This is a lovely little place well positioned in its own private grounds on the Isle of Mull…read more
It is a hotel, though has a very intimate feel - which is reinforced by the friendly owners and the approach to dining. This may be a good or a bad thing for some people, so let me explain a little more..
The rooms are all individual, well decorated and immaculately clean as would be expected from this type of place. Mine was quite spacious and had access from the garden aswell as the house. However, the rooms do not have keys.. it is assumed that all guests are of the honest variety, which I suspect would put some people off - however, for me I really didn't find this a problem. You can ask for a key, though this is apparently needed to be handded back the next day for the cleaner... why a duplicate couldn't be made I have no idea. So, first quirk.
The Dining was an experience in a number of ways... The food was really fantastic for the kind of place this is, not quite michelin star level, but getting close.. I was very happy with the quality and variety of the menu and enjoyed this every evening. There aren't that many restaurants close, and I had a deal which included dinner in the price, so ate there every night, though if I went back, I would venture out elsewhere - just for variety. The next quirk is that this is a 'household' event.. each evening is a 'participation activity', smart dress expected, pre dinner drinks in the lounges with other guest, with dinner served to everyone at a specific time (and your choice of dinner submitted before 5pm, which was hard to do when trying to visit the furthest parts of the island), with after dinner drinks taken again in the lounge.. now I was travelling on my own on this trip photographing the local landscapes and wldlife, and felt that it could have been a little awkward for some folks - especially as the main type of guest seems to be couples. Though even one couple specifically mentioned they weren't a fan of this style. The other guests were very friendly, and I'm used to travelling (and thus dining) on my own with work so it didn't bother me that much, but be warned if this not your thing.. Another quirk :-)
Did I mention how much I enjoyed the food? :-)
Sadly the wifi was barely working whilst I was there, which was very frustrating, as there is also no mobile signal (so couldn't use Skype) - maybe a good thing for some people, though it's nice to get in touch with home from time to time..
The hosts were generally very friendly and accommodating - the only minor exception was a comment regarding the 'great deal' they had offered - especially for single occupancy.. (basically it was priced per person, which made it very well priced for me, though clearly they were expecting more). This was the only annoyance I had with the hospitality, as it wasn't necessary and isn't my problem if their pricing was wrong.
The hotel itself is located perfectly near a loch, with easy access to the shore, and nice gardens to enjoy in the evening.
So, a few quirks and a small annoyance or two, but overall I would recommend this hotel, with a few caveats regarding the style and approach (which will appeal to some but not others).
The pricing I paid was great (£100 per night, incl. Dinner normally at £45 p/head) - the price I would have paid in a couple (double that price) would also be good for the service and food. The standard prices (up to £200 per night/room w/breakfast, + £45 p/head for dinner) is possibly a little on the steep side compared to other comparable quality hotels - though not massively and there aren't that many decent places on the island, so I would still consider staying there at these prices.
So... Yes - very much recommended. Just be aware of the quirks (and don't let them put you off too much).
