Savouring The Silence

Rannoch Station Tearoom is a Highland haven offering delicious fare in peaceful surroundings

- RACHEL MCCONACHIE

FOR Jenny and Bill Anderson, life at Rannoch Station Tearoom is more than just running a business – it's about embracing the wild beauty, the unpredictability and the deep sense of community that comes with living at the edge of the Scottish Highlands.

As they enter their 11th year at the tearoom, they reflect on the journey that brought them here and the small but necessary changes they're making to ensure they can continue serving their visitors for years to come.

Back in 2014, Jenny and Bill were living in Dorking in the south-east of England and using their home in Rannoch as a bolt hole. It was a place to escape from the bustle of life.

But the draw of the Highlands proved too strong to resist.

“We already had the house, and I used to come up here and wonder, ‘Could I live here? How would I manage?’” Jenny recalls. “Then we just did it.”

At first, Bill continued commuting to London, managing a company remotely while Jenny sought something to occupy her time.

The tearoom was looking for new management, and despite having no prior experience in hospitality, Bill and Jenny ended up taking it over.

“We were last on the list,” Jenny explains. “Everyone else pulled out, saying it was too difficult. So we got it! I was a good cook, but I didn't have a sweet tooth. I had to teach myself to bake because cakes are such a huge part of the tearoom.”