Regional produce

Although the country's national dish, haggis, is one of the best known traditional Scottish foods, there are many more sumptuous offerings to taste.

Scotland is well-known for its wonderful fish and seafood and there are many places where you can watch the day's catch being brought in from the boats. And be sure to try some of the country's favourite fish dishes including Cullen Skink, Finnan Haddie and, of course, traditional fish and chips.

One of the country's most distinctive fish dishes is Arbroath Smokies. They are created by smoke-curing haddock over hot oak chips which gives the fish a strong flavour and rich, golden colour. Arbroath in Angus is the only place that the delicacy is produced. Only haddock smoked within five miles of the town can be called a genuine Smokie.

Enjoy traditional sweet treats from around the country such as one of Scotland's oldest and most famed recipes - the Selkirk Bannock. The fruit cake is said to have first been made by Robbie Douglas who opened his shop in the Scottish Borders in 1859. Queen Victoria is famously said to have refused all else with her tea apart from a slice of bannock when she visited Sir Walter Scott’s granddaughter in Abbotsford.

If you have a really sweet tooth, you will love Scotland’s array of sugary treats. Sample tasty Scottish tablet, similar to fudge but with a harder, grainy texture, or the Borders’ Moffat Toffee which are in fact hard boiled sweets with a lemon-flavoured centre.

Scotch whisky is reputed the world over and you can find it used in recipes throughout the country. A particularly indulgent example is the dessert, Cranachan. Often enjoyed at Scottish banquets, it is made from a mixture of whipped cream, whisky, honey, fresh raspberries and topped with toasted oats - a real guilty pleasure.