Kilchoan Hotel

A let down, really. We were looking forward to visiting Ardnamurchan and even though the hotel was a bit pricey (£185 per night) it is one of the few in the entire area. A few points: it isn't really a hotel in the conventional sense, more a pub with rooms; eg there is no Reception area. " A half-hotel" (?) as the Manager described it. There are also no staff available after breakfast is complete until 4.00 PM, when the bar "opens". The biggest let-down was the room, especially the bed. Management laid great emphasis on the superb view of the Sound of Mull, which it is, but that hardly makes up for the rest of it. The decor is very tired and needs redone. The furnishings are very dated, and not in a " shabby chic" way. The bed, or rather the mattress is downright awful. You can clearly feel the springs push through simply by gently pressing on it, not even with any force. Two nights of very little sleep followed, even after the manager "changed the mattress" for the second night ( I suspect it was simply turned over). The manager was very defensive when we spoke to him - eg claiming the mattress was only two years old, and- of course- nobody else has ever complained about it. Another concern was that, having arrived after 7.00PM and come down to eat within the hour, we were asked when we finished eating around 9.00 PM, whether we wanted anything from the bar as it was " last orders". Worth noting that this is the only pub in the area. ( On the second and final night we were graciously informed that the bar would remain open till 10.00 ) Highland hospitality? In our discussions the manager also referred back- by way of deflection- to earlier comments we had made about the difficulties in reaching the accommodation by public transport. We pointedly do not drive and have done very well over the years in utilising public sources to access even quite remote areas. In travelling to the hotel this had proved problematic . We had missed the connection from Glasgow to reach Fort William in time for the only bus of the day, and had to adopt an alternative route via Oban and Tobermory. We then finally arrived at Kilchoan Ferry around 6.30 PM. We had actually phoned the hotel around 5.00 PM ( you'll never get an answer before 4.00 PM in any event) to ask if there was any taxi service or local substitute ( which is often the case in remote areas). We were told No on both counts. Given the inclement weather, could any staff offer a lift? We were told an emphatic" No". We were advised it was " only a 10- minute walk". Manifestly untrue- it is just over a mile. I would note here that at no point did we suggest that the transport or weather problems were the hotel's fault- obviously not. But the fact that we even mentioned these issues was used against our legitimate concerns about the hotel. We were told rather crassly that we should " do our research" before we travel. As retired professionals we are more than capable of doing so: we were simply aski

Even though we weren’t all staying at the hotel, but after completing a gruelling 233-mile charity cycle across Scotland in just 18 hours, we were lucky enough to be welcomed in by Ross (the owner) and his fantastic team – and what an experience it was! The hospitality was absolutely first class. Ross and his staff went above and beyond to make sure we were looked after – friendly, attentive, and genuinely keen to help us recover and refuel. The food? Outstanding. Every dish was cooked to perfection, full of flavour, and just what we needed after such an epic ride. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, and the whole place had that authentic, welcoming Highland charm. Even though some individuals hadn’t booked accommodation, we were made to feel like VIP guests from the moment we arrived. Thank you to Ross and everyone at Kilchoan Hotel – you truly pulled out all the stops. Highly recommend to anyone passing through the area. We’ll definitely be back!

We had a lovely time at the Kilchoan Hotel, staying for a couple of nights whilst we explored the area. The room was spacious, clean and had comfortable beds that were very firm. The bathroom had recently been refurbished to a very high spec and the shower was excellent. The bar downstairs was welcoming, had a great selection of drinks including local whiskies. The food was great, with locally sourced produce but would love to see more seafood if it is available.