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Short stay: Isle of Eriska Hotel, Scotland, UK

In 1973 Robin Buchanan-Smith, a Church of Scotland minister, bought the Isle of Eriska with his wife Sheena and, more than 40 years on, it remains in the family to this day, with elder son Beppo now at the helm and very much involved in the day-to-day running of the hotel. Over those four decades, the property – which lies just north of Oban – has been transformed from a seasonal operation that relied on its peak season trade to break even, to a thriving five star hotel that now attracts year-round visitors from all over the world and is perpetually re-investing in order to continue to improve its product. Isle of Eriska bridge The welcome The approach to the Isle of Eriska is filled with anticipation but is one that doesnÂ’t disappoint. The roads get increasingly quieter before you finally reach a bridge that rattles (seemingly uncontrollably!) as you drive over it, before being presented with a beautiful hotel, proudly flying the Scottish flag. We were warmly greeted on arrival and shown to our ‘room’. Isle of Eriska Hotel The room Our accommodation proved to be much more than just a ‘roomÂ’. We stayed in the beautiful Rowan Cottage, away from the main building but just a short walk from the hotel entrance. You enter the property via a conservatory / dining area with a concealed kitchenette. Isle of Eriska Hotel conservatory Also on the ground floor are two bedrooms (a double and a twin), each with their own bathrooms. Isle of Eriska Hotel large double Isle of Eriska Hotel twin room Upstairs there is an additional dining area and lounge with a gas burner, and enough seating for not only the occupants of the property but also a couple of guests, too. Isle of Eriska Hotel upstairs The property has WiFi access although I found it a little intermittent at times and enjoyed slightly better reliability in public areas at the main hotel building. The bathroom Both bathrooms have twin basins, a multi-jet shower and separate bath, and are equipped with Molton Brown toiletries. Bath robes and hair dryers are also provided. Isle of Eriska Hotel bathroom Isle of Eriska Hotel toiletries The facilities One of the highlights of a stay on the Isle of Eriska is the food. Led by Head Chef Ross Stovold, the restaurant holds a mark in the Good Food Guide and Visit Scotland ‘Taste our Best’ accreditation. I’ll let a couple of pictures do the talking – just take it from me that it tasted every bit as good as it looked! Isle of Eriska Hotel Scotch beef sirloin Isle of Eriska Hotel dessert We managed to resist the cheese trolley despite it looking very tempting indeed.  I fear you could put an inch or two on your waistline just by looking at it, though! Isle of Eriska Hotel cheeseboard What I particularly liked about the restaurant was that it wasn’t in the least bit pretentious and didn’t purport to be something it wasn’t. Our children were positively encouraged by the head waiter to intersperse their preference for the children’s menu with tasting one or two of the smaller dishes from the a la carte menu, without being made to feel bad if it turned out not to be to their liking. This not only put them (and us!) at ease in the restaurant, but also encouraged our children to extend their palettes beyond their usual favourites and meant we were all ‘in kilter’, eating our main courses at the same time. Also on the island is a spa, pool and gymnasium, not to mention 100 hectares of grounds to explore.  You can wander freely along a number of marked paths, taking in various points of interest, including the pier, a small holding of pigs and other animals (the island used to have lots of animals on it), and even a heronry. Isle of Eriska walks We had a light lunch at the spa just prior to our departure (make sure you try the smoked salmon, smoked on the island – it’s available at breakfast also), on a decked area overlooking the island’s very own golf course (open to residents and non-residents alike). Other nice touches I’ve described our ‘room’ already, but neglected to mention that it came complete with an outdoor hot-tub.  The whole property is shielded by a 6-foot hedge, meaning that you have ample privacy. Isle of Eriska hot tub Look out also for the two new Hilltop Reserves which will also each have their own private hot tub and boast stunning views across the sea, to the island of Lismore and beyond. One other highlight not to miss at Eriska is afternoon tea. We were fortunate enough to be able to have this outside because the weather was so lovely. Isle of Eriska afternoon tea Finally, make sure you retire to the bar after dinner for a final drink. Stay long enough and you could be lucky (as we were) and see one or two of the island’s badgers feeding at the door. Cost Rates start from around £350 per night for a standard twin on king room, including breakfast and afternoon tea. The final verdict The Isle of Eriska has a certain charm that can only be appreciated by visiting and experiencing it for yourself. Isle of Eriska Hotel golf Disclosure: The above formed part of a luxury Scotland mountain bike trip sponsored by Caledonian MacBrayne, Ridgeback and Madison.

Paul Johnson

Paul Johnson is Editor of A Luxury Travel Blog and has worked in the travel industry for more than 30 years. He is Winner of the Innovations in Travel ‘Best Travel Influencer’ Award from WIRED magazine. In addition to other awards, the blog has also been voted “one of the world’s best travel blogs” and “best for luxury” by The Daily Telegraph.

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7 Comments

  1. This is a gem – a great hotel has the cottage option, as you get all the benefits of 5* as well as oodles of space to relax in privacy! Great to see somewhere like this staying in a family and not being bought up by overseas – long may that continue

  2. Wow, what plush accommodations and what a stately manor home. The rooms, food and amenities all look so well done and attention to details is what luxury stays like this are all about.

  3. What a gorgeous hotel this looks like! I have to admit I haven’t even heard of the Isle of Eriska before reading this post but now I am intrigued to find out more and hopefully go and explore this part of Argyll sometime soon.

    We are actually heading to Scotland for the Ryder Cup at the end of September so maybe we will have time to head over there and check out this gorgeous establishment for ourselves.

    I love how there are 100s of hectares of gorgeous natural landscape to get out and explore while relaxing in the tranquil setting of the property.

  4. Fabulous Paul. Isn’t it wonderful how the family have made such an amazing 5 star venture and continue to invest. That’s a labour of love, for sure.

    Oh yes indeed, those foodie photos certainly do the talking and it’s great what you said about the head waiter. 5 star and pretentious don’t have to hand in hand at all, they obviously shouldn’t.

    What a glorious location and the accommodation seems just perfect.

  5. My husband and I were just talking about a trip to Scotland. I’ll have to show him this . I love the way the family has been able to keep the house and the Isle of Eriska themselves by turning it into such a luxurious spot. I’m sure it wasn’t easy and give them lots of credit! Looks like a great spot off the beaten path. Is the area flat there-that’s how I like to bike!

  6. This is a very special place indeed. Still to dine here but it looks like you had a wonderful time. If you go back, a day trip to Tiree from Oban is a great way to spend a day. There is a bus tour available when you get there and also lunch available. Fabulous beaches!

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