Published in Scotland Magazine Issue 25 on 17/02/2006.

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In search of perfect seafood

Mark Nicholls visits the world-famous Loch Fyne Oyster Bar and discovers the magic of Scotland’s Seafood Trail

Crouched in the shelter of the head of Loch Fyne, and the start of a long and winding peninsular that leads all the way down to the Mull of Kintyre, is a location that has become synonymous with the finest seafood.

It has been brought to wider attention because of the ever-growing reputation of the Loch Fyne Oyster Bar.

Sitting at the solid wooden tables of the world-famous restaurant gazing through broad panes down the loch, a plate of shellfish and a refreshing glass of white wine in front of you goes down as one of life’s finer moments.

This is where the Loch Fyne story begins.

Along the shoreline, hidden at high tide, five million oysters are being farmed together with millions of mussels.

Further out and along the coast to the Western Isles you find langoustine, scallops and crab, prawns and lobster, haddock and mackerel.

In more recent times this extensive vista has been given a new – and perhaps long overdue – branding as The Seafood Trail.

Not so much a marketing tool dreamt up in the realms of public relations, this is more a meeting of mind and spirit between restaurateurs along the loch, the Kilbrannan Sound, all along the coast beyond Campbeltown and up to Oban to promote the locally-fished seafood they serve.

The Loch Fyne Oyster bar, nestling near Cairndow at the top of the loch and the opening of Glen Fyne beyond, looks like it has been there forever and is at the start of the trail.

The original Oyster Bar and shop, founded in 1978 by the late John No.....

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By Mark Nicholls

Section : Scottish Tours

Page number : 28