Hidden just past the lily-padded Lochs and ever winding single track roads of the Assynt Coastal path, The Secret Tea Garden is, ironically, not the best kept secret in Sutherland. Recommended and sign posted for miles around it’s a lovely sheltered spot for a pot or two of tea and well worth a visit.
Nestled in amongst the fields of sheep at the edge of Drumbeg, The Secret Tea Garden, and its impressive range of home baking is perfect for Elevenses, or Twelveses…(…or at any time really, I mean who really cares what time it is when there’s tea and cake involved!)
The mother and son owners have created a lovely sheltered area complete with decking, plants, extra blankets and a wee library that you can pop a donation in for. You can feel how much love and careful thought has gone into all of the wee personal touches- making it feel just like you’re relaxing in a friend’s house.
We opted for coffee and scones…and then bought some of their delicious cakes to take away because you can never be too prepared!
Like most places in the Highlands, the owners were incredibly friendly and welcoming – recommending places for us to visit and sharing hints and tips about navigating the single-track roads of Sutherland. As well as running the award-winning Secret Tea Garden, the mother and son duo also produce and sell luxury bespoke Assynt Aromas candles from their shop at the entrance. These candles are inspired by the natural beauty and seasonal changes of the Assynt landscape and are the perfect gift to take home to those who weren’t lucky enough to come with you.
Accessibility
You can park just outside the shop and whilst accessibility is admittedly not fabulous, it’s fairly manageable if travelling with others. There are a couple of shallow steps (pictured above) into the Shop and then again out into the Tea Garden. There’s a railing to hold on to when entering the garden but not when entering the shop. The garden is sheltered from the sun with plenty of seating and space for wheelchairs etc. However, the big thing to be aware of when visiting is that there isn’t a toilet on the premises. Thankfully, there is an accessible and free toilet up by the main viewpoint in Drumbeg, next to the free car park, but it’s a two minute drive from the Shop so just bear that in mind.
Despite these drawbacks we would still recommend The Secret Tea Garden as a lovely idyllic place for a coffee and cake if taking the Assynt Coastal Path on a sunny day.
