Mini adventure to Mhor

Wendy Barrie
2 hours ago
2 min read

I am a cook, food writer and campaigner for local produce. Based in Fife, I travel regularly on the highways and byways of Scotland in my Mini Clubman JCW (named Ruby) exploring places to eat and producers for my online Scottish Food Guide.

Recently I had the pleasure of meeting up with a group of foodies from Colorado who contacted me online, heading our way for a whirlwind gastronomic adventure. The organisers were a mother and daughter, former chefs with connections to Les Dames d'Escoffier with whom I had arranged gourmet tours previously. We planned to spend one evening together and they were based near Stirling so, without hesitation, I proposed Mhor, near Balquhidder, as our destination. Monachyle Mhor is a charming lochside country house and working farm, Previous incumbents, centuries back, were Jacobite sympathisers, when a pink-painted dwelling signified a safe place offering sustenance and shelter in dangerous times. The historic farmhouse remains pink to this day.

The Lewis family settled here in the eighties where the farmhouse quickly evolved into a B&B with evening meals. It is still very much a family affair: son and skilled chef Tom and his wife Lisa May, along with his brother Dick, and their sister Melanie's artwork on display. What started as a pausing place for walkers in the glen, has become an award-winning hub with cool self-catering options - including a tree house - in addition to the farmhouse and courtyard suites.

There is also the fab Mhor Bread in Callander brimming with award-winning sourdoughs and tantalising pastries; and Mhor 84 restaurant, motel & café bar, at the turning off the A84 where there's also Mhor in Store (pictured), a wonderfully eclectic lifestyle emporium, that happens to also stock our book, “Meadows: The Swedish Farmer & The Scottish Cook.”

With game, livestock and eggs among other ingredients home grown/reared, Monachyle Mhor was the perfect place to make food memories for our Colorado visitors. Tom and Lisa May were on hand to make it an evening to remember for all the right reasons: a sensational meal and great conversations. The following morning, as we licked our lips on the final morsels of the Full Scottish, we were alerted to Donald on his way to greet us. Sure enough, the breakfast finale was a friendly visit from Donald, the Highland calf! A perfect end to a delightful and delicious stay.

Food tourism at its best.