Loch Ness Lodge
Loch Ness, near Inverness, Scotland
Decadent retreat whose 7 loch-side bedrooms are set within caber-tossing distance of Inverness
With dramatic views out across the water to a string of craggy
mountains beyond, this feels like a remote and historic Highland
retreat; yet it’s a brand new building and, unbelievably,
Inverness is only 15 minutes’ drive away. All credit to Scott
Sutherland and his sister Iona, who inherited the lochside land
from their parents and have created an imposing yet secluded
hideaway. A turret at one end of the long, grey-roofed building
adds a touch of Baronial grandeur; clever landscaping hides the A82
from view; and a private underpass below the road gives secret
access to the loch's shoreline.
Inside, the guest lounges and 7 bedrooms are a lesson in
immaculate sophistication, with a mix of upmarket, contemporary
furnishings, fresh flowers and family heirlooms. The feel is
country-house-comfort rather than look-at-me showiness. Combined
with the first class
food
on offer, it's a cosseting retreat after a day spent hiking in
bracingly dreich Highland weather, or Nessie-spotting out on
the loch.
Reviewed by Rhiannon Batten
Last updated 02 April 2012
Highs
- Genuinely friendly, experienced staff who wouldn’t know snobbishness if it pinched them
- Spectacular views of the loch from all bedrooms and five of them directly overlook the water and hills behind
- Chef Ross Fraser’s delicious food, which puts an inspired twist on Scottish classics
- Owner Scott and front-of-house manager Martin pride themselves on their personalised concierge service – we put them to the test with some tricky requests and they came up trumps
Lows
- Although you might think this turreted building is an old shooting lodge, it is in fact newly built (it opened in September 2007) - so enthusiasts of period architecture won’t find that here
- When we visited, there was little signage to the hotel, but the owners are working on this
