Torridon Hotel

Kinloch is a luxury family-run hotel in the beautiful surrounds of the rugged Isle of Sky in what once was a 17th-century hunting lodge. Found at the foot of a indomitable mountain and at the head of the tranquil waters of Loch na Da, this is truly the ideal place to escape the noise and stresses of modern life.

Here you will find guest rooms that are individually decorated in a calming, earthy palette and textures chosen to invoke Skye’s distinctive landscape. Each room is decorated with unique antiques, prints and paintings, and the large Edwardian windows ensure plenty of natural light. Some of the rooms also have exquisite views across Loch na Dal or towards Kinloch Hill.

Steeped in heritage – with several old portraits of the original lodge owner’s family hung in the dining room – the lodge exemplifies all the traditions of highland hospitality and your welcome here will be warmer than the many log fires lighting up every hearth.

When you have soaked up the serenity of the atmosphere and find yourself seeking some exhilaration, there are plenty of activities to choose from to satisfy such desires. Fly fishing will take you on a thrilling quest for the elusive wild Scottish salmon while stalking will connect you to the roots of the property’s history as a hunting lodge. Wild walks take you further into the rugged landscapes beyond the estate, which call out to be explored, while a range of cookery classes provide entertainment and insight into local cuisine, all from the warmth of the lodges interior.

After working up an appetite after any number of these activities, you’ll delight in the culinary treasures found here. Simply cooked local produce is generously served by award winning chef Marcello Tully, who won and maintained a Michelin star for seven years running.

Built in 1896 by Lord Strathcona, the august Glencoe House sits overlooking the famous Highland scenery of Glencoe.

The main house contains seven sprawling suites with large private sitting rooms, which boasts numerous original features such as marble fireplaces and ornate ceilings, a lavish bathroom, and a charming bedroom or two with fabulous glen views. Breakfasts and seasonal five-course dinners are served in the comfort and privacy of your suite.

Six further self-catered suites, called the Strathcona Lodges, are found in a characterful building moments from the main hotel, each with a comfortable sitting room with a wood-burning stove, a fully stocked kitchen with Aga oven, a luxurious bathroom while the first floor contains a peaceful bedroom with en-suite WC. All suites also enjoy private walled gardens with hot tubs and alfresco dining. Everything you need is provided for breakfast and dinners can be booked in the main house’s grand Great Hall.

The mansion is well located for exploring the sublime scenery of Glencoe, the West Coast and islands. There’s centuries of history to discover, dozens of whisky distilleries and plethora of outdoor experiences to be had. There’s also acres of beautiful woodland to walk among from the house and bespoke massage treatments can be arranged.

Backed Britain’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis, and reflected in its own loch, the setting of Inverlochy Castle is more than matched by the great house’s grandeur. Built 1863, a visiting Queen Victoria commented, ‘I never saw a lovelier or more romantic spot’, and it is certainly as impressive today.

Arrive to an aristocratic welcome, perhaps after pulling up in the hotel’s Rolls Royce, and step into the aptly named Grand Hall. This is a place that has unashamedly stuck to its guns décor-wise, an eclectic mix of opulent 19th century styles, and it is all the better for it. Combined with the surroundings and impeccable service, it simply feels ‘right’.

There are 17 unique rooms in the main house, all spacious and thoroughly comfortable with unobtrusive modern features and delightful bathrooms.

Dining is a full country house experience, starting with a drink by the fire, followed by a multi-course dinner courtesy of Albert and Michel Roux Jr celebrating modern British cuisine with French influences, perhaps ending sampling some of the extensive whisky collection.

Spend your days here walking in the surrounding hills, fishing on the loch or enjoying afternoon tea. The array of outdoor activities in the Fort William area are within also all easy reach such as pony trekking, golf, mountain biking, climbing and white-water rafting.