe I picked a bad time!    photo   website
* ROCKVILLA HOTEL - Last visit: 2009 - also on the waterfront, a smal hotel and bar which looks quite recently refurbished, all very clean with pale wood, lots of local pictures and info on the walls and excellent very friendly service. There's a small bar room one side of the entrance and a dining room to the other. 4 handpumps, not all in use on my visit but the beers were all from small Scottish breweries incl Skye and Orkney and all very good. Good food too, if a little pricey  photo  website

OBAN - stayed here for the night when on my way to Mull
* OBAN INN - Last visit: 2000 - the only real ale pub in the town (or was in 2000) and it was nothing too impressive really
I also made the mistake of having a pint of Tenants liquid (I don't think you can call it beer) in another pub in town, it was an awful experience!

PENNYGHAEL (MULL) - following on from Oban, this is the village (well collection of buildings) where I stayed for week in 2002 which had a pub, think was called the Pennyghael hotel - you wont miss it being one of only a handful of buildings in the place. Had a meal and a pint (don't think it was real ale) in the little bar, very pleasant though and a friendly landlord who was an exile from Cumbria I think

PLOCKTON - visited the village once when on holiday on Skye
* PLOCKTON HOTEL - Last visit: 1998 - have had a pint and a meal in a pub on the shore in this very attractive little village, it had proper beer but otherwise I remember little about it   website

PORTREE (SKYE) - I've visited here a few times when on Skye, but only once managed a quick drink
* BOSVILLE HOTEL - Merchant Bar - Last visit: 2009 - bar attatched to the hotel, modern and smart in style but relaxing with lots of wood and shiny black surfaces, sofas, bare stone walls and a real fire. 2 handpumps both with local ales from Skye and Cuillin breweries    photo  website

SCOURIE - camped here for a couple of nights
* SCOURIE HOTEL - Last visit: 2008 - round the back of this old hotel is a public bar with a narrow room by the bar and a larger area divided into a lounge and a pool/games room with large windows looking out on the superb view. A pretty typical hotel bar but livened up by lots of fishing related items including nets hanging from the ceiling. The bar had two handpumps with Taylors Landlord and a cider - a bit disappointing (though it was a very nice pint of Landlord) but then I realised there were 2 Scottish ales (from Cairngorm brewery) on sale in the hotel bar and displayed on a blackboard, so I switched to those - so check the board before ordering if you want a local pint! Decent food - mostly fish related - and friendly service.  photo   website

SLIGACHAN (SKYE) - camped here for a couple of nights
* SLIGACHAN HOTEL - Seumas' Bar - Last visit: 2009 - a large bar next to the hotel in the shadow of the Cuillins. Inside is a big open room, though divided up by the central toilets behind which is a games area with pool tables, arcade games and childrens toys. There's a high ceiling, wooden beams and it's laid out with tables and chairs for dining though there are a couple of sofas round one side. So not the cosiest of places but decent food and 4 ales, 3 of which were from the Cuillin brewery which is on the site and were very good, plenty of whiskys too. Some interesting old climbing photos on the wall and benches out back plus in the hotel garden to view the stunning mountains above    photo website

STRATHCARRON - called in here briefly when got off a train on my way to Lochcarron
* STRATHCARRON HOTEL - Last visit: 2009 - hotel next to the station, the bar is a large open plan typical hotel bar with mix of tables and sofas, and a seperate pool room. I only called in for a quick pint after getting off a train, ales were Red and Black Cuillin    photo

TOBERMORAY (MULL) - visited while staying on Mull
Last visit: 2000 - had a meal and a pint in a big place by the harbour, don't know if it was the famous Mishnish hotel or not.

UIG (SKYE) - - camped here one night when travelling round Skye
* PUB AT THE PIER - Last visit: 2009 - a single story building at the ferry pier, very handy for the campsite but it looked a bit off putting not helped by the fact it was undergoing building work when I visited. Inside is an open plan room with pool table in the middle and a few sofas round the edges (and there seems to be a restaurant area at the back). But I enjoyed it here, there were interesting friendly locals, good service, 2 ales from the Isle of Skye brewery on top form as they should be, the brewery is just across the car park, and my favourite whisky Laphroaig was on special offer. So do call in!   photo 
* UIG HOTEL - Last visit: 2009 - a large white hotel on the road heading down into Uig, with views across the bay. The public bar is quite smart and has a conservatory type area at the front to enjoy the views but being a nice evening I sat outside so didnt pay much attention to the interior. 2 ales both from Isle of Skye brewery, very nice too but be warned there's no bar food in the evening (just the hotel restaurant) once you've made the long walk from the campsite as I had!   photo   website

ULLAPOOL - I've stayed here a number of times, one of my favourite places on the edge of the most amazing scenery in the country
* ARCH INN - Last visit: 2006 - pub with one long room, entered through an archway into a courtyard and right on the shore with benches outside on the water edge. But despite its great location it's average and had no real ale when I went in, though was advertising a local brew coming soon so hopefully it now does.
* ARGYLL HOTEL -Last visit: 2008 -   an L shaped room with a small pub like area by the bar and set out for dining in the long part of the room, also a seperate and very basic public bar for the locals on the other side of the building. Have eaten here in the past, was good though always busy. On my last visit it was selling 2 guest ales, one English and one Scottish and there was a very entertaining pair of musicians performing. photo
* CELIADH PLACE - Last visit: 2006 - not really a pub, indeed in recent years has got more cafe like with a bookshop and the only ales are sold in bottles (there is a handpump on the bar but it was selling cider on my last visit). More the sort of place to have a coffee and a cake and read the papers.
* FERRY BOAT INN - Last visit: 2008 - on the waterfront with fantastic views down Loch Broom, the only pub where I've seen seals (they were in the loch, not propping up the bar). One small traditional room but divided into two areas including a real fire and serving a mix of locals and visitors. The little bar has 3 handpumps which used to sell local An Teallach ale and 2 changing guests often from small Scottish breweries, but on my last visit there was only Cally IPA and when this ran out it wasnt replaced. Also there was no food - it used to do good lunches with upmarket meals in the seperate dining room. Their website mentions a change of ownership so hopefully things will get back to how they were because sat outside on a sunny evening enjoying a local pint and the views was a fine experience!   photos
* MOORFIELD MOTEL - Last visit: 2008 - a hotel hidden away on a housing estate a bit of a walk out of Ullapool, I visited as I'd heard it sold some decent Scottish ales. And it did - three handpumps with beers from Highland and An Teallach and very nice too. Not really a drinkers place, the large room is set out like a restaurant which tempted me to stay for a curry.
* SEAFORTH - Last visit: 2008 - a big open plan bar by the harbour, good views of the boats from one end of the pub and also a large outdoor drinking area now sheltered from the weather for smokers. A busy lively place with TVs showing sport and sells food till quite late. Has 2 handpumps, I've seen a few different Scottish ales here but An Teallach seems to be a regular though more expensive than the other pubs, also a decent whisky menu. Photo
 the other bar in Ullapool is the Caledonian Hotel - a large traditional hotel with a public bar which does have a handpump but no ale on when I've looked in.

WICK - I've spent a night in Wick while passing through
* ALEXANDER BAIN - Last visit: 2004 - I've got mixed opinions on Wetherspoons but from my one visit here it seems one of the better ones, and it was a very welcome site when trying to find somewhere for a pint and some food in this rather bleak and good publess town! At least you know you can get a real pint and some acceptable food and it was better than average with a range of Scottish beer. It appeared to be recently opened, a big wooden bar with several seperate seating areas and good service.

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