Best hotels, B&Bs in Scottish Highlands and Islands

Viewfield House, Isle of Skye

A bravura Victorian rebuild of a Georgian country house in wooded grounds above Portree Bay and the Sound of Raasay, Viewfield has been home to generations of Macdonalds, and is filled with family possessions and mementos.

Kilcamb Lodge, Strontian

‘The situation is absolutely beautiful; perfect for wild swimmers,’ write readers this year, in praise of this remote hideaway hotel on the shores of Loch Sunart.

The Ceilidh Place, Ullapool

Whether you want a ceilidh, a hooley or a quiet read, a drink or bistro meal, a bed or bunk, the Urquhart family’s hotel, in a fishing village set amid rugged mountains on the east shore of Loch Broom, can accommodate you.

Kinloch Lodge, Isle of Skye

‘A great place to stay if you’re after excellent food and high standards of comfort’, the family home of Lord Macdonald and his wife, cookery writer Lady Claire Macdonald, is ‘in a beautiful position’ on the shores of Loch Na Dal.

Coul House, Strathpeffer

Set amid gardens and woodlands, this Georgian country house has been a labour of love for Susannah and Stuart Macpherson since they first opened to guests in 2003.

Eddrachilles Hotel, Scourie

The breathtakingly scenic North Coast 500 road passes the driveway to this 18th-century manse, now a small, friendly hotel, gazing over Badcall Bay.

Culdearn House, Grantown-on-Spey

Guests can follow the Speyside whisky trail from the Marshall family's bay-fronted Victorian house, then return to sit by the fire with a dram from a list of fine malts and rare single-barrel casks.

The Cross at Kingussie, Kingussie

By a bubbling burn in the Cairngorms national park, Joe and Sarah Jouhal have recently taken over this former Victorian tweed mill which attracts high praise for David Skiggs’ nightly three-course and six course tasting menus.

Glengarry Castle Hotel, Invergarry

A rambling Victorian baronial pile on the shore of Loch Oich, at the heart of the Great Glen, with the history-freighted ruins of Invergarry Castle in its grounds, has been run as a hotel by the MacCallum family for more than 60 years.

Kylesku Hotel, Kylesku

In a ‘very beautiful spot’ on the remote, rocky shores of Loch Glendhu, an old coaching inn has been transformed into a modern hotel that takes full advantage of the beauty and bounty of its setting.

The Three Chimneys and The House Over-By, Isle of Skye

In a scattered hamlet on the western shore of Loch Dunvegan, in the far north of Skye, a whitewashed stone crofter’s cottage is the setting for this fine-dining restaurant-with-rooms.

Glenfinnan House Hotel, Fort William

Peacefully set beside Loch Shiel, opposite the Glenfinnan Monument and with distant views of Ben Nevis, this handsome country house with tartan fabrics and four-poster bedrooms is a great Highland hideaway.

Forss House, Thurso

The River Forss curves around the wooded grounds of this late Georgian country house, run today as a ‘wonderful hotel’ with salmon fishing at the bottom of the garden.

Smiddy House, Spean Bridge

Whichever way you approach, it is a scenic drive to Robert Bryson and Glen Russell’s restaurant-with-rooms, at a crossroads in a south Highlands village.

The Dulaig, Grantown-on-Spey

Warm Scottish hospitality is the hallmark of this Edwardian country house B&B, from the home-made cakes and whisky-fuelled porridge to the beautifully tended garden and comfortable bedrooms.

Shieldaig Lodge, Gairloch

With ‘wonderful views’ of Loch Gairloch, this Victorian hunting lodge on a wooded estate where falconry, fishing and deer stalking can all be laid on for guests now accepts dogs in its bedrooms and bar.

Scourie Hotel, SCOURIE

Genuine Scottish hospitality, and the chance to catch giant hill loch brown trout, lure visitors to the Campbell family’s old coaching inn, in an area known for its spectacular mountain scenery, its white sandy bays, and its lochs and lochans teeming with wild trout and salmon.

The Prince’s House, Fort William

Seventeenth-century travellers along the Road to the Isles once stopped in at this former coaching inn close to Loch Shiel.

The Loch Ness Inn, Drumnadrochit

Hikers and cyclists stop for the simple comforts of this ‘friendly’ 160-year-old coaching inn, a ‘busy and bustling’ local gathering place in a village on the Great Glen Way.

The Torridon, TORRIDON

It’s hard to beat the setting of this Victorian baronial-style hunting lodge, in a wooded estate at the head of Loch Torridon.

Boath House, Nairn

The Matheson family’s classical Regency mansion stands in 22 acres of spectacular walled and woodland gardens, so ‘the rustle of the leaves in the trees’ drowns out any traffic noise from the Aberdeen–Inverness road.

Bunchrew House, Inverness

On the tranquil shore of the Beauly Firth, this ‘very pleasant’ 17th-century mansion stands in large grounds that lead into woodland laced with walking paths.

Bridgend Hotel, Bridgend

On the Inner Hebrides island of Islay, this stone-built hotel – a village landmark where two main roads meet – has welcomed visitors for more than 150 years.

Sunny Brae, Nairn

John Bochel and Rachel Philipsen’s ‘good-value’ B&B on the Moray coast stands before ‘the panorama of the sea’, within easy reach of dolphins, dunes and whisky distilleries.

Applecross Inn, Applecross

Well worth taking, the scenic, single-track Bealach na Ba winds across the remote Applecross peninsula to reach Judith Fish’s unpretentious hostelry, where low-key charm and cheer spill on to the shoreside terrace.

Coruisk House, Isle of Skye

A welcome glass of sparking wine awaits guests at Clare Winskill and Iain Roden’s romantic restaurant-with-rooms, reached down a scenic, single-track road in a wild and remote part of the island.

Hotels not in the Guide that you may want to consider

Bridgend Hotel

Bridgend

On the Inner Hebrides island of Islay, this stone-built hotel – a village landmark where two main roads meet – has welcomed visitors for more than 150 years.

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cycling
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Cnoc-Na-Faíre

ARISAIG

There are ‘gorgeous’ views of the islands of Rum and Skye, and the hills of Morar and Keppoch from Jenny and David Sharpe’s small hotel in an original croft house with Art Deco extension. The well-equipped, plaid-furnished bedrooms have bathrobes, scales, DVD-player

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weddings
value
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child_friendly

Loch Leven Hotel & Distillery

Glencoe

At the foot of mighty Glencoe, a loch-side hotel with magnificent views and a gin distillery in the grounds. Family-run, the historic former ferry inn dates back to the time of Bonnie Prince Charlie, and has homely rooms, a library and games room, a choice of dining options and a well-stocked bar. Four luxury pods are planned.

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Creag Mhor Lodge

Glencoe

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Treetops B&B

Fort William

Built in the style of an alpine chalet, the spacious bedrooms in this modern building have glorious views of Ben Nevis. B&B guests start the day with a noteworthy Scottish breakfast. A great base for discovering the area, by foot, kayak or bicycle, the knowledgeable hosts are on hand with helpful tips on places to visit and where to eat nearby. There are excellent transport links to Fort William, 3 miles away.

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walking

Glentower Lower Observatory

Fort William

From the summit of Ben Nevis, gale warnings for ship owners and skippers were once transmitted to this distinctive Victorian building. Today, it is a serene B&B, with spacious bedrooms, many with stunning views of Loch Linnhe and the Ardgour Hills. Scottish breakfasts (porridge with a dash of whisky or lashings of cream; scrambled eggs with local smoked salmon) are served in a light-filled room overlooking tranquil gardens and the loch. A packed lunch may be pre-ordered; for early risers, a packed breakfast. The town is a short walk away.

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Hotels, B&Bs, country houses, inns, restaurants with rooms

The Scottish Highlands embraces the islands of Skye, the Hebrides, the Orkneys and the Shetlands. Outdoor pursuits include climbing (Ben Nevis, near Fort William, is Britain’s highest mountain), fishing, shooting.

Our hotels can offer you the stay you're after - from the remote island of Tobermory to a former hunting lodge and including town and remote settings. There is Scottish dancing and ceilidhs in tourist centres; whisky distilleries galore. Seek the Loch Ness monster at Inverness. Walk or ski in the Cairngorms. Remember the massacre of the Macdonalds by the Campbells in the calm beauty of today’s Glencoe and the slaughter at the Battle of Culloden in 1746. Visit Cawdor Castle of Macbeth fame and Brodie Castle, in a large park near Forres.

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Hotels in Scottish Highlands

Hotels in Scottish Highlands

Hotels not in the Guide that you may want to consider

Hotels in Scottish Highlands

Bridgend Hotel

Bridgend

Cnoc-Na-Faíre

ARISAIG

Loch Leven Hotel & Distillery

Glencoe

Creag Mhor Lodge

Glencoe

Treetops B&B

Fort William

Glentower Lower Observatory

Fort William

Hotels nearby

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