Best Luxury Hotels in Highlands

The sweeping beauty of the Highlands is legendary. Here is where lochs meet mountains, set against the unique light of the northern skies. Visitors can choose between the miles of secluded countryside, expansive coastline, pretty towns and heritage cities both large and small. Spend your Scottish staycation in your choice of these epic castles, country houses and funky boutique hotels…

Scotland, Highlands, Kylestrome

Kylesku Hotel

Hotel
At a glance
Rooms 11 Individually Styled Rooms Including Double King & Family options some with Balconies Offering Loch or Mountain Views
Amenities Restaurant Serving Locally Sourced Cuisine, Bar With a Selection Of Whiskies Ales & Gins, Pet Friendly
More Located on the Shores Of Loch Glendhu along the North Coast 500 Route in the Scottish Highlands

Sat right on the water with views of the Kylesku Bridge, this hotel’s location is idyllic. The area of Assynt is a beautiful remote region of Sutherland, but the Kylsesku hotel on its fantastically situated peninsula overlooking Loch Glendhu will warmly welcome any visitors in from the untamed nature outside. Some parts of the hotel date from as early as the 17th century although the complex is now made up of a ramble of buildings built up over the years. Inside the hotel has a contemporary feel. – rooms are airy, comfortable and kitted out in a muted cool palette with touches of Scottish textile here and there, whilst the bar and restaurant serve up delicious local seafood to panoramic sea loch views thanks to huge picture windows. Public spaces are decorated with a modern Scandi-Scottish ethos – think bare wood beams, cool copper lighting fixtures and minimalist wood-burning stoves. Whilst there are no gym or spa facilities here, relaxation and escapism is all around this stunning locale and the hotel runs boat trips to a nearby sea colony or the highest waterfall in the UK for fun day trips.

Scotland, Highlands, Dornoch

Links House at Royal Dornoch

Hotel
(5 stars)
At a glance
Rooms 15 individually Designed Rooms & Suites Named After Scottish Salmon Rivers
Amenities Mara Fine Dining Restaurant, the anteroom Private Dining Space, & Proximity to Royal Dornoch Golf Club
More Located in Dornoch less than 100 Yards from the First Tee at Royal Dornoch Golf Club

Ultra boutique with just 15 rooms, Links House has a prime location, just steps away from the Royal Dornoch’s first tee and a short walk to the beach. Clubs are available to borrow if you’re unable to bring your own, along with a range of other activity supplies. Play the neighbouring course ranked #2 in Scotland and #4 in the world by Golf Digest, as well as a further four championship courses nearby. It’s not only golf that’s the highlight of a stay at Links House – the two AA Rosette-awarded restaurant offers some of the finest food in the region. The 19th-century hotel also benefits from two honesty bars and sumptuous furnishings.

BOOK YOUR STAY
Links House at Royal Dornoch

Scotland, Highlands

The Torridon

Hotel
(5 stars)
At a glance
Rooms 18 individually Designed Rooms & Suites offering Views of Loch Torridon & the Mountains
Amenities 1887 Restaurant with 3 AA Rosettes, Bo & Muc Brasserie for Casual Fare, the Whisky Bar with 365 Malts & 120 Gins, & the Beinn Bar for Local Ales
More Located in the Scottish Highlands, Surrounded by 58 acres of Parkland on the Shores of Upper Loch Torridon

Built in 1887 by the then Earl of Lovelace, this 18-bedroomed baronial hunting lodge is filled with original features. While the hotel’s design certainly harks back to the building’s former life, the decor has splashes of bright accented colour. A kitchen garden supplies a multitude of organic produce, along with local meats and fish. And Highland cows can often be spotted wandering past the grounds. If travelling with kids, or those seeking some thrills, Torridon Outdoors is conveniently located on the doorstep, providing a range of outward-bound activities. Be sure to take a peek at the hotel’s drawing room, with its unusual zodiac-designed ceiling and to sample the hotel’s own Arcturus gin.

Scotland, Highlands, Isle of Mull, Tobermory

Glengorm Castle

Hotel
(4 stars)
At a glance
Rooms 3 Self Catering Apartments in The Castle Itself with A Further 5 Cottages & A 5* Flat on The Estate
Amenities Fully Equipped Kitchens, Living Areas & Access to Estate Grounds
More Located near Tobermory on the Isle of Mull with views over the atlantic & Outer Hebrides

Dating back to the mid-1800s, this castle overlooks the peaceful Sound of Mull. Its imposing exterior gives way to a cosier interior; glowing fires, wood panelling, country house decor, a complimentary array of whiskies and just five bedrooms. The incumbent owners (Tom and Marjorie Nelson) live in a private wing within the building. But they’re on hand to meet guests’ needs, including the supply of a hearty daily breakfast taken sociably, at a 16th-century trestle table. It’s a great choice for families seeking a more intimate stay, and pet pooches are most welcome to join too.

Scotland, Highlands, Tain

Glenmorangie House

Hotel
(5 stars)
At a glance
Rooms 9 Uniquely Designed Bedrooms Including 6 Double En-Suite Rooms & Three Cottage Rooms
Amenities Communal Dining Experiences Featuring Locally Sourced Ingredients & Whisky-Themed Interiors
More Located Near Tain in the Scottish Highlands, Close to Glenmorangie Distillery

One of only a handful of Scottish hotels to boast the Michelin Hotel Guide single ‘Red House’ symbol, this country house is found on the coast, an hour from Inverness. Deeply romantic in setting, Glenmorangie House is surrounded by a walled garden and located beside a ruined castle. And with just nine bedrooms, the intimate atmosphere lends itself to an exclusive couples’ escape. Award-winning menus are served in a dinner party style to provide a sociable element to your stay and camaraderie with fellow guests. As you may expect from a hotel inspired by the national beverage, whisky tastings are frequent – plus you might even be surprised by a spontaneous post-dinner ceilidh featuring local musicians. Read our expert review here.

Scotland, Highlands, Glencoe

Glencoe House

Hotel
(5 stars)
At a glance
Rooms 14 Spacious Suites Including 8 In The Historic Mansion & 6 Self-Catering Lodges With Some Featuring Private Hot Tubs.
Amenities In-Suite Dining With Breakfast & Multi-Course Dinners Served Privately Alongside An In-Room Maxi Bar.
More Located Amidst 10 Acres Of Private Gardens In The Scottish Highlands Offering Panoramic Views Of Loch Leven & The Pap Of Glencoe.

This property began life in 1895 as a home to Lord Strathcona, before serving as a military and maternity hospital. Nowadays the highland mansion, and its ten acres of land, offer a refined Highland base with views of Glencoe. Some of the suites and lodges have hot tubs and maxi bars and you’ll be served breakfast in bed, setting the scene for a romantic escape. Seasonal meals can be served in the restaurant, with drinks in the living room beside an open fire, or during the day, the staff will pack you a luxury picnic to enjoy in the great outdoors.

Scotland, Highlands, Isle of Skye, Portree

Marmalade Hotel

Hotel
(4 stars)
At a glance
Rooms 34 Guest Rooms & Suites Featuring Nespresso Machines & Bose Sound Systems
Amenities On-Site Dining Specialising In Grilled Dishes & Seafood With Wellness Facilities Including Outdoor Sauna Pods.
More Located In Portree On The Isle Of Skye Offering Views Of The Loch & Cuillin Mountains

Five minute’s walk from the island’s main town of Portee, this four-star Manor Hotel, puts you a little further toward the busier parts of Skye. However, set on a hill and surrounded by mature gardens, with views across the coast, you can still enjoy a sense of peace. 34 bedrooms come with Nespresso coffee machines, Bose sound systems, Highland Soap toiletries and 300 thread count sheets. Seafood is the focus at the Chargrill Restaurant, which provides excellent views, seasonal menus and a wood-burning stove for cosy evenings eating beside the fire. During warmer months, guests can dine and drink out on the hotel’s terrace, overlooking the Cuillin Hills.

Scotland, Highlands, Isle of Skye

The Three Chimneys and The House Over-By

Restaurant with Rooms
At a glance
Rooms Six Rooms including Five Split-level & One Accessible Room
Amenities Three Chimneys Restaurant offers Contemporary Scottish Cuisine with Sea Views
More Located on the Isle of Skye with views of Loch Dunvegan

If you dine anywhere on Skye, make it The Three Chimneys. The restaurant has achieved worldwide fame, yet is a humble figure on the landscape, in the shape of a cosy white croft cottage. Located in Dunvegan, the restaurant is accompanied by a romantic place to stay, The House Over By. Part of the Wee Hotel Company, the hotel has just six rooms, with one on the ground floor catering for families. Each has Temple Spa toiletries and Bose sound systems, with calming, refreshing decor. And, as it’s right next to the restaurant, you won’t have far to go to get ‘home’ – a factor that’s especially handy on Skye, where the transport infrastructure relies on access to a vehicle.

BOOK YOUR STAY
The Three Chimneys and The House Over-By

Scotland, Highlands, Inverness

AC Hotel Inverness

Hotel
(4 stars)
At a glance
Rooms 191 Rooms
Amenities Dining includes AC Kitchen, AC Lounge & Beira, 24hr Fitness Centre
More Riverside Location near inverness Railway Station

Opt for modern accommodation in the city centre, right on the banks of the River Ness (some rooms have views directly over the fast-flowing water). Handy for the railway station, shops and nightlife, this serves as a great base for those wishing to tour the Highlands, but with plenty of places to go and things to do by day and after dark. There are 191 bedrooms spread over four floors, a kitchen for all-day dining and a lounge area, to relax with a beverage. AC Hotel caters equally well for families (including four-legged friends) and business travellers.

Scotland, Highlands, Inverness

Culloden House Hotel

Hotel
(4 stars)
At a glance
Rooms 28 Rooms & Suites
Amenities Fine Dining in Adams Dining Room, Bar with Whisky Selection, Recreational Facilities include Tennis Court & Croquet Lawn
More Set Amidst nearly 40 acres of Woodland & Private Gardens with Historical Significance as Bonnie Prince Charlie's Lodging During the 1745-46 Jacobite Uprising

Found close to Culloden Moor, this was the place used by Bonnie Prince Charlie as lodging and battle HQ in Jacobean times. Now its 40 acres are given over to leisure and pleasure, with guests able to explore the expansive woodland and walled garden, fine dining on the best local produce at its Highland restaurant, sip rare whiskies in the traditional library and sleep in four-poster beds within the grand ivy-clad mansion house. You’ll be surrounded by an air of history in its 28 bedrooms, with large fireplaces, crystal chandeliers, tartan drapes, baronial architecture and antique furnishings from bygone eras.

Scotland, Highlands, Inverness

Rocpool Reserve Hotel

Hotel
(5 stars)
At a glance
Rooms 11 individually Designed Rooms including Some with Private Balconies & Outdoor Hot Tubs
Amenities Exclusive Resident-only Bar offering Signature Cocktails & Fine Wines
More Located in the heart of Inverness with views of the River Ness

Stroll a mere ten minutes from the centre of Inverness to discover this uber-trendy hotel – the city’s only to have five stars. The sleek, modern Rocpool Reserve, is contained in a Georgian mansion house and overlooks the River Ness. It has its own moody cocktail ‘r bar’ and Chez Roux (part of the wider Roux group) serving everything from amuse-bouche to hearty high-end fare and even special meals for your pooch. Four categories of bedrooms (11 in total) offer delights such as hot tubs, cabin-style saunas, balconies, oversized beds and Tassimo coffee machines, along with dark and dramatic decor. Valet services and beauty treatments are available on request.

BOOK YOUR STAY
Rocpool Reserve Hotel




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