A Wester Ross woman has brewed up a piece of Highland nostalgia by opening a tearoom in her croft house home.

For during the 1950s the very same house was run as Maggie's Tea Room by the owner, the late Maggie MacKenzie.

By all accounts it was a popular stopping off point at Camusnagaul,
Dundonnell, on the busy West Coast road between Braemore Junction and
Gairloch.

Travellers came from far and wide for a refreshing cuppa and home baking, and
enjoyed the stunning views north over Little Loch Broom and south to the 1,062
metre high An Teallach.

Now history is repeating itself, and the new Maggie's Tea Room, run by former
medical secretary Ishbel Sinclair, is proving every bit as popular with many
tourists and locals stopping off for teas, coffees, home baking and light
daytime meals.

Seven years ago Mrs Sinclair, 37, and her husband Angus, who runs a painting
and decorating business, bought the house in the area where she was born, and
decided that it was the ideal location for a tea room and outlet for local
crafts.

With assistance from Ross and Cromarty Enterprise (RACE) a tea-room - big enough to seat 16 - was built on the side of the house along with decking to allow
customers to sit outside when the weather is fair.

A play area is nearby so that youngsters can occupy themselves while the
grown ups relax.

The total cost of the project was a little over £53,000 with RACE investing
£10,900 through development and building grants.

Mrs Sinclair has also taken advantage of several training courses available
through RACE, including food hygiene, tourism and forming a business plan.

She said: "I knew that our house used to be 'Maggies' many years ago, but it
was just a coincidence that I decided on the tea room business.

"It is an ideal stopping off point midway between Ullapool and Gairloch, and
there is no similar tea room facility within a 56 mile radius.

"Old Maggie is not forgotten, and as well as the tea room keeping the old
name, my menu carries a picture of the house just as it was when she ran the
place."

With assistance from sister Angela Shepherd and cousin Gael Morris, and two
young local girls at weekends, Mrs Sinclair is looking forward to the
challenge of running her own business.

Chief executive of RACE Gordon Cox said: "This is a novel and exciting business idea that fills a much needed gap in the market and will encourage people to visit and spend time in the area."