|
Click icon for review
"top 10 seaside hotels"
Open 1 March - 17 October
MARCH OFFER - every second night half price
Kylesku is a
delightfully peaceful village on the shores of Loch Glendhu and Glencoul,
two sea-lochs in
Sutherland, northwest Scotland.
Legendary walking writer
Alfred
Wainwright once wrote of Kylesku: "Anyone with an eye for
impressive beauty will not regard time spent at Kylesku as wasted.
Twin peaks of Quinaig dominate an awe-inspiring picture of great
contrasts, of glittering waters cradled in the arms of dark and sinister
heights: the silence is profound and the loneliness almost fearful.
I could spend a day here, just looking. Kylesku is a wonderful
place."
The Kylesku
Hotel, an old coaching inn dating from 1680, is situated by the former
ferry slipway on the shores of the loch. With an excellent restaurant,
friendly family bar and cosy residents’ lounge, the hotel is the perfect
place for a peaceful and relaxing break and an ideal base for exploring
the area.
Our comfortable 3-star bedrooms are en-suite, centrally
heated and equipped with televisions and tea & coffee-making
facilities.
Both the
restaurant and bar have splendid views of the loch and menus specialise
in local game and seafood. Fresh langoustine, spineys, lobster, crab,
scallops, haddock and mussels are available daily and are complemented
by a wide selection of wines and malt whiskies.
The
2009
Good Hotel Guide has rated us in their top ten seaside hotels in the
UK - "'What
a beautiful location.' 'Best view from the loo in all Scotland.' 'During
meals we were entertained by seals doing back-flips in the loch.' This
white-painted 17th-century former coaching inn stands on the shore where
lochs Glendhu and Glencoul meet in 'breathtaking' north-west Sutherland
('purple mountains, huge white beaches, incredible rock formations').
The 'hands-on' owners, Louise and Struan Lothian (he is the chef), are
'really nice people', says a returning visitor. 'Their staff are
genuinely friendly.' There are 'magnificent views' from the lounge (cosy with wood-burning stove and large library), the dining room, and
the 'simple but comfortable' bedrooms. 'Our room had cream walls and a
pine-clad bathroom.' The bar is busy all day with visitors, and with
locals eating in the early evening; the menus here and in the restaurant
are similar. 'Very good food, especially the seafood', eg, grilled
langoustines with garlic mayonnaise; pan-fried haddock with lemon
butter. 'Breakfast the best we had in Scotland: delicious scrambled egg
and smoked salmon.' 'First-rate fry-up.' 'Well-trained and cheerful
young staff: service was faultless, and really made a difference to our
stay.' Children are welcomed."
Our hotel also recently
featured in a recipe book called Scottish Highland Hospitality by Claire
MacDonald - "Kylesku Hotel combines everything I consider to be
essential for a visitor to the Highlands - comfort, really good food in
an old hotel with all the present-day amenities, and truly spectacular
scenery wherever you look."
As one of only 26
Scottish entries, we are proud to be included in the 2008 Michelin
Guide to Eating out in Pubs - "With its genuinely
unforgettable views of Loch Glencoul and the mountains, the temptation
would be to keep knowledge of Kylesku to yourself. The heart of
the discovery is the old hotel itself, with a very comfortable lounge
and simple bedrooms, but for anyone not staying, the bar's the place to
be. A blackboard menu with a strong seasonal character
concentrates on the local speciality: good, just-landed shellfish in
simply prepared, nicely judged dishes. Tasty and fresh, and as
authentic as you could wish for."
The Kylesku Hotel also sits at the
centre of a 2000 square km area which recently became Scotland's first
'Global Geopark'. There is abundant wildlife and a wide range of
outdoor pursuits. With lochs, mountains, white sandy beaches, bird
watching, seal and otter spotting, fishing, climbing, hill walking, and a host of
other attractions and activities there is something to appeal to
everyone. For details see our 'The Kylesku Area' page.
|
