When I go away in Scotland I usually camp:
I love snuggling up in my four season sleeping bag and unzipping the tent first
thing in the morning to reveal a spectacular view right outside. On the odd occasion I decide to splash out
and pay more than £10 for accommodation it needs to be special. I want it to be somewhere that beats my own bed. Not slightly grubby or worn around the edges,
or dated, or generic enough to feel like a business trip: I’d rather stay in my
tent that I know is, at least, cosey.
It can be tricky finding guesthouses or
hotels that meet my high expectations, as I’m not willing to spend hundreds. And the internet can be very misleading- with
the right camera lens it’s fairly easy to make any room look appealing in a
thumbnail photograph. It’s usually worth
doing a bit of extra research and trawling through a few reviews (as painful as
that can be with people scorning places on the bases of a noisy neighbor or
their favourite cereal not making the breakfast menu).
I’ve
found a couple of hotels worth raving about.
These little gems come highly recommend…
Ard-Na-Coille
Guest House, Newtonmore
It’s already dark when my boyfriend and I
stand shivering outside the guesthouse between grand white columns and
manicured trees, like lost travellers seeking shelter. Jacquie and Mike open the door together and
with welcoming smiles and condolences for our soggy state usher us out of the
cold and into their luxurious haven.
One the way to our room Jacqui apologises
for a small mark on the carpet in the hallway (which she is in the process of
removing). It’s overly conscientious :
we’re trying desperately to avoid dripping snow all over the cream carpeted
staircase. Her strive for perfection and
the four years spent refurbishing the old hunting lodge is evident: the
guesthouse has an elegant, classic style.
Entering the bedroom is like stepping back in time to a fictional past
of ultimate comfort: the four-poster bed is so deep it’s hard to leave. The en suite
includes a roll top bath and soft robes, as fluffy as new.
I could have happily spent the evening lounging between the bed, bath and chez long, perhaps catching up with correspondence at the large oak table, as Emma Woodhouse would have done, but my boyfriend was in awe of the full sized snooker table downstairs. We drank Scottish whisky from the fully stocked drinks cabinet whilst we played, me badly. Here, I felt like I could be in a James Bond film, but with the tasty addition of bowls of celebrations dotted between the Christmas decorations. The only downside to the charming Ard-Na-Coille is that it doesn’t have a restaurant and so for an hour or so we had to leave our beautiful fantasy home and rejoin the real world.
Cnoc-na-faire,
Arasaig
From the outside the Cnoc-na-faire is
deceptive: a white building with a slightly odd boxy shape. You need to go inside to discover it’s
charms. I visited in December and the
restaurant and reception were tastefully decorated, it looked just as Christmas
should do.
On the wall are framed photos of crews filming
the popular Scottish film ‘local hero’, shot on the nearby beach. The hotel is proud of this claim to fame; a
DVD of the film is in the amenities folder of every room. Just one of many thoughtful touches: my
favourites being the cow print hot water bottle by the bed and complimentary
whisky for late night drams in the corridor.
Charming details combined with enormous beds with crisp white linen,
stunning views of the islands and friendly, fun staff makes for a standout
night away.
http://www.cnoc-na-faire.co.uk/
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