Autumn in Dalavich forest Wet walks, warming bowls and the quiet comfort of something good simmering on the stove There is something wonderfully comforting about coming home after a walk with Bella and Bracken through the ancient oak forest: peeling off the inevitable layers of wet clothing, attempting to dry two damp dogs who have very different ideas about the matter, and heading straight into the kitchen. A pot of soup goes on the hob and, if the weather has been particula

Proper food for busy days, easy autumn entertaining and a little help from the freezer There is something about this time of year that makes us crave a proper supper again. The evenings begin to draw in, there is a little more bite in the air and suddenly a bowl of salad eaten on the hoof no longer feels quite enough. I have been working on some new dishes for our Heat & Eat range to reflect the changing season. We will soon be saying goodbye to our Eton Mess as the last of t

Earl Autumn Sunrise over the Loch Seasonal comfort, easy lunches and something lovely for the cake tin As the air chills with the approach of autumn, the rhythm of my kitchen begins to shift with it. I make fewer salads and find myself reaching for more comforting, carbohydrate-heavy food. Let’s not pretend I don’t enjoy my carbs throughout the year, but we definitely eat less bread during the summer. Lunch is more likely to be a chopped salad with beans or lentils, eaten out

What a year On 19 August, Simon and I celebrated our first full year of living here in Dalavich. I had imagined marking the occasion in some significant way. Perhaps we would open a bottle, cook something special or sit outside looking across the loch and reflect on everything that had happened. Instead, the day passed almost without comment. We had family staying, the diary was full of orders and my to-do list seemed to grow longer every time I looked at it. It was only when

As I write this week’s newsletter, I sit at our table, gazing out across the dark and brooding Loch Awe. The hills are disappearing beneath a veil of cloud, and the water seems to change colour every few minutes—from pewter grey to deep blue and almost black. I am struck, yet again, by how blessed we are to call this little corner of the Highlands home. There’s the ever-changing light across the loch, the sound of the wind moving through the trees, and the daily walks through

A Scottish Loch in Summer The first week of August seems to have vanished in the blink of an eye. Here in the western Highlands, we have been enjoying gentler, more temperate weather. The hedgerows are overflowing with wildflowers, ferns and grasses; our lawns remain a wonderfully lush green; and the water level in Loch Awe is still healthy. Meanwhile, images of scorched farmland, tinder-dry forests and struggling gardens across other parts of the UK, Ireland and mainland Eur

Feta, peach and puy lentil salad with toasted cashew nuts When the temperature rises, the last thing many of us want to do is spend hours standing over a hot cooker. Summer is the season for lighter meals, longer evenings and making the most of the wonderful produce available at this time of year. Yet for many people, the word "salad" still conjures up memories of limp lettuce leaves, a slice of cucumber and perhaps a lonely tomato balanced on the side of the plate. If you gr

There’s something truly magical about packing a picnic basket and heading outdoors to enjoy a meal surrounded by nature. Whether it’s a sunny afternoon beside a loch in Argyll, a family day out in the countryside, or a leisurely lunch in a local park, a picnic has a way of making even the simplest meal feel special. For me, some of the happiest food memories involve eating outdoors. There is something about fresh air, birdsong and a blanket spread beneath a tree that makes fo

There’s something magical about whipping up a dessert that looks like it took hours but actually took minutes. Whether you’re hosting a last-minute dinner party or just craving a sweet treat after a long day, having a few fast dessert ideas up your sleeve can be a real lifesaver. I’ve been there—standing in the kitchen, staring at the clock, wondering if I can pull off something impressive without breaking a sweat. Spoiler alert: you absolutely can. Let me share some of my fa

There’s been a quiet shift here over the past fortnight — the kind you only really notice when you slow down enough to take it in. The light has changed. Where only a few weeks ago the trees stood bare, still holding onto winter, they’re now dressed in that fresh, almost luminous green that only comes with new leaves. It feels hopeful somehow. Alive again. On our walks with Bella and Bracken, the woodland floor has become a tapestry — bluebells stretching as far as you can se

From the shores of Loch Awe to your kitchen table There’s something about a sudden burst of sunshine here that changes everything. Over the weekend, Dalavich felt like it had woken up properly. The light shifted, the loch sparkled, and with it came that quiet nudge to get outside, cook something slowly, and make the most of it. Simon spent most of Saturday in the garden—planting sweet peas, lettuce, and herbs—with the sort of determination only a gardener battling slugs can u

Vanilla Cookies There’s something truly magical about the smell of cookies baking in the oven. It’s a warm, inviting scent that wraps around you like a cosy blanket on a chilly day. If you’ve ever wanted to master perfect cookie baking, you’re in the right place. I’m here to share some of my favourite tips, tricks, and recipes that will have you whipping up delicious treats in no time. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just starting out, these recipes and techniques will hel

The clocks have sprung forward, and the evenings are bathed in a gentle light. March has quietly slipped into April, bringing with it a palpable shift in the air. It’s that lovely time of year when we find ourselves caught between the last whispers of winter and the first hints of spring. In our kitchen, it has been a busy and exciting week as we prepare for the Easter Market at Knipoch House Hotel. We will be there on Saturday 4th, Sunday 5th & Monday 6th April 11am – 4pm.

March Has Arrived: Welcoming Spring with Open Arms Our very first daffodil has opened — bold, golden, and unapologetic — as if to announce that winter has finally loosened its grip. The light is different now. It lingers and stretches into the early evening. Somehow, that extra hour changes everything. This Sunday, the 8th of March, we’ll be packing the car and heading to the Corran Halls for our first Oban Farmers Market. I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to it

February has gathered pace here in Argyll. Unlike January, which felt as though it stretched endlessly across the hills, this month has slipped by in a quiet blur of woodsmoke, market prep and shifting light. Our sheep have yet to lamb. The daffodils are still cautious green shoots. Every evening, without fail, the log burner is lit. Spring may be whispering, but winter is still very much seated at the table. Living here, on the shores of Loch Awe, has changed the way I think

Valentine’s Day often comes with a set of expectations. Reservations are booked weeks in advance, menus are overpriced, and roses are flown in from far-off places. Even the chocolate can taste more like palm oil than pleasure. But let’s be honest — real love rarely looks like that. In my kitchen, love simmers gently. It’s the warmth of a pot left on the stove while someone shares their day. It’s feeding friends after a tough week or making soup for someone with a cold. It’s a

Snowdrops in the Garden As I type this, I’m looking out at the snowdrops in our garden. Brave little things.This is our first February in our home here, and I find myself pausing more than usual – noticing what’s stirring, what’s still sleeping, and what secrets the garden has tucked away beneath the winter soil. There’s something quietly hopeful about spring bulbs. They don’t rush. They don’t make a fuss. They simply appear when they’re ready. Simon has been busy out in the

Loch Awe on Lá Fhéile Bríde After what has, at times, felt like the longest January in living memory , today arrives with a quiet sense of relief. Back home in Ireland, the 1st of Feburary is St Brigid’s Day – Lá Fhéile Bríde marks that turning point. A day that honours the women of Ireland , and one I’m proud to count myself amongst. Since 2023 it has been recognised as a national holiday, but long before that it lived in classrooms, kitchens and hedgerows. Growing up, we

A Loch Awe Winter Sunset Burns Night has never been just about haggis. For me, it’s always been about gathering together . The lighting of candles against the January dark, pouring a dram (or a cup of tea) and letting food, poetry and laughter do what they’ve always done best : bring people together. Burns Night has always felt half-ceremony, half-ceilidh. Someone would inevitably forget a line of the address to haggis, the neeps would be a bit over-enthusiastic with the pepp

Leafy Kale January is often painted as a month of absence. Less colour. Less choice. Less indulgence. But in a cook’s kitchen, January is anything but empty. This is the month where ingredients step forward without fuss . Where flavour comes from patience, good sourcing and knowing how to treat simple things well. It’s the season of the unsung kitchen heroes the ones that don’t shout but always delivers. In my own kitchen here in Scotland, January cooking is grounded, nourish