Shieldaig Lodge

Experience Shieldaig Lodge in Wester Ross

Nestled on a beautiful bay, Shieldaig Lodge near Gairloch offers one of the most spectacular sunsets you will ever see. Set in a 26,000 acre estate in the North West Highlands, this former Victorian hunting lodge was the Winner of Good Hotel Guide’s Editor’s Choice Discovery 2018 Award.

Although recently refurbished, the hotel still hasn’t lost the welcoming atmosphere of its 19th century origins. Magnificent waterside views, log fires, snug lounges and an extensive whisky & gin collection all add up to a very relaxing Scottish hospitality experience.

Boutique bedrooms

Shieldaig Lodge has 12 cosy boutique bedrooms, all furnished with antiques and traditional Scottish touches. Each of the beautifully restored bedrooms has 400-thread Egyptian cotton sheets, luxurious goose down feather duvets, sumptuous pillows and excellent mattresses, perfect for a good night’s rest.

Other facilities include an ensuite bathroom, free WiFi, an HD TV, a hospitality tray with shortbread from the hotel’s own kitchen, a direct dial telephone and an iron with ironing board.

The sea view suite includes a four-poster super king size bed, a separate sitting room, a roll-top tub and a bay window offering a sweeping view of the loch.

Cuisine produced on the estate

While staying at Shieldaig Lodge you can dine on fresh, locally sourced West Highland ingredients, much of it produced on the hotel’s own estate. Guests can even sample a daily bespoke menu designed by classically trained Head Chef, Jerome Prodanu.

The estate’s larder includes a herd of deer, rare breed lamb, Highland cattle, crab, lobster, langoustine, oysters and scallops (caught by hand right in front of the hotel), as well as locally smoked salmon and vegetables from the walled garden.

Sample dishes include the starter of pan-grilled Shetland scallop with black pudding, sweet potato and vanilla oil; the main course of pan-seared Ardgay Estate pheasant breasts with fondant potato, celeriac, red cabbage and mustard jus, and Caramel flavoured creme brûlée with a warm flapjack for dessert.

Excellent whisky bar

After dinner, guests can relax in the hotel’s Liberator Bar with its open fire and leather couches. This cosy bar is a must visit for whisky fans as it has over 300 award winning whiskies (at least one from every post-World War Two distillery in Scotland). Thirty five of those distilleries no longer exist, but they come back to life each time one of their drams is poured for a guest. If that wasn’t enough, the bar also has over 60 craft gins, including every single Scottish gin available.

Explore Wester Ross

Mountains, castles, white sandy beaches and even a cluster of fairy lochs are just a few of the charms of this part of the Highlands. You could spend a whole day drinking in the scenery of Wester Ross, ending it on the unmissable Red Point Beach (which is definitely a contender for the most spectacular sunset in the country).

There is also plenty to do around Shieldaig Lodge itself, including exploring the gardens, strolling along the bay and even visiting the hotel’s very own falconry centre, which includes owls, buzzards, hawks and eagles.

Hebridean Whale Cruises are based at the pier in Gairloch and take guests out to spot the whales, dolphins and basking sharks. Other estate activities including boating, fishing and pony trekking, plus there are golfing opportunities nearby.