The Foodie Travel Guide> Places to Stay UK> Best Places to Stay in Scotland for a Gourmet Break

Best Places to Stay in Scotland for a Gourmet Break

Greywalls Hotel and Chez Roux

Gullane, Scotland

A food lover’s paradise and a golfer’s delight. When it first opened its doors in 1948, Greywalls was said to have coined the phrase ‘Country House Hotel’. It lives up to that reputation today with large open fires, superb rooms, warm and professional service, country gardens and wonderful food. There is much to love: its peaceful setting; views over Muirfield golf course and the Firth of Forth; a beach nearby; beehives and chickens in the country gardens and after dinner, a pianist playing in the Library. While you’re there, take time to indulge in the wonderful Champagne Afternoon Tea.

Foodies will love:

• Canapés served in the lounge with pre-dinner drinks
• Dinner in The Chez Roux restaurant
• The Wine Cellar with over 200 different wines

Rooms from £79 a night.

The Bonnie Badger

Gullane, Scotland

Scottish chef Tom Kitchin, and his wife and business partner Michaela, have chosen Gullane, a pretty town on the southern shore of the Firth of Forth, for their first restaurant with rooms. The Bonnie Badger is a scenic 40-minute drive from Edinburgh. They have given the country inn and its 14 bedrooms, a sophisticated and contemporary makeover. Go for blustery walks along the beach and afterwards retreat to the cosy hotel for a foodie feast. Afternoon tea, mouth-watering from ‘Nature to Plate’ dishes and generous breakfasts will all go down a treat.

Foodies will love:

• Cocktails in the Green Room or an artisan ale in the Pub
• Dining on Tom’s modern take on pub classics in The Stables restaurant

Rooms from £195 a night.

The Pierhouse

Port Appin, Argyll, West Coast, Scotland

If you’re following the Scottish seafood trail, a stay at The Pierhouse Hotel, a small family run hotel in Port Appin, is a must. Nestled on the shores of Loche Linnhe, the hotel offers a warm, friendly and relaxing atmosphere as you stop off on your way up the coast. Soak up the picture postcard views and treat your taste buds to the many temptations on the restaurant menu. When the seafood comes from the creels at the end of the pier, you know it’s as fresh as it gets. Enjoy a grand seafood platter, lobster, mussels, West Coast scallops or go Surf and Turf. After dinner, relax with a wee whisky in the bar.

Foodies will love:

• Pre-dinner drinks by the fire
• The sensational seafood in the waterside restaurant

Rooms from £95 per night

The Airds Hotel

Port Appin, Argyll, West Coast, Scotland

Feast on sumptuous West Coast produce and spectacular views at this historic former ferry inn on the edge of Loche Linnhe. Back in the 1750s, The Airds Hotel was where passengers once stayed before taking the paddle steamer up the Caledonian Canal. The charming whitewashed stone building is now a traditional luxury country house hotel with 11 rooms. With elegant dining in the hotel’s seafood restaurant, guests come here to experience all the delights of a traditional Scottish gourmet break. Work up an appetite by enjoying the area’s superb walking and cycling. Following the West Coast Whisky Trail? Take a trip to Oban for some whisky tasting at its famous distillery.

Foodies will love:

• The 7-course Tasting Menu
• Regular wine dinners
• ‘Cook with me’ special breaks

Rooms from £215 per night

The Torridon

Torridon, Wester Ross, Highlands, Scotland

A luxury hotel with its own inn. The Torridon is in one of those spectacular Highland settings that will simply take your breath away. Surrounded by 58 acres of grounds and with beautiful views of the sea loch, come here to get away from it all and explore nature’s bounty. For a treat, stay in one of the hotel’s sumptuous and individually designed bedrooms. There are also 12 comfortable rooms (including family rooms) available at the inn. Wildlife tours, mountain biking, kayaking and munro climbs are all on your doorstep.

Foodies will love:

• Gourmet dining in restaurant 1887
• The amazing selection of Scotch whiskies in the bar
• Tucking into traditional pub food at the Torridon Inn

Rooms from £165 per night

Inverlochy Castle

Fort William, Highlands, Scotland

Built in 1863, Inverlochy Castle lies at the foot of Ben Nevis surrounded by ancient woodland. It’s so beautiful that Queen Victoria once spent a week here sketching on her way to Balmoral. The hotel is ideal for those seeking a traditional Highland break with Scottish country house charm. Bedrooms come with swags and pelmets, pretty fabrics, crisp linen and fluffy bathrobes. Outdoor pursuits are in abundance. There’s clay pigeon shooting, boating, mountain biking and wonderful walks. Dining is a highlight here. With Albert Roux and Michel Roux Jnr behind the restaurant, you know you’re in for a gastronomic treat (bring a jacket with you).

Foodies will love:

• The 7 course dinner with wine pairings
• The plentiful breakfast. Try the Roux and Balvenie Whisky Cured Smoked Salmon and Scrambled Eggs

Rooms from £295 a night

Knockinaam Lodge

Dumfries and Galloway, Scottish Borders 

Knockinaam Lodge is sheltered in a little bay, along a single-track road a few miles south from the quaint fishing village of Portpatrick. Once a Victorian hunting lodge, this a hotel to retreat to when you want to get away from it all, go for walks along the beach, relax in warm and comfortable surroundings and savour outstanding Scottish food. It’s no surprise that Winston Churchill and General Eisenhower chose it as a location for a secret rendez-vous during World War II. Relax on a comfy sofa next to the log fire, play a game of Scrabble or enjoy a quiet read. The hotel has 10 individually designed bedrooms, some come with beautiful sea views. Service is warm and thoughtful. There’s an offer of a tea tray in the morning, shortbread and coffee on arrival and an electric blanket on a chilly night. The star of the show though is the sublime food. A gourmet’s delight.

Foodies will love:

• The delectable 7 course Tasting Menu from Head Chef, Tony Pierce
• The extensive choice of wine (over 450 selections)

Rooms from £175 a night.

Trigony House Hotel

Dumfriesshire, Borders, Scotland

An understated Edwardian country house hotel and spa that was once a shooting lodge for Closeburn Castle. But it’s not just the guests who get pampered at Trigony House, it’s the dogs, too. Voted ‘Best Dog Friendly Hotel in the UK’, there are dog Welcome Packs (a map of walks and biscuits), dog showers and even a sausage on a plate at breakfast! Chef proprietor, Adam Moore and his wife, Jan, have created a wonderful haven for guests to relax and revive. Go for long walks with your pooch, unwind in the spa’s wood-fired hot tub, have a drink in the cosy bar and then indulge in a sumptuous dinner. Perhaps braised Scottish beef, porcini mushrooms with red wine jus and roast garlic mash followed by strawberry Eton Mess with balsamic strawberry syrup.

Foodies will love:

• The award-winning restaurant with its lovely garden views
• The delicious locally sourced produce from Dumfriesshire
• The vegetarian and children’s dining options

Rooms from £95 a night.

Monachyle Mhor Hotel

Lochearnhead, Scotland

Drive along the single-track road to the Monachyle Mhor Hotel and feast your eyes upon the stunning scenery along the way. At the end, a rather quirky hotel with a big personality awaits. Here the emphasis is firmly on the food. Owner, Tom Lewis, is a renowned Scottish chef. His team cook using produce sourced and foraged from the hotel’s kitchen garden and surrounding area. Inside, eclectic modern décor combines with smouldering fires and squishy sofas so there’s a homely feel. Outside, Trossachs National Park, Loch Voil, snow-capped mountains and a walker’s paradise. Accommodation choices range from big feature rooms to a 1950’s wagon. Take time for afternoon tea – the freshly baked scones with cream and jam are delicious.

Foodies will love:

• A cheeky pre-dinner cocktail in the little bar
• The divine dinner menu with tempting dishes such as Blackface lamb, pearl barley, chorizo, confit tomato, black olive and caper

Rooms from £185 a night.

Duisdale House

Sleat, Isle of Skye, Scotland

Rich in period features, Duisdale House Hotel is an award-winning boutique hotel. It’s situated on the Sleat Peninsula on the southern most tip of Skye so it’s handy for the Mallaig ferry. The 18 bedrooms are contemporary in style and tastefully designed by the owner herself. Ask for a sea view and wake up to watch the sun rise over Loch na Dal. There’s a glass of Prosecco for guests on arrival. Fires burn in the lounge and dining room year round so it all feels homely and warm. The handsome building, a former hunting lodge, is surrounded by lovely Victorian gardens. On a chilly winter’s day, relax in the hot tub on the terrace with views of the snow-capped mountains. On a summer’s day, go for a sail on the hotel’s yacht. In the evening, relax in the bar with a drink. Good food, produced with culinary flair, awaits in the restaurant.

Foodies will love:

• Fine dining in the restaurant using the best produce from Skye’s larder
• Relaxed dining in The Chart Room

Rooms from £99 a night.

Kinloch Lodge and Restuarant

Isle of Skye, Ross-Shire, Scotland

Renowned Scottish cookery writer, Lady Claire Macdonald and her husband, Lord Godfrey, are the owners of this slice of foodie heaven on the Isle of Skye. Kinloch Lodge Hotel and Restaurant sits on the shores of Loch Na Dal with Kinloch Hill as a backdrop. The landscape is king here – you can fish, forage, stalk or go on a wild walk. Or you may wish to simply exhale and enjoy the hotel’s signature massage. The former hunting lodge offers luxury combined with an understated elegance. Bedrooms are individually designed and come with antiques, prints and paintings. Under Brazilian-born Chef-Director, Marcello Tully, its Michelin star shines brightly. Join him in the kitchen for a morning workshop to hear him brief the chefs before working alongside the team. For serious foodies, this is one for the bucket list.

Foodies will love:

• Cookery classes and workshops hosted by Marcello
• The ambrosial dishes on the 7-course Tasting Menu
• Watching the action in the kitchen from the chef’s table

Rooms from £218 a night.

The Summer Isles Hotel

Achiltibuie, The Highlands, Scotland

Drive 15 miles along a single-track road, just north of Ullapool and you’ll reach this remote West Highland gem. With beautiful views of the Summer Isles that change with the light, this is a hotel for getting away from it all. It’s not surprising that some notable Scottish politicians have retreated here when the going got tough. The Summer Isles Hotel is frequented by keen walkers and food lovers. If you like smart service and fine dining, dress up and enjoy dinner in the formal restaurant. Prefer a fun and relaxed feel? The Summer Isles bar, once a favourite stopping point for crofters in the 19th century and, still popular with locals today, offers a warm welcome and wonderful seafood. Fresh langoustines and mussels are among the many temptations on the daily specials menu.

Foodies will love:

• The full Scottish breakfast with Stornaway Black pudding, haggis and potato scones
• Fine dining dishes such as lobster thermidor with minted potatoes, broccoli and honey glazed carrots

Rooms from £190 a night.

The Boath House

Nairn, Invernesshire, Scotland

Sitting on the Moray Firth, on Scotland’s north east coast, close to Inverness and the town of Elgin, is The Boath House. A luxury family run country house hotel with a reputation for excellent food, it has held a Michelin star for over 10 years. Recently, owners Don and Wendy Matheson announced a change to a more informal and relaxed dining experience with a simpler menu. As for the choice, perhaps blade of beef with turnips, pancetta and shallots followed by salted chocolate and peanut tart. There are also plans to open a café in its 22-acre gardens. If you’re a whisky connoisseur following Speyside’s Malt Whisky trail or visiting for the annual whisky festival, start with a night here.

Foodies will love:

• The breakfast dishes including mushrooms with a fried duck egg and buttered toast
• Afternoon Tea with a glass of Champagne and elderflower syrup

Rooms from £325 a night.

Mhor 84

Kingshouse, Scotland

Not a luxury gourmet break as such but more of a foodie pitstop at this quirky and contemporary motel with its own restaurant, bar and café. Located within the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, it’s the sister property to the more luxurious Monachyle Mhor Hotel. Stay at Mhor 84 for a taste of Scottish hygge and a chance to mingle with the locals. If you’re touring the area, this is a friendly place to relax, unwind and refuel. Perfect for active types drawn to the area’s walks, cycling and climbing. Expect mismatched furniture, Scottish shabby chic, a casual vibe and a cosy bar with wood burning fire. Accommodation is in motel rooms or dog-friendly chalet style cabin rooms.

Foodies will love:

• A full Scottish breakfast with haggis, black pudding and tattie scones
• The restaurant’s fresh and seasonal food. Try the Aberdeen Angus steak and chips

Rooms from £80 per night

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