Storehouse and cafe with stunning Scottish loch and castle views opens to visitors
The award-winning team behind an Argyll coastal hotel has opened the doors to The Linnhe Storehouse & Café overlooking Castle Stalker and Loch Linnhe.
The Pierhouse Hotel team is breathing new life into the coastal cafe on the A828 between Ballachulish and Connel, which is now welcoming visitors seven days a week. The team have lead the refurbishment of the former Castle Stalker View Cafe. Once a much-loved stop off for visitors and the local community for over two decades, the cafe closed in April 2025 following the departure of its previous tenant. The closure resulted in the loss of local jobs and left the area without one of its key visitor attractions.
A choice of indoor and outdoor seating allows visitors to drink in the breathtaking panoramic views over Loch Linnhe; Castle Stalker; Sgeir Bhuidhe Lighthouse; and the islands of Mull and Lismore towards the Ardnamurchan peninsula.
The daytime menu showcases home baking, seasonal soup, sandwiches, a selection of breakfast rolls and all-day cooked Scottish breakfasts, as well as hot and chilled drinks.
Rolling daily specials and rotating cakes and pastries will include classic savoury quiches and sausage rolls, as well as sweet treats like raspberry pavlova, lemon meringue pie, baked apple crumble cheesecake, and the ultimate fruit and cheese scones.
Local producers and suppliers include family-run Letterfindlay Foods in Fort William, Ardfern Black Pudding and Argyll Bakeries in Campbeltown, as well as independently owned We Love Coffee in Glasgow.
The Linnhe Storehouse & Café welcomes visitors touring the Argyll coast by car, foot, cycle or kayak. Loch Linnhe and Castle Stalker are popular stops for people travelling between Glencoe, Fort William and Oban, as well as those cycling the Caledonian Way - National Route 78.
A curated shop offers a choice of authentic Scottish and local products, and some store cupboard essentials for visitors and local communities around Appin, Oban and Fort William.
Managed by The Pierhouse Hotel team, The Linnhe Storehouse & Café supports 10 new full-time and part-time local hospitality and retail jobs.
Fiona McLean, general manager at The Pierhouse Hotel, said: “With its uninterrupted panoramic views over Loch Linnhe and Castle Stalker, The Linnhe Storehouse & Café is fast becoming the ‘go to’ café on the Argyll coast.
“As well as providing a much-needed boost to regional tourism, the café will also become a valuable local community asset.”
Cathy Craig, chief executive of Argyll and Isles Tourism Co-operative (AITC) has welcomed the opening of The Linnhe Storehouse & Café’. She said: “We know from research that experiencing local food and drink while on holiday is important to visitors from all over the world, so we’re absolutely thrilled that the award-winning team at The Pierhouse, a highly respected member of the Argyll and Isles Tourism Cooperative, is leading the development of The Linnhe Storehouse & Café’.
“The Pierhouse is already renowned for serving some of the most delicious locally sourced food and drink with exemplary service at their two AA Rosette restaurant on Loch Linnhe, so we’re incredibly excited to see what their new café will offer.
“Argyll and the Isles is the perfect place to enjoy the finest local Scottish produce that supports our rural communities, all while taking in breath-taking views of our coastal landscapes.”
Bob Cornish, chairman of the Appin Community Development Trust, added: “Our Trust is very pleased that locally based ownership and management of the business at Castle Stalker Café will continue to be secure. We look forward to their usual high standards of hospitality service for locals and visitors alike, while boosting economic support and prosperity in the community”.
Located around two miles from its new cafe overlooking Castle Stalker, The Pierhouse Hotel and Seafood Restaurant is tucked away on the shores of Loch Linnhe at Port Appin. The small hotel and renowned Scottish seafood restaurant has an established reputation as one of Argyll’s most idyllic and romantic destinations.
The Pierhouse Hotel is home to Scotland’s ‘Chef of the Year’ and ‘Romantic Restaurant of the Year’ 2025. The Pierhouse Hotel restaurant has three silver stars, two AA rosettes and is one of only three Argyll restaurants included in the Michelin Guide for Great Britain and Ireland.
To find out more about The Linnhe; Storehouse & Café visit their website.
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