THERE were few surprises among the Scots represented in the latest edition of the Michelin Guide, published yesterday, writes Aine Harrington.

Altnaharrie Inn in Ullapool, Wester Ross, retained its two-star culinary rating in this, the 100th Michelin Red Guide.

In London, top Scots television chef Gordon Ramsay also held on to his two-star rating in his Chelsea restaurant.

The latest edition, however, removes the Michelin star from the Braeval Mill at Aberfoyle. The top restaurant, once owned and run by Nick Nairn and later by his former wife Fiona, was last year sold and is now run as a tearoom.

The UK has just one restaurant worthy of the Michelin's coveted three stars - the Waterside Inn in Bray, near Maidenhead, which has held its rating for the 16th year.

In London, Marco Pierre White's Oak Room, at the Hotel Meridien, and Nico Ladenis's Chez Nico, at the Grosvenor House Hotel, which both earned three stars in the 1999 guide, have been left out this year.

White announced months ago that he was retiring from cooking, though his restaurant empire will continue, while Ladenis said he was changing direction by bringing down prices and altering his menu.

A Michelin spokesman said of the Oak Room and Chez Nico: ''We left them out altogether as we could not have accurately assessed them. They will be rated according to merit in next year's guide.''

The 100th Michelin Red Guide includes 12 two-star restaurants, unchanged from last year, while 86 establishments were awarded one star, up six from last year.