A Reflective Review: Inver Restaurant & Bothy
It has been just over a year since we were the first guests to stay in our bothy at Inver Restaurant. To write an actual review now, given the things that have happened since we stayed at this beautiful place, would be entirely unfair. In the time since we stayed, much has changed and life that has taken priority over writing, and has perhaps changed my perspective on some experiences. This, I think, makes these thoughts worth putting down.
My memories from our weekend at this place are fond. The beautifully designed (brand new, when we stayed!) bothies, decked out with locally and ethically sourced furnishings were a delight to stay in. The touch of the record player and a curated selection of the owner’s records were a winning touch. I hope the decks are still spinning if you go to stay now, a year later.
The dinner at Inver restaurant: delicious. Although a little more adventurous than perhaps we had bargained for, the menu was carefully constructed and each dish thoughtfully and skilfully put together with locally sourced ingredients the focus.
The homemade breakfast delivered to your door was a highlight for our weekend. Homemade baked goods, yummy coffee in a flask and all to be eaten in the comfort of your own bothy.
The location, unbeatable, with breakfast taken by our full length windows overlooking Loch Fyne and the ruins of Castle Lachlan (which we later explored with great interest).
The review I write today is perhaps more glowing than had I written it the day after we left Inver. And this is not to say we didn’t have a fabulous weekend; I recall talking about the beauty of the place and quality of the experience as we drove back to Glasgow. However, when experiences are reflected on so closely after an event, the good and the bad are both equally conflated. I do, for example, also remember discussing in detail how confronting the pickled herring – the main course for the set menu dinner – was, and how we were disappointed with that dish, given how fabulous our experience had otherwise been.
What a useless nit pick.
I have since come to find that time between you and an experience is essential to perspective. On reflection, and from this distance, yes I wouldn’t order the herring, but I certainly do not think the weekend was made even a smidge worse for having eaten something that was clearly so lovingly created by a talented chef, even if not to my taste.
Perspective, sometimes (and in this instance) gained by the time between me and an experience is something I will try and consider in all my reflective moments. To be mindful and consider my reactions (both positive and negative) to an experience, to more wholly appreciate the joy of moments like these that I am forever grateful to have. Gratitude may be my new buzz word.
We spent a wholly wonderful weekend at Inver Restaurant and in our bothy; eating, spending time together and enjoying a special place. A little well-timed perspective has made it seem perhaps even more wonderful.
