8 minute read
Highlands – Places to Stay
Scotland is one of the most exciting places in the world for people who like being active in the great outdoors, and Fort William is one of the best places to start exploring. Known as the ‘Outdoor Capital of the UK,’ it is the gateway to the UK’s tallest mountain, Ben Nevis and also to the walking and cycling trails of Glen Nevis and the fishing and boating of Loch Linnhe. Those less inclined toward exercise will be relieved to find some excellent shopping and hospitality, too, both with plentiful supplies of all things Scottish.
Advertisement
Clickety-Clack Cottage is within sight of Ben Nevis but also closeups of the West Highland Railway. This famous line runs The Jacobite steam train 85 beautiful miles from Fort William to Mallaig, via the impressive Glenfinnan viaduct, whose 21 arches have graced many films, including those of Harry Potter.
The cottage is well placed for visiting the Hebrides including Skye, where The Skye Inn provides cosy and dog friendly bed & breakfast in the island capital, Portree. This is a great spot from which to explore history including the Jacobite Revolution, Bonnie Prince Charlie and Clan Warfare, explored in depth at Armadale Museum.
Lovat Hotel provides excellent accommodation in Perth, ‘Gateway to the Highlands,’ just half a mile from the city centre shops, restaurants, museums and numerous amenities.
FORT WILLIAM
Sitting on the site of a former railway cottage, Clickety-Clack not only boasts great views of the West Highland Railway line and the Jacobite Steam train but also has uninterrupted views to Loch Eil and Ben Nevis.
Relax as you watch sheep and cows graze and spot the many birds on the shore that call Kinlocheil their home.
As the cottage sits just off the A830 Road the the Isles, you are in a great spot for exploring the surrounding areas of Ardnamuchan, the Small Isles of Eigg, Muck, Rum and Canna, the Isle of Skye, Mull and Inverness is easily visited in a day. Clickety sleeps 4 people in two bedrooms. The main living area consists of an open plan fully fitted kitchen, lounge and dining area. 12ft windows overlooking Ben Nevis and Loch Eil let light flood in and is the perfect spot to sit in the comfort of your armchair and watch the Jacobite Steam train pass the front door.
Clickety Clack Cottage
The Lovat Hotel is located in the ‘Fair City of Perth’ which is recognized as the Gateway to the Highlands with easy access to all the main routes to other cities such as Edinburgh, St Andrews, Glasgow, Inverness or Fort William. The hotel offers free parking and also has an electric charging station available for guests’ use. We are just a half mile from Perth’s busy city center where there are an abundance of shops, restaurants and cafes to be found, or you can take a walk along the picturesque River Tay. It’s only a 15 minute walk away or there is public transport that can take you door to door. Guests can enjoy visiting the Perth Museum, Black Watch Museum, St. John’s Kirk of Perth, there are also events at the Perth Concert Hall and Horsecross, Perth Race Course is not too far or if you enjoy playing a round of golf there are The Craigie Hill and the King James VI Golf Club nearby. The Hotel itself is a happy marriage
of old and new, with modern touches added to original features. We offer a complimentary continental breakfast and free Wi-fi to all our guests. Our hotel restaurant and bar, Manhattans, is an essential part not only of The Lovat Hotel but also the local community, we are here to offer freshly prepared food in a friendly and upbeat atmosphere that welcomes all ages. We show all sports as well as a pool table and an outdoor decking area for those warmer days. To find out more, or to book your stay please visit: www.lovathotel.com
PORTREE
Highland holidays are as restful or invigorating as you please, full of diverse experiences amidst the most uplifting scenery. When the weather is kind, many people will want to experience the outdoor life, perhaps bagging a Munro or two, maybe fishing the bountiful rivers. Wherever you go, you’ll be able to feast on delectably moreish local food, sample some of the world’s finest whiskys and catch a castle or two with roles in fashioning Scottish/English relations today.
Five Star luxurious Links House stands next to the first hole of Royal Dornoch Golf Club, one of the finest links courses in the world. Visitors get help to plan their individual perfect excursions, whether exploring history, hiking, biking or finding the best places to spot elusive wildlife.
Loch Shin Luxury Pods have stunning mountain, cliff and forest trails on the doorstep, frequented by rarities such as sea eagles and pine martens. As well as catering for the seriously fit, they’re also close to the famously beautiful North Coast 500 road route, and can happily recommend their own inland variations.
HIGHLAND TOURS There’s so much to see, do and enjoy when you’re exploring Scotland, it would be just too easy to miss out on something really special without even knowing it. Dedicated tour guides with a passion for Scotland and its plethora of stories, traditions and history can ensure that visitors gain the widest range of experience and greatest possible enjoyment from their trip.
Hiring Wee Scottish Tours enables you to choose an entirely bespoke personal tour, created to your own wishes by your personal driver, carried out at the pace which suits you best, with stop-offs where you want, when you want, for as long as you want. Your guide will be experienced and knowledgeable and your chosen tours can be themed for special interests such as golf, whisky, history or the Outlander TV series. Haggis is included!
DORNOCH
Your Perfect Highland Retreat
5 star award winning luxury accommodation & fine dining with the charm, grace and elegance of the world’s finest boutique hotels, adjacent to the 1st tee at Royal Dornoch Golf Club
www.linkshousedornoch.com 01862 810279
Glamping in the Heart of the Highlands
Nestled away close to the shores of the picturesque Loch Shin and surrounded by a stunning vista punctuated with Munros, Loch Shin Luxury Pods offer you the perfect Highland hideaway. If you love the great outdoors but prefer to enjoy it with some of the comforts of indoors, then our luxury pods are the perfect place for you. You’ll find us an ideal base to enjoy this beautiful part of Scotland from, however you like to fill your days. For those looking to slow the pace down and explore, we’d recommend a visit to one of the four National Scenic Areas across the county. Why not take in the dramatic sea cliffs whilst you keep a lookout for some of the wildlife native to the area such as the Sea Eagle or Pine Marten? If you prefer to stay active then you can dive straight into the loch and enjoy some open water swimming, before jumping on your bike to challenge yourself on some of the twists and turns of the local mountain roads.
Or, if you just want to lace up your boots and get out and about under your own steam, there are many trails and footpaths to choose from too.
And, at the end of a long day when you just need to relax and unwind, you can pull up a chair around the fire pit, curl up with a book and watch the stars fill the sky over this stunning, unspoilt landscape. Depending on the time of year you may get to enjoy the spectacular Northern Lights.
To book, or find out more: www.lochshinpods.co.uk Phone: 07590 007743 Email: info@lochshinpods.co.uk
RECOMMENDED HIGHLAND TOUR
PRIVATE AND PERSONAL DRIVING TOURS OF EDINBURGH AND SCOTLAND
Ditch the coach and experience Scotland in style with a private tour and your own personal driver and guide! It’s exactly like having a friend show you around. Tour Edinburgh with us and we will show you all there is to see! We’ll tour Edinburgh’s old town, new town, famous landmark’s, historic sites and everything in between. We also provide Edinburgh whisky tours for whisky lovers and Edinburgh golf tours for golf enthusiasts. We are the only tour operator in Scotland that can offer you a private tour of a famous Scottish Castle. For all you Claire and Jamie fans we have our world famous Outlander Tours. We provide details of our driving tours on the tour page but we have many more and can plan a private bespoke tour of Edinburgh or Scotland for you. With a private tour, you get to decide where you wish to go, how long you’d like the tour to last, and the attractions you’d like to see. On every one of our guided tours we give guests the opportunity to try Scotland’s traditional dish, haggis, and learn all about its history. Our favourite local haggis supplier has vegetarian options and even if you just want to know the history of haggis then that’s fine too.
EDINBURGH CITY CENTRE THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS, ROB ROY, WHISKY CITY CENTRE & ST ANDREWS ROSSLYN CHAPEL PRIVATE SCOTTISH LOWLANDS COUNTRYSIDE
