The Airds Hotel & Restaurant

Never believe anyone who says that romance is dead. It will never die, not while the world still has Scottish lochs, log fire lounges and candlelit dining spots.

Coincidentally, Airds Hotel & Restaurant on Loch Linnhe happens to have all of the above.

So why not prove that romance is still alive by sweeping your other half off on an overnight stay to Airds Hotel with today’s Big Deal?

Gorgeous Loch Linnhe hotel

Based in the hamlet of Port Appin near Oban, Airds Hotel & Restaurant is a romantic boutique hotel known for its beautiful loch views, elegant rooms, first class dining and highly personal service.

With this Big Deal on an overnight stay for two people, you can soak up the luxury in a classic room.

Today’s Big Deal includes a luxury five-course dinner with tea or coffee. As well as a glass of Prosecco on arrival, you will get breakfast plus a wake-up tea or coffee delivered to your room with a newspaper of your choice and a complimentary whisky mac.

This offer is available 7 days a week until 29th February 2020.

Children and dogs are welcome for a supplement – please arrange this directly with the hotel.

Lap of luxury in Port Appin

As well as wildlife, loch walks and views of the Morvern mountains, there are plenty of comforts inside of the hotel as well.

For instance, you can enjoy your fine dining experience in the excellent restaurant, then afterwards relax with a digestif in one of the two log fire lounges.

Or you could settle down and sample a dram in the intimate whisky bar instead.

Unique and elegant rooms

Most of the hotel’s eleven guest rooms have recently been redecorated in their own unique style, with themes ranging from country house to boutique chic.

Tasteful touches — such as designer fabrics and wallpapers from labels like Jane Churchill, Zoffany and Designers Guild — all add up to an extra special stay.

To ensure a good night’s sleep, you will sink into a Vi Spring bed with crisp Frette linen. Other luxuries include marble-top bathrooms, sumptuous bathrobes with comfy slippers and Bulgari toiletries.

Entertainment features include satellite TV, DVD players, CD players, iPod docks and free WiFi, as well as a library of over 200 DVDs for guests to browse.

And if you really want to unwind, why not order an in-room massage?

You can choose to upgrade to a Loch view room for a supplement of £55 per room per night or one of the hotel’s three suites for a supplement of £85 per room per night.

3 AA Rosetted restaurant

With views of Loch Linnhe and the Morvern mountains, Airds restaurant is a candlelit escape that has long been a draw for gourmands. There you can enjoy elegant fine dining while watching the sunset over the water.

The chefs are committed to letting the natural flavours of the food shine through, with cuisine crafted from the finest local produce and seafood (including ingredients from the hotel’s own kitchen garden).

The menu is subject to seasonal change, but could look something like this:

Amuse bouche

Brie bonbon, beurre noisette foam, chargrilled leek

Breast of wood pigeon, wild mushroom, black pudding

Loch Fyne langoustine, oyster emulsion, mussel tempura

Fillet of Scotch beef, braised shin, salsify, carrot, horseradish jus

Black cherry parfait, amaretto jelly, cinnamon doughnut

Bramble soufflé, hazelnut ice cream

To finish, tea or coffee with petit fours is served in the Lounge.

Explore Argyll

Loch Linnhe and the surrounding area offer plenty of activities, such as Munro bagging, hiking, mountain biking, island hopping and whale watching.

Airds Hotel is also the perfect base for exploring Argyll, Lochaber and Islands like Mull and Iona. You could also take a ride up the Ben Nevis gondola, visit the spectacular Glencoe and take a ride up the chairlift or drive to picturesque Inverary and visit the old jail.

Plus it is also worth having a stroll around Oban, then dropping into the town’s whisky distillery.

And if you are a fan of winter sports, then there are skiing opportunities at Fort William and Glencoe.

That said, Port Appin itself is so pretty you might just want to stay there and linger by the loch.

Happy guests

TripAdvisor reviewers have given Airds Hotel & Restaurant an impressive overall score of 4.5/5. Here are some recent rave reviews, edited for length:

‘Very special boutique hotel. We had a wonderful night at Airds Hotel in August. From the moment we arrived we were made to feel welcome and at home. Our room was very comfortable with a spacious bathroom and the complimentary whisky was definitely a bonus. Our dinner was superb as was the breakfast the following morning. It is definitely worth a detour to stay at Airds Hotel…’

‘We are return visitors to Airds Hotel and it still is the very best hotel for comfort, food and excellent staff, with a very warm welcome…’

‘Airds is wonderful and the setting and friendly staff, led by Robert, make it so. Everything seemed focused on us, from the glass of fizz served up at our arrival to the big pot of hot tea and biscuits delivered to our room after we got back from a wet bike ride (the hotel has bikes or you can hire them nearby). Our room in this former ferry inn used to be the bar (you’ll get a little decanter of whisky mac somewhere in your room, made at the hotel) and was beautifully furnished, spacious and contained that most important of features — a big, comfy bed. We traded a view of the loch for a delightful patio area and garden. From the hotel lounge we enjoyed the views over Loch Linnhe and the Morvern Mountains. A ferry to the Isle of Lismore virtually leaves from the hotel’s doorstep. When we weren’t out on beautiful walks or bike rides, we sat by the log fire looking forward to dinner while nibbling on canapes. Chef Chris does great things with the local Scottish seafood, meat and game. We had delicious rabbit, scallops, fish and venison during our two-night stay (there’s also a tasting menu which we didn’t have so we could have the perfect excuse to come back).’

Luxury gift

From fine dining to loch views to elegant rooms packed with comforts, a night at Airds Hotel is a night in the lap of luxury.

And while this Big Deal would make a magical winter break, you might want to think about surprising a special someone with it as a romantic present.