Great accommodations in Scotland

[Peat Sampras]

For all those who don't have the chance to live in Scotland, please share your experiences on good accommodations.

Campbeltown: http://www.craigard-house.co.uk/

Craigard House:

Setting: Idillyc at Campbeltown Loch, about a mile from city centre with views of Campbeltown Loch and Campbeltown
Food: Great (for scottish standards I'd even label it "Gourmet")
Price: Not dirt cheap but affordable
Hospitality: Great, good whisky knowledge as well

Port Ellen: http://www.islay.co.uk/askernish/

Askernish B & B

Setting: Next to the ferry port, staggering distance to the Port Ellen whisky bars Ardview Inn and the Hotel Bar of the White Hart Inn
Food: Great
Price: Cheap
Hospitality: Great

Benderloch (near Oban): http://www.barcaldinecastle.co.uk/

Barcaldine Castle

Setting: It's a castle, for God's sake
Food: Great
Price: Expensive (It's a castle, for God's sake)
Hospitality: Great

Inverness: http://www.ivybankguesthouse.com/

Ivy Bank Guest House

Setting: In the middle of the city but quiet and idyllic
Food: Great
Price: Not dirt cheap but affordable
Hospitality: Great, almost OTT (Landlady's american)

Dundee: http://www.mennies.co.uk/

Speedwells

Not a hotel, but a great pub... they've got it all. You can get Littlemill, North Port, Glen Albyn, Rosebank, all at normal pub prices (about £ 3 a dram). Sometimes they've got live music as well.

[C57]

Nice idea for a thread !

[Peat Sampras]

Nice idea for a thread !

Thx C57. Maybe I'll do a "worst accommodations" thread too. There were very little though... and I don't fancy being attacked for slander

What does IWBRNT mean?

[TheTross]

IWBRNT = it would be rude not to.

Shame I can't add to this thread; the only time I've visited Scotland was when I went camping a couple of years ago for a fortnight - I doubt a caravan would rank highly as great accommodation in most people's eyes

[Peat Sampras]

IWBRNT = it would be rude not to.

Shame I can't add to this thread; the only time I've visited Scotland was when I went camping a couple of years ago for a fortnight - I doubt a caravan would rank highly as great accommodation in most people's eyes

Edit: Damn, I'm spamming my own thread

[Willie JJ]

Maybe I'll do a "worst accommodations" thread too. There were very little though...

Either you are very lucky or very easy going.

[MacDeffe]

I don't find it particular hard to find good accomodation in Scotland. The standard of bed and breakfast is exceptinal high

I am always on the look for good restaurants and good pubs, especially pubs having a good selection of real ales and whisky and restaurants/pubs with ground made traditional food

I made a google maps of places I can recommend personally :

http://maps.google.dk/maps/ms?hl=da&ie= ... 31eafe&z=5

Macdeffe

[Peat Sampras]

at Willie:

Guess I was lucky then, because even if I personally might be the easy going type of guy, my girlfriend's not goes without saying all of the above mentioned rooms were en suite. Furthermore, I'm Swiss and as such used to highest standards (highest prices too, though). Matter of fact, there were only two places I wouldn't return to, one was too untidy (folks were nice though) and one was too tidy.

at MacDeffe:

Thx, now that's a list. Are you Danish? I've been to Copenhagen twice, great city.

[The Craw]

Do you want recommendations to experience the real Scotland ie the kinda place Begbie would stay in?

As an employee of the official Tourist Board I'd better keep out of this one

[MacDeffe]

@Pete Sampras

yes, I am danish

I am from the countryside so trying to stay as far away from copenf*ckinghagen as possible

Macdeffe

[Peat Sampras]

Do you want recommendations to experience the real Scotland ie the kinda place Begbie would stay in?

As an employee of the official Tourist Board I'd better keep out of this one

Yes please! I'll go sightseeing there with my expensive digital camera and my rolex watch

Can you tell me where I'll find the deep fried mars bar?

@at MacDeffe: d'oh, and I meant to be nice

[The Craw]

Can you tell me where I'll find the deep fried mars bar?

Peat, you need to move on, this is the new thing here:
http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/topst ... 5698714.jp

[MacDeffe]

I tried Deep fried mars bar at the Bull and Castle in Dublin and it wasn't as I expected. It was really delicious !

It was served with blackcurrant jam and homemade vanilla icecream !

Macdeffe

[Peat Sampras]

at Leither: now that's disgusting

at MacDeffe: sounds yummy

Who opens up the Gourmet-Thread?

[scottie_dog]

Just thought I would mention the Craighurst Guest House in Keith I Stayed here this Summer and was blown away by the whole Craighurst experience. Obviously I booked their Whisky Room which was extremely comfortable and clean. The Craighurst breakfast menu offers lots of choice with a mix of Scottish and Dutch dishes. The 'eggspecialty' is superb! After my scrumptious breakfast, it only took me a one minute stroll through the Craighurst woodland to join a tour at the Strathisla Distillery from Chivas Regal. What a great neighbour to have...

Sorry forgot to post a link to the place http://www.craighurst-guesthouse.com/

[Peat Sampras]

Thx for the contribution Scottie Dog. The place looks great

[The Craw]

I would also recommend, very highly indeed, Craighurst Guest House - owned/managed by a charming Dutch couple (Peet and Gwenda).

As Scottie says right next door to Strathisla, plus the location is perfect as a base in Speyside.

[Dundeelion]

I can add also one or two:

If you can't avoid to stay in Dundee or if you want to:

Atholl bank Guest house:

Not too expensive, cute rooms, wifi
Very friendly and helpful couple

Just above the old Railroad bridge and the Magdaleen green. 10 min from the City center.
http://www.athollbank.com/

or in Glencoe: Calcheig Inn

Cosy bar with fireplace and real ale, also good food.
Mountains to hike and climb nearby, great view.

http://www.clachaig.com/p/v/the-bars/

on the Isle of Mull:

Very Decent rooms and food, we were there in Winter and alone, the owners had time so speak with us and we met them in the bar.
http://www.thebellachroy.co.uk/


to be continued

[MacDeffe]

In February I stayed at Redgarth Inn in oldmeldrum

I can say 4 things

Great Rooms
Excellent Food
Real ales on tap
and the staff including the owner were a jolly bunch

www.redgarth.com

Macdeffe

[Peat Sampras]

thx Dundeelion and MacDeffe for reviving this thread. I shall add new stuff after my roundtrip in May...

[MacDeffe]

Well I won't recommend this hotel we had in February that phoned the pub down the road and told us it was time to get home on a sunday night at 10.30

Macdeffe

[Mr Tattie Heid]

Well I won't recommend this hotel we had in February that phoned the pub down the road and told us it was time to get home on a sunday night at 10.30

Macdeffe

Ha ha, just what you need, a mother on the road! I got locked out of the Aberlour Hotel one night, though, so I guess I understand. I was drinking in the Mash Tun, and when I told the landlord (no longer there) where I was staying, he knew that would be the case. He went with me over to the hotel's landlord's house and threw rocks at his window, so he'd get up and let me in. Don't know what I would have done otherwise--slept in the car, I guess!

I missed this thread before, I guess because I happened to actually be traveling in Scotland at the time. I have to say I have misgivings about naming my favorite places to stay--I have visions of calling for reservations, and finding the place booked up with you folk. Sometimes you need to hold your cards close. One place I will recommend without reservation (the other kind of reservation) is The Anderson in Fortrose on the Black Isle. Great food, beer, and whisky, easy access to Inverness, Glenmorangie, Dalmore, Glen Ord, Loch Ness, etc.

I'll add some others as they come to me. Don't expect my best secrets, though.

[Peat Sampras]

I'll add some others as they come to me. Don't expect my best secrets, though.

Salvation Army?

[Peat Sampras]

So, let me share some new accomodations I do recommend in Scotland:

On Barra: Castlebay Hotel: http://www.castlebay-hotel.co.uk/

Ok, it may have seen better days but the views are awesome (if you take a room with sea-view ): You've got the bay with Kisimul Castle, Vatersay and behind them Sandray and Pabbay. And for the nightcap, the Castlebay Bar is just adjacent.

On Lewis: Gallan Head Hotel: http://www.gallanheadhotel.co.uk/

It's in an old RAF-base, i.e. containers. But it's well renovated and inside you wouldn't tell you're in a container View is stunning as you are on a cliff an you see a cliff and remote islands as well as the sea hitting the rocks. Great. Food is fine and the landlords are very nice. They've got a good wee choice of malts as well, and even the Spirit of Lewis was on sale.

On the Wester Ross: Drumchork Lodge, Aultbea: http://www.hotelaultbea.co.uk/

Whisky bar boasts over 400 bottles and Loch Ewe Distillery is in the garage of the Hotel... questions?

Inverness: Abermar B&B: http://www.abermar.co.uk/

Very good B&B very near town centre. I was specially astonished by the facilities: I didn't know that it was actually possible to find showers in Scotland with power and the possibility to regulate water temperature to "warm" and not to have to shower either ice cold or damn hot The rest is very clean and friendly as well...

For food in Inverness I recommend the Rocpool, it suits the continental palate (and stomach), they even know how to do pasta "al dente"...

[MacDeffe]

In Pitlochry there's Moulin Inn but also this B and B

Tir Arluinn Guest House
10 Higher Oakfield

www.tiraluinn.co.uk

The breakfast was awesome good

Macdeffe