Serve chilled

Tap, tap, tap. Tap, tap. “Oh, there it goes – that wee one’s for the pot.” The mussel in my hand slowly and silently hinges shut, like a lid on a fancy electronic bin. “If it closes completely that’s

IN THE SCOTTISH ARCHIPELAGO, FARM FLAVOURS AND SEAFOOD SPECIALITIES ABOUND

Aer Lingus has flights to Belfast from 20 UK cities, including Edinburgh, Cardiff, Manchester and London. aerlingus.com For a no-fly option, Stena Line operates daily car ferry sailings from Cairnryan

Rugged coastlines, surging tides and deep, cold water put Scottish shellfish in a class of its own. Nick Hammond heads north to taste his way around some seafood hotspots

Every month, we trawl the nation’s coastline to bring you news of the people, places and exciting goings-on that are worth knowing about

COUNTRY LIFE’s fishing correspondent takes a closer look at the sturgeon, which has been highly prized by gastronomes since Roman times