Gairloch Hotel

Nestled beside Gairloch Bay, The Gairloch Hotel enjoys some of the most dramatic scenery in Scotland. As well as offering spectacular views of the gorgeous Isle of Skye, this Wester Ross hotel overlooks several quiet, secluded beaches.

It offers a wonderfully tranquil base for hiking, wildlife spotting or windswept walks along coastal beauty spots such as Big Sand.

The hotel was built in 1872, the same time as the Victorians’ interest in the Highlands was peaking. Queen Victoria stayed a few days in the area in 1877; a visit which did much to encourage tourism around Gairloch.

Fast forward a hundred and fifty or so years and The Gairloch Hotel still extends a warm Highland welcome to guests. In fact, the friendliness of the staff is a recurring theme in reviews of the hotel.

Range of rooms

The Gairloch Hotel has 70 rooms including several premier rooms, one with a four-poster bed. All have en suite facilities as well as a television, hairdryer, telephone and tea and coffee making facilities.

At the time of writing (January 2018), the hotel is undergoing an extensive refurbishment to ensure it is even more welcoming and comfortable for the next 150 years.

The hotel has complimentary Wi-Fi and on-site parking. The nearest train station is at Achnasheen.

Dining at The Gairloch Hotel

The recently refurbished restaurant has great views of the surrounding countryside although your eye may be drawn to the grand piano in the middle of the dining room.

The staff serve an enticing mix of modern European and hearty traditional Scottish dishes across a la carte and table d’hôte menus.

The lounge bar offers regular live entertainment.

See & do

The hotel overlooks Gairloch Bay and nearby Redpoint Beach – ideal for a bracing walk.
Whales, porpoises and dolphins are regular visitors to the area and can be spotted from the shores. Or you could get closer to the action and book a trip with one of the several wildlife cruise companies which operate in the area. Landlubbers may prefer to keep their eyes peeled for deer, otters, pine martens and even wild goats.

Golden eagles, sea eagles, whooper swans and ptarmigans all live in or visit the area. Although some are easier to spot than others.

If you want to get active there are plenty of outdoor pursuits and sports to get stuck into. Pony trekking, sea kayaking, mountain biking and rock climbing can all be organised in Wester Ross. Of course, you could also play a round at Gairloch golf course or venture further afield to the courses at Lochcarron or Ullapool.

Other local attractions include the impossibly romantic Eilean Donan Castle, Gairloch Heritage Museum or the gardens at Attadale or Inverewe.

Many people who drive the hugely popular North Coast 500 route enjoy a pit stop at The Gairloch Hotel.