Loch Ness Lodge

Rooms

The hotel’s 9 bedrooms, named after lochs and glens, are all wonderfully opulent, with sumptuous fabrics, cosseting beds and mesmeric loch views. They are divided into 3 categories, with varying colour schemes, layouts and fragrances (yes, each room has its own plug-in aroma!).

The 2 Premium Plus rooms are set on the first floor. Affric is a winningly romantic room, whose colour scheme blends cream and soft duck egg. The main attractions of this room, however, are the double ended Jacuzzi bath and the turret - a sunny perch from which to survey the loch. The other room in the same price category, just down the landing, is golden hued Assynt, which swaps the turret – and therefore a little space - for a custom-built four-poster bed swathed in oyster silks and an elegant roll-top bath.

You don’t have to splash out on one of the Premium Plus rooms for a posh occasion, though. The Premium rooms - Maree, Carron and Coruisk - and the Executive rooms - Phadrig and Urquhart - are also on the first floor, and all have uninterrupted loch views.

Finally, there are the 2 Superior rooms - ground-floor Orrin, with subtle olive green cushions and bedspread, and first-floor Oykel, which is dusted with pale heathery shades. Both have (only slightly) less panoramic views of Loch Ness than the other rooms, but given that you enjoy unbroken views elsewhere in the hotel, the resulting dip in price makes these rooms a bargain.

Features include:

• WiFi

Eating

The lodge provides mammoth breakfasts each day, and they prioritise local suppliers when choosing their ingredients so you can rest assured that those eggs come from happy chickens. Hot choices include creamy porridge, a full Highland breakfast, scrambled egg with smoked salmon, smoked haddock with poached egg and homemade pancakes with caramelised banana and maple syrup. There’s also a cold buffet with freshly squeezed orange juice, fresh fruit platter, gourmet muesli and, best of all, a rich stewed fruit compote laced with jasmine syrup.

Later in the day, guests gravitate towards the lounge area for complimentary sweet treats at afternoon tea. We reckon a pot of English Breakfast with scones and fresh-baked cakes is the ideal way to unwind after a hike around the loch. If you’re after something more substantial, you’ll have to head out as no other meals are served on-site. The team are well versed in the local gastronomy scene and will happily make recommendations for eateries in and around Inverness.

Features include:

• Restaurant
• Room service

Activities

• Join a boat trip on Loch Ness and stop off at historic Urquhart Castle to find out what makes Loch Ness unique – and why the region is currently making a bid for World Heritage status
  
  
• If you prefer to get around on the water under your own steam, small groups can book a 2-hour kayaking trip on the loch
  
  
• Keen fishermen or women can cast their lines for trout or salmon: this can be arranged through the Lodge and the closest fishing spot is about 30 mins away
  
  
• Pack your walking boots to make the most of Glen Affric (30 mins), one of the most spectacular valleys in Scotland - and a National Nature Reserve. It's also a good spot for mountain biking: bring your own or hire one through the Lodge
  
  
• Souvenir-hunters should head to the village of Beauly (20 mins), whose aptly named House of Beauly is packed with products from all the big Scottish names; or visit Moniack Castle (15 mins) instead, where the Fraser family produces an intriguing range of wines and preserves from local plants - the silver birch wine may only be for the brave but rowanberry jelly or dill sauce are tabletop classics
  
  
• History buffs should make a beeline for Culloden (25 mins) - one of the most poignant sites in the UK and the scene of the last major battle on British soil – or the Castle of Mey in Caithness, the late Queen Mother’s Highlands home (2+ hours' drive)
  
  
• Give the staff some warning and they will happily organise transport, tee times or even a PGA coach at one of several golf courses within an hour’s drive of the lodge - most famously Royal Dornoch and Nairn
  
  
• Also on offer (subject to season and availability): deer stalking, archery, whisky tasting, quad biking, clay pigeon shooting, 4x4 off-road driving, husky sledding - just ask!
  
  
• For something more relaxing, ask staff to book you a spa slot with one of the visiting therapists; treatments include aromatherapy, hot stone massage, Indian head massage, facials and manicures

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Boat trips
• Cycling
• Fishing
• Golf
• Hiking
• Kayaking
• Plantlife / flora
• Sailing
• Shopping / markets
• Swimming
• Wildlife

Kids

When hired as an exclusive use venue (Whole Lodge) children of all ages are welcome. There are no specific children’s facilities but special meals can be arranged on request. The sloping gardens, water features and proximity to road and water mean children should be carefully supervised.

Best for:

Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Loch Ness Lodge is around 15 km (9 miles) southwest of Inverness, the capital of the Highlands, on the A82 beside the shores of Loch Ness.

By Air
Inverness aiport is 30km (20 miles) away. Most guests fly into Inverness and hire a car from there - see our car rental recommendations. For a list of airlines serving this airport, click the links at the bottom of the page.

By Train
Inverness is on a fast, mainline train route, with regular services and connections to Edinburgh, Glasgow and London among other destinations. See Seat 61 for more details.

By Car
It's a 3 hour drive north of Edinburgh. Unless you plan on holing up at the lodge for a weekend, and are happy using taxis to shuttle into Inverness (15 mins), it’s definitely worth having a car to get further afield - see our car rental recommendations.

Detailed directions will be provided when you book through i-escape.

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