Behind the Scenes at The Three Chimneys: Capturing Culinary Magic on Skye
When our Huckleberry team teamed up with The Three Chimneys for a behind-the-scenes photo and video shoot, we knew we were in for something special. The Three Chimneys isn’t just any restaurant – it’s a Scottish culinary legend tucked away on the Isle of Skye. Our mission was to capture the essence of this iconic destination through imagery and storytelling, and to do it justice in every shot. What follows is a glimpse into that experience, showcasing how collaboration, careful planning, and a dash of Highland magic came together to tell The Three Chimneys’ story.
See the Magic Behind The Three Chimneys: Watch the Full Story Unfold:
An Iconic Isle of Skye Destination with a Rich History
The Three Chimneys was established in 1985 by husband-and-wife duo Shirley and Eddie Spear. What began as a humble island bistro with a dream of serving fresh, home-cooked Scottish food blossomed over the decades into one of Scotland’s best-loved restaurants. This remote restaurant has racked up over 30 major culinary awards and even earned a coveted Michelin star in 2014. At one point, it was ranked among the world’s top 50 restaurants – high praise for a dining room at the edge of the map. The Three Chimneys also found early fame for its marmalade pudding, a now-legendary recipe that put this tiny restaurant on the foodie map. In short, few places can match The Three Chimneys’ history and culinary reputation.
Part of what makes The Three Chimneys so unique is its sense of place. This world-famous restaurant is housed in a 100-year-old whitewashed crofter’s cottage on the shores of Loch Dunvegan, giving it a cosy, rustic charm. It’s truly a destination restaurant – roughly a six-hour drive from Edinburgh or Glasgow and three hours from the nearest airport, meaning guests really have to make a pilgrimage for their dinner. Many choose to stay overnight in one of the six luxurious bedrooms at The House Over-By, the adjacent inn built in 1999 to extend The Three Chimneys’ hospitality. And for those looking for an even more immersive experience, The Three Chimneys offers a Kitchen Table experience where diners sit right in the heart of the kitchen, watching the chefs orchestrate each course in front of them. All of these elements – the remarkable journey to get there, the historic cottage setting, the local Skye ingredients on the plate, and the intimate guest experiences – are integral to The Three Chimneys’ brand and spirit. We kept this rich context in mind as we planned our content capture, because we wanted every image and frame to reflect what makes this place so extraordinary.
Setting the Stage: Huckleberry Meets The Three Chimneys
Our collaboration with The Three Chimneys began long before any cameras started rolling. We worked closely with their team to plan the shoot down to the last detail. Strategy underpins all of our creative projects, and this one was no exception. Together, we discussed the key stories we wanted to tell: the welcoming ambience of the dining room, the artistry of the dishes, the stunning Skye landscape outside, and the genuine warmth of the people behind the scenes. From there, our Huckleberry crew developed robust shot lists and storyboards to guide the project. In other words, we didn’t just show up and “wing it” – every shot was thought through in advance, ensuring that we highlighted The Three Chimneys’ unique selling points in a natural, authentic way.
Crucially, this stage was a true team effort between Huckleberry and The Three Chimneys. After all, nobody knows this restaurant better than the people who run it every day. The Three Chimneys team helped us identify can’t-miss moments – from the crackle of the fireplace in the lounge, to the presentation of their famous seafood dishes – that exemplify their brand. We, in turn, brought our expertise in content production and storytelling to make sure those moments would shine on camera. This collaborative planning meant that by the time we arrived on site, everyone was on the same page and excited to bring the vision to life.
Lights, Camera, Skye: A Day of Capturing the Essence
On the day of the shoot, the magic of Skye greeted us with a soft early-morning light over Loch Dunvegan. Sunrise was the perfect time to capture exterior shots of the property, with the golden rays illuminating the white cottages and the dramatic landscape beyond. Our photographers and videographers started outside, panning across the ruggedly beautiful scenery to set the scene – the combination of outstanding food and incredible scenery is exactly what makes The Three Chimneys iconic, so we wanted that backdrop to feature prominently. From the very first shots, we aimed to evoke that feeling of remote tranquillity and natural grandeur that guests feel upon arrival.
Moving indoors, it was time to showcase the heart of The Three Chimneys: its kitchen and dining room. As the team prepared for the day’s service, we captured candid moments of the chefs and staff in action. Huge pots of fresh local mussels and langoustines simmering on the stove, vibrant herbs being plucked from their stems, and precise knife work turning out beautiful garnishes – all of these scenes unfolded before our lenses. We were careful to be flies on the wall, letting the chefs go about their craft while we documented the process. The Kitchen Table setup came in handy here: placing our camera at that coveted spot allowed us to film the brigade at work from an insider’s perspective, without ever disrupting the flow. The result was footage that feels intimate and genuine, as if you’re peeking over the chef’s shoulder.
One of our main goals was to capture the culinary artistry that has made The Three Chimneys famous. We coordinated with the Head Chef to plate up several of their signature dishes for close-up photography. Each plate was a work of art, showcasing Skye’s bounty – succulent shellfish, hill-grazed lamb, foraged coastal herbs – arranged with meticulous care. We paid just as much attention to lighting and angles, adjusting our setup to catch the glisten of a rich sauce or the delicate wisps of steam rising from a hot dish. It takes patience to get those perfect shots (yes, we may have held a reflector or two aloft while lying on the floor to find the ideal angle!), but it’s worth it. Our aim was a balance of authenticity and polished beauty, ensuring the food looked natural yet absolutely mouth-watering. And judging by the rumbling stomachs on set, we’d say mission accomplished.
The dining spaces offered their own kind of charm. In the cosy dining room, we focused on the details that convey The Three Chimneys’ warm hospitality – the soft candlelight glinting off crystal glassware, the plush textures of local tweed upholstery, and the spectacular view out the window reminding you that you’re on the edge of the wild Atlantic. We captured the ambience from multiple angles: wide shots of the room that show the rustic stone walls and flickering candles, as well as tight shots of place settings and decor. By mid-day, the sun had climbed higher, bathing the dining room in natural light that played beautifully with our composition. We made sure to take advantage of that, shooting a few scenes twice to see how different lighting – the gentle morning vs. brighter afternoon – influenced the mood. Through it all, our team was meticulous about getting it right: if a chair was slightly askew or a fork not gleaming enough, we adjusted it. Every frame was checked to ensure it aligned with The Three Chimneys’ refined yet homely vibe. This level of attention to detail is time-consuming, but it’s part of the meticulous effort required to truly capture a brand’s essence. And in a place as storied as this, every detail has a story behind it.
Teamwork and Timing: The Art of Collaboration
Perhaps the most rewarding part of the shoot was the seamless collaboration between our crew and The Three Chimneys staff. Throughout the day, it felt less like a commercial project and more like a joint creative venture. The restaurant team was incredibly accommodating – whether it was the front-of-house staff stepping in as impromptu models to demonstrate world-class service, or the chefs timing the finishing touches of a dish just so we could catch the perfect action shot, everyone was eager to help. We’ve always believed that capturing authentic content is a two-way street: it requires our technical and creative know-how, but also the insight and enthusiasm of the people whose story we’re telling. This shoot proved that point beyond a doubt.
Because we had plotted out the day’s schedule carefully, we were able to stay flexible and take advantage of spontaneous moments. At one point, the clouds outside parted and a rainbow appeared over the loch – a totally unscripted Skye moment that we just had to film. The team quickly hustled outside with a drone to grab an aerial shot of the property with that rainbow arcing above it. It’s a scene that lasted mere minutes, but because we were working in sync with the restaurant (and had cleared the idea of some drone footage earlier), we captured it. Moments like this highlight the benefit of good teamwork: when everyone is aligned and communicative, you can seize opportunities without missing a beat. Those unscripted touches often end up being some of the most memorable pieces of content.
By the end of the day, we had a treasure trove of photos and video clips: sweeping landscape vistas, mouth-watering close-ups of cuisine, candid shots of laughter in the kitchen, and everything in between. Tired as we might have been after hours of shooting, our team left The Three Chimneys feeling exhilarated. We knew we had gathered not just images, but the raw material of a story – a story of a place that is so much more than the sum of its parts.
From Camera to Content: Bringing the Story to Life
Back at our studio, the post-production phase began. This is where all those captured moments get woven into a cohesive narrative. We pored over each photograph, selecting the ones that best encapsulated The Three Chimneys experience – the ones that made us feel wow, I need to go there even though we’d just been. In video editing, we stitched together scenes to craft a behind-the-scenes film that takes the viewer on a journey: arriving to the Skye scenery, stepping into the kitchen action, savouring the plated masterpieces, and experiencing the friendly service. Throughout editing, we kept the restaurant’s voice and brand in mind. The pacing, the music, the graphics – everything was chosen to match The Three Chimneys’ blend of elegance and warmth.
When the final photos and video were delivered, it was incredibly satisfying to see how our meticulous approach paid off. The Three Chimneys team was thrilled to see their brand’s essence captured so faithfully. For us at Huckleberry, that’s the ultimate goal of any content capture project – to bottle up what makes a place unique and present it in a way that resonates with viewers, inviting them to “why don’t you see this for yourself?” In this case, we’re confident that anyone who sees the results will get a true taste of Skye’s most iconic restaurant, even before they set foot on the island.
Feeling inspired by this behind-the-scenes journey? If you’re curious about how professional content capture can tell your brand’s story, we invite you to view our content capture page to learn more about what we offer. From breathtaking photos to engaging brand films, our team is ready to help you showcase what makes your business extraordinary – just as we did with The Three Chimneys. Let’s bring your story to life together!
