Places to stay in the Highlands (TVR friendly)
Discussion
Sorry if this appears OT, but can any PHers recommend some nice places to stay in Scotland? I'm looking for a TVR friendly hotel where cars can be left overnight without fear of undesirable attention. Ideally it should be a very good hotel with good food - and even better some good activities e.g. off road driving, shooting, fishing, pool etc.
All ideas gratefully received!
Cheers
Bryan
All ideas gratefully received!
Cheers
Bryan
Brian, Best place to look is a book called 'Scotland the Best'. 
If you want really good (but mucho dinero) hotel and food then "The Isle of Eriska" near Oban is fabulous and quite likes distinctive cars . We went there for our wedding anniversary and took the Tuscan in June. Gleneagles Hotel is an obvious one, but may be more show than go. Pittodrie House Hotel near Aberdeen is also gorgeous with great scenery around it and the Hotels at Brora on the east coast of Sutherland put up with the Scotland & N. Ireland TVRCC in 2001. For food just up the road from where we live in Fife are The Peat Inn and The Cellar two of Scotalnd's best restaurants. 
We are 45 minutes out of Edinburgh and you'd be welcome to drop in and stay if we're not invaded by Irish realtives at the time! e-mail; wrede.pitlessie@btopenworld.com.
PS The central Scotland TVRCC meets at Powmill near Knockhill at lunchtime first Saturday of the month. Cheerio the nooo!!!
If you want really good (but mucho dinero) hotel and food then "The Isle of Eriska" near Oban is fabulous and quite likes distinctive cars . We went there for our wedding anniversary and took the Tuscan in June. Gleneagles Hotel is an obvious one, but may be more show than go. Pittodrie House Hotel near Aberdeen is also gorgeous with great scenery around it and the Hotels at Brora on the east coast of Sutherland put up with the Scotland & N. Ireland TVRCC in 2001. For food just up the road from where we live in Fife are The Peat Inn and The Cellar two of Scotalnd's best restaurants. We are 45 minutes out of Edinburgh and you'd be welcome to drop in and stay if we're not invaded by Irish realtives at the time! e-mail; wrede.pitlessie@btopenworld.com.
PS The central Scotland TVRCC meets at Powmill near Knockhill at lunchtime first Saturday of the month. Cheerio the nooo!!!
Gleneagles has all the bells and whistles ( Jackie Stewart Shooting School etc) but they'll charge you - beware ) £6.50 for a G&T - it's on our doorstep but very rarely visted these days.
If you want great roads and fantastic food in the most wonderful location there's only one place to go - The Three Chimneys on the Isle of Skye - recently voted one of the top 20 restaurants in the world, they have rooms too. Can't recommend it highly enough.
Otherwise Irvine's "Scotland the Best" is a good bet for the low down.
If you're happy spending silly money then Skibo Castle is probably worth a look as is Kinnaird House in Ballinluig (No activities, just the most stunning hotel).
I'll dig out the 2002 guide and have a flick through to see if there's anything else that stands out....
If you want great roads and fantastic food in the most wonderful location there's only one place to go - The Three Chimneys on the Isle of Skye - recently voted one of the top 20 restaurants in the world, they have rooms too. Can't recommend it highly enough.
Otherwise Irvine's "Scotland the Best" is a good bet for the low down.
If you're happy spending silly money then Skibo Castle is probably worth a look as is Kinnaird House in Ballinluig (No activities, just the most stunning hotel).
I'll dig out the 2002 guide and have a flick through to see if there's anything else that stands out....
We used the Inverbeg Inn on A82 beside Loch Lomond on way to & from Inverness this year. I don't hesitate to recommend it. A loch-side room was £10 dearer than std rate but well worth it & means your car is parked off the beaten track.
I'd second the recommendation for a trip to Skye.
Watch the sheep and your petrol guage, super-UL is not too common North of Glasgow.
I'd second the recommendation for a trip to Skye.
Watch the sheep and your petrol guage, super-UL is not too common North of Glasgow.
I'd like to "third" the Skye recommendation. The Three Chimneys is wonderful. Their wine list if rather fine as well. Look out for their Henschke wines - rare and delicious, although you can buy them in Lay and Wheeler in Colchester!
We stayed at the "Cuillen Hills" or something like that in Portree which was a mediumish sort of hotel but perfectly safe for the car - just out of town, you know.
www.cuillinhills.demon.co.uk/
If you like to really get awat from it all we found a wonderful hotel 9 miles down a dead-end road. Great food. Walks out the door. Proper huntin', shootin' and fishin' lodge sort of place. Whackingly expensive though. "Mullardoch House Hotel" I think.
www.mullhouse1.demon.co.uk
Your TVR/Porsche/Ferrari/Lamborghini will certainly be safe there....! As I recall the road to get there had a few interesting moments but was perfectly passable in a sports car.
>> Edited by Don on Wednesday 2nd October 08:48
We stayed at the "Cuillen Hills" or something like that in Portree which was a mediumish sort of hotel but perfectly safe for the car - just out of town, you know.
www.cuillinhills.demon.co.uk/
If you like to really get awat from it all we found a wonderful hotel 9 miles down a dead-end road. Great food. Walks out the door. Proper huntin', shootin' and fishin' lodge sort of place. Whackingly expensive though. "Mullardoch House Hotel" I think.
www.mullhouse1.demon.co.uk
Your TVR/Porsche/Ferrari/Lamborghini will certainly be safe there....! As I recall the road to get there had a few interesting moments but was perfectly passable in a sports car.
>> Edited by Don on Wednesday 2nd October 08:48
Culloden House hotel near Culloden battle field near Inverness. Very exclusive hotel nestled in some lovely private grounds. You may even stay in the same room as Bonnie Prince Charlie. The Battlefield and Fort George are well worth a visit.
Although not the highlands, I would also recommend Cameron House Hotel on Loch Lomond.
Pine Trees hotel in Pitlochry is nice - and a LOT cheaper that the ones above.
Although not the highlands, I would also recommend Cameron House Hotel on Loch Lomond.
Pine Trees hotel in Pitlochry is nice - and a LOT cheaper that the ones above.
Thank you Gentlemen. Some wonderful and 'reassuringly expensive' venues there. It would appear easy for a couple to spend £1,000 for 3 nights at some of these places (gulp!). Looks like the Isle of Skye is popular with you all. I have never been there so it does look very appealing. Thank you very much. Of course if anyone has any further good reports on places they have stayed, please let me know ASAP as I want to head off....tomorrow!
I would suffest the Kingdom of Fife is worth a visit. Get over to St. Andrews, and stay at the Rufflets Hotel just outside. It's about £300 for a weekend stay, sumptuous food, nice private car park, and you have a small teddy in each room, which you leave outside the door if you don't wqnt to be disturbed! Highly recommended, but I believe Fife is now riddled with Gatsos. St. Andrews is well worth a visit.
Cameron House Hotel on the shores of Loch Lomond may be just the ticket as its a Gleneagles style resort. Lovely rooms, great staff and a proper stately feel.
Something a little more basic, but in a marvellous part of the country and the owners are complete car nuts is a place called The Galley of Lorne Inn and its near a place called Lochgilphead which is slightly south of Oban.
Matt.
Something a little more basic, but in a marvellous part of the country and the owners are complete car nuts is a place called The Galley of Lorne Inn and its near a place called Lochgilphead which is slightly south of Oban.
Matt.
My partner and I use the Good Food Guide as the 'bible' for places to stay in the Highlands - we came back from a week in the Highlands only a week ago.
My recommendations are:
- The Cross in Kingussie (the dog's b******s for food and informal hospitality, but not cheap)
- the Albannach in Lochinver - way north west
- the Three Chimneys in Skye (yet another recommendation!)
- the Pierhouse (or better still Airds - but much more expensive) in Port Appin near Oban - however, most of the Pierhouse's car park in on the pebble beach!
- a hotel whose name escapes me in Strontian (near Fort William) - Kil-something or other
These are all places I wouldn't have a concern leaving a TVR.
I'm sure you'll have a great time!
Julian
My recommendations are:
- The Cross in Kingussie (the dog's b******s for food and informal hospitality, but not cheap)
- the Albannach in Lochinver - way north west
- the Three Chimneys in Skye (yet another recommendation!)
- the Pierhouse (or better still Airds - but much more expensive) in Port Appin near Oban - however, most of the Pierhouse's car park in on the pebble beach!
- a hotel whose name escapes me in Strontian (near Fort William) - Kil-something or other
These are all places I wouldn't have a concern leaving a TVR.
I'm sure you'll have a great time!
Julian
quote:
I would suffest the Kingdom of Fife is worth a visit. Get over to St. Andrews, and stay at the Rufflets Hotel just outside. It's about £300 for a weekend stay, sumptuous food, nice private car park, and you have a small teddy in each room, which you leave outside the door if you don't wqnt to be disturbed! Highly recommended, but I believe Fife is now riddled with Gatsos. St. Andrews is well worth a visit.
There are no Gatsos in Fife - only mobile units. The police post the location on their website every week...
www.fife.police.uk/
On the Skye theme again, we once stayed at a small family run hotel at the end of a mile long driveway by the side of a sea loch called The Greshornish House Hotel. Has it's own bar and an excellent restaraunt and it's only 15 minutes from The Three Chimneys which is a must.
Hope this helps.
www.greshornishhousehotel.activehotels.com/DTB
Hope this helps.
www.greshornishhousehotel.activehotels.com/DTB
Personal recommendationis the Monachyle Mhor,
which is a few miles down a dead-end road in real Rob Roy country.
www.monachylemhor.com
Food is stunning, and only moderately expensive.
Not a lot to do there which is organised, but if you want to get up into the hills (on foot) its fantastic.
which is a few miles down a dead-end road in real Rob Roy country.
www.monachylemhor.com
Food is stunning, and only moderately expensive.
Not a lot to do there which is organised, but if you want to get up into the hills (on foot) its fantastic.
Thanks once again to everyone for sharing their ideas with me. My other half spent hours trawling the web for suggestions - but you have all come back with good personal recommendations - several of which have been seconded so they must be good! I think we have enough for a very expensive fortnight in Bonnie Scotland now. Due to time constraints we may just about get to Skye but the West coast is looking very appealing. Will let you know how we get on in the Tuscan.
Many thanks for your contributions - isn't Pistonheads good?!!
Many thanks for your contributions - isn't Pistonheads good?!!
To add to the other suggestions, I can recommend;
- The Kinloch Lodge Hotel, Isle of Skye. The home of Lord and Lady Macdonald of Macdonald. Decorated with ancestral portraits & assorted Clan Macdonald stuff. Lady McD is a internationally renowned chef. Very comfy, very private, very expensive.
- The Crinan Hotel, Lochgilphead, Argyll. Stunning views, renowned fish restaurant. Get a room with views over the Sound of Jura.
- The Scarista House Hotel, Isle of Harris. Probably the most beautiful location in the world, very isolated, delicious food, a fine welcome.
- The Jura Hotel, Jura (it's the only hotel on the island...) Not luxurious but warm, comfortable & welcoming, good seafood, excellent views, amusing driving (there's only 1 road...)
- The Colonsay Hotel, Colonsay. Never stayed, but they do a great lunch... You can visit for the day from Oban. The roads would be a hoot in a TVR. Don't try to cross to Oronsay in one, though - we had seaweed in the radiator grill of the Rangie...
BTW, we were very disappointed with the Three Chimneys. The service was *incredibly* slow, the food nothing special and a boundary dispute with a neighbour had replaced the view with a corrugated iron fence...
You may have problems with ride height on the Cal-Mac ferries, should you decide to visit the Western Isles. I had trouble with loading ramps in my Cosworth, dunno about the Chimaera.
- The Kinloch Lodge Hotel, Isle of Skye. The home of Lord and Lady Macdonald of Macdonald. Decorated with ancestral portraits & assorted Clan Macdonald stuff. Lady McD is a internationally renowned chef. Very comfy, very private, very expensive.
- The Crinan Hotel, Lochgilphead, Argyll. Stunning views, renowned fish restaurant. Get a room with views over the Sound of Jura.
- The Scarista House Hotel, Isle of Harris. Probably the most beautiful location in the world, very isolated, delicious food, a fine welcome.
- The Jura Hotel, Jura (it's the only hotel on the island...) Not luxurious but warm, comfortable & welcoming, good seafood, excellent views, amusing driving (there's only 1 road...)
- The Colonsay Hotel, Colonsay. Never stayed, but they do a great lunch... You can visit for the day from Oban. The roads would be a hoot in a TVR. Don't try to cross to Oronsay in one, though - we had seaweed in the radiator grill of the Rangie...
BTW, we were very disappointed with the Three Chimneys. The service was *incredibly* slow, the food nothing special and a boundary dispute with a neighbour had replaced the view with a corrugated iron fence...
You may have problems with ride height on the Cal-Mac ferries, should you decide to visit the Western Isles. I had trouble with loading ramps in my Cosworth, dunno about the Chimaera.
Thanks to everyone who responded with suggestions. Unfortunately, every hotel suggested that I tried was full for the Saturday night! Plan B therefore involved a run upto The Killikrankie Hotel just north of Pitlochry - a 300 mile journey made by Tuscan in 5 hours including stops (and some VERY fast bits on the A74!!!). Then a round trip taking in Kingussie, Fort William, Port Appin (went to the Pier House - good food!), Oban and back to Pitlochry. Took in a bit of fly fishing and then back home again via Stirling. All in a 850 mile round trip in 4 days (including 1 when we didn't use the car). Great weather, great views, fantastic whisky (but not when driving), great people. This is the most intensive punishment I had given the Tuscan and it was perfect - returning a suprisingly good fuel economy of 27 mpg!! Thanks once again.
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