Raw on the road – Applecross

I recently took a trip up to Applecross to stay in the campsite there for a few days.   The Applecross campsite has wigwams and huts, as well as the usual space for caravans and tents, so I was keen to go and check it out.

We stayed in one of the wigwams, and it was a totally unique experience.  All the joys of camping with none of the hassle of having to put your tent up – we just turned up and it was all ready to go.  There were soft comfy sleeping mats on the floor, and even a heater (which we didn’t need); all we needed to bring were our sleeping bags.

 

Applecross is a little peninsula on the North-West of Scotland which overlooks the Isle of Skye.  With a population of just a couple of hundred people, it is a lovely quiet and peaceful place to visit.  If you’re in a reflective mood you can sit on the lovely sandy beach at Applecross Bay and look over the water to the brooding Cuillin mountains.

There are only 2 roads into Applecross, one of which is quite a hair-raising journey that takes you to dizzy heights (it’s the highest mountain pass in Britain, in fact: Bealach Na Ba) around some dramatic hairpin bends.  There’s even a sign to warn away any learner drivers!  Nevertheless, any brave souls that take on the challenge will be rewarded by some truly spectacular views if it’s a clear day.

As for raw food, well as you might have guessed, there’s not much in the way of raw food restaurants in Applecross, but there are a couple of lovely ‘regular’ restaurants where you can get a salad if you ask.  The Applecross Inn, just a short walk from the campsite, is  a smashing friendly place located perfectly with stunning views across the bay.  There is a wonderful atmosphere about this restaurant; it feels very warm and welcoming.  Mainly specialising in seafood, the menu focuses on ‘real food’, with an emphasis on fresh locally sourced produce.

A little further down the road is The Potting Shed, which is well worth a visit as the veggies on the menu are literally grown just outside the restaurant in a very pretty walled garden – talk about locally sourced!  So you’re guaranteed a fresh seasonal salad if you eat here.

If you like walking, then you will love Applecross.  We had a great time trekking about, finding various photo opportunities (including a fine stag in the woods) and enjoying the gorgeous warm sunny autumn weather that we had been blessed with – not to mention a few juicy blackberries along the way 😉

 

 

 

 

 

As we all know, a typical restaurant salad isn’t going to fill you up, so I was glad that I brought my trusty cooler bag with me, filled with plenty of raw supplies to keep me going.  The night before the journey I did my typical pre-trip preparation:  I made a few flasks of green juice, added some water-kefir, then froze it overnight.

The next morning I stored the juice in my cooler bag with some ice packs.  I find this way I can have a ready-made juice or smoothie supply for quite a few days, drinking it as it gradually defrosts.

Sure, it’s not as ideal as making it fresh on the spot, but it’s the most convenient way for me, and the added kefir ensures that it stays nice and fresh (plus, of course, adds some healthy live probiotics).

To my raw food stash I added some homemade hemp-seed milk flavoured with mixed spices and cinnamon, plus a big bag of fruit.

I also made a salad of home-grown freshly picked spinach together with some lovely juicy grapefruit, and added a dressing of sesame oil, ACV, and mixed herbs.  I actually didn’t end up eating the salad till about 3 days later, but it was still really fresh and tasty as it had all marinated together nicely by then.

Applecross really is a magical place.  I was quite content to sit for hours in front of our little wigwam looking up into the clear night sky at hundreds of stars, and just dreaming away.  A truly unforgettable experience, and I’m sure we’ll be back again soon.

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