The Morangie House Hotel is popular with visitors. It's close to the A9 in Tain so easy to get to and leave from. Views over the Dornoch Firth and the hills beyond leave us in no doubt of where we are. The large restaurant and bar are popular with locals and holiday makers alike for a simple dram, or lunch, or dinner. They're particularly convenient for people staying in Dornoch, because the hotel is only a few minutes drive over the bridge. Large portions of wholesome, interesting food are ideal when we've spent the day on the golf course. The Morangie House is owned by the same people as the Mansfield Castle Hotel and has the same warm welcome. It's more convenient to get to and the prices are more affordable, offering good value compared to the competition. Our feature picture shows the main building with conservatory restaurant, whilst the video slideshow provides views of reception, the bar and the restaurant. The hotel site tells us: "The hotel was originally built thanks to the success of the tea trade between India and Great Britain. Mr Joshua Taylor, a Victorian tea-planter and a bachelor who had made his fortune in India, left much of his wealth to his two nieces, Annie and Joanna MacDonald. Joanna, who was later to marry a Tain chemist, Mr Donald Fowler, Provost of the town between 1898 and 1910, used her share of the fortune to build a fine mansion in Tain, completed in 1902 by A Maitland and Sons, Architects. This family firm was founded in 1842 by Andrew Maitland of Keith, in Banffshire, the first architect of note to work in and around Tain and the man responsible for a number of fine buildings in the town, including the Royal Hotel, the Town Hall, the Parish (former Free) Church and the Tudor-gabled shops along the High Street. Not to be outdone, Annie, by now the widow of local farmer Mr Abner Gallie, decided to construct her own villa and commissioned the Maitlands to build Morangie House, which they completed a year later to her specifications, including a handsome square tower. Over the years there has been speculation that the two houses were the manifestation of some ill feeling between the sisters. A local businessman, who knew the family, suggests that this was not the case and that, whilst there may have been some natural sibling rivalry between them, rumours of a grand 'feud' were grossly exaggerated."