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Review: The Cluanie Inn, Glenmoriston, Highlands, Scotland, UK

Situated in the remote wilderness of the picturesque Glen Shiel, which lies along the route to the Isle of Skye, The Cluanie Inn oozes rustic Scottish charm and character, but with a rather unique Indian-inspired twist that shines through with some of the cuisine. The inn forms part of Black Sheep Hotels, a small group of boutique hotels, lodges and restaurants in Lochaber and Inverness-shire, owned by Mumbai-based hospitality company, Mars Hospitality Group.

The welcome

After a long drive, we were given a warm welcome by Sara on reception, before being shown to our room personally. Everywhere was very homely and welcoming, with seating areas where you can just sit and read a book or enjoy a wee dram – just like a traditional Scottish inn should be. We were travelling with our dog for this trip, so were also shown designated areas where four-legged friends could be exercised.

The room

We stayed in room 4 Рa dog-friendly Highland Suite with a wooden four poster bed. The d̩cor is very fitting with an old world charm about it, tartan-esque wallpaper, all traditionally furnished with antique pottery and ornaments, and with Scottish artworks adorning the walls.

Tea and coffee facilities and complimentary Highland Spring water are provided, as is a selection of magazines РNational Geographic Traveller, Country Life, Cond̩ Nast Traveller and a guide to the best places to visit in Skye and Lochalsh.

In the wardrobe there is a safe, and an ironing board and iron, and the in-room telephone links to reception, housekeeping and the duty manager, to the spa at sister hotel The Whispering Pine Lodge, as well as to the various dining options at each of the Black Sheep Hotels.

The windows from the room look out over the hills and on one evening we were lucky enough to spot wild deer right outside our window.

The bathroom

Our en suite bathroom consisted of a large whirlpool bath, complete with jets and coloured lights, with a shower over it, as well as a basin and WC. Don’t be alarmed by the water which can be brown in appearance – like much of Scotland, the water is derived from catchments dominated by healthy peatlands which are in fact naturally of high quality but do contain dissolved organic carbon.

Supplied toiletries are from the Highland Soap Co. – aloe vera shampoo, body wash, conditioner and soap with a subtle, woody fragrance of wild nettle and heather. Gowns and slippers, and a hairdyrer, are also supplied.

The facilities

Inspired by the rugged life of Highlanders, The Cluanie Bar & Kitchen serves mountain-inspired cuisine; a menu of American and Scottish classics such as burgers, ribs and steaks, as well as international favourites, particularly Indian and pan-Asian choices. You can dine in the bar or dining areas – both offer a lively and casual ambience for travellers and locals alike.

The Chargrilled Broccoli Florets – broccoli marinated with yoghurt and garlic, topped with toasted pine nuts – are a healthy and appetising choice from the starters, whilst the Crunchy Lentil Bites served with a coconut mustard seed dip will be sure to satisfy the hungriest of walkers.

My favourite was the Trio of Prawns, Mussels and Calamari – seafood cooked in a chilli coriander broth served with a slice of grilled sourdough.

But look out also for the Cajun Chicken Quesadillas – toasted tortillas with Cajun-spiced chicken, sweet peppers, red onion and Monterey Jack cheese – for an equally enjoyable alternative.

Mains include The Highlander Cheeseburger – chargrilled beef patty topped with cheese and served with fries, a selection of pizzas such as the Out in the Wild pizza (chorizo, Italian sausage, ham, mozzarella and mustard greens) and a number of international specials.

The Dal Makhani is a classic North Indian slow-cooked lentil curry that I can highly recommend. Alternatively try the Spaghetti Aglio e Olio – spaghetti tossed in garlic, olive oil, chilli flakes and Parmesan, with the option to add chicken, prawns or salmon.

The intimate bar is a lovely area to relax, serving wines, beers and ciders, not to mention an extensive selection of whisky.

Free WiFi is available at The Cluanie Inn and we found that it worked well throughout the building, despite the remote location.

The inn also doubles as a self-service petrol station which I’m sure has been a welcome sight for many a traveller frantically worrying about the next opportunity to re-fuel. And across the road, Black Sheep Hotels’ latest addition is the Landour Bakehouse – a great stop-off for freshly-baked goods, some from recipes dating back to the 1900s. The bakehouse gets its name from the British-era cantonment of Landour, at an elevation of 7,000 feet in the Himalayas, where Scottish citizens are said to have once exchanged recipes and high-altitude baking tips, first through conversation but then subsequently in multiple editions of The Landour Cookbook.

The bakehouse is a relaxed and fun stop-off; inside a sign reads “We do not have WiFi. Talk to each other. Pretend it’s 1895.” whilst another with an arrow pointing up the road reads “Complaints Department – 100 miles”.

Location

The Cluanie Inn is located along the A87 in the Scottish Highlands, on the Moor of A’Chralaig on Glen Shiel, at the western end of Cluanie Loch. Walks are available from the doorstep of the inn – within The Cluanie Estate – as well as on nearby hills and Munros including, among others, the seven Munros of the South Glen Shiel Ridge.

One of the nearest attractions of note is Eilean Donan Castle, which is a 30-minute drive away and sits at the confluence of Loch Duich, Loch Long and Loch Alsh. This iconic 13th Century Scottish castle has featured in many an Instagram feed as well as films such as Highlander (1986) and James Bond – The World is Not Enough (1999).

Whilst in that area, we also took the opportunity to visit the pretty village of Plockton and the Kyle of Lochalsh. Plockton enjoys a mild climate by Scottish standards, thanks to facing east, away from the prevailing winds, and you will even see palm trees growing there.

Our drive from The Cluanie Inn in the opposite direction to our next stop, Whispering Pine Lodge, was also very picturesque with beautiful loch views, the bonus of spotting a lone piper greet a small tour company, and the opportunity for a lovely woodland walk in Glen Garry pinewoods managed by the Foresty Commission.

Other nice touches

A welcome platter on arrival with fruit, cookies and the words ‘Welcome To The Inn….” written in chocolate greeted us in our room on arrival.


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Cost

Glen Twin or Glen Double rooms start from £130 per night.
The Highland Suite starts from £168 per night.

The best bit

Whilst The Cluanie Inn is full of rustic charm, arguably the best thing about it is its remote setting. Few places in the UK offer this level of solitude – a unique Scottish wilderness that is around 30 minutes’ drive from anywhere of note, yet is surrounded by 21 easily-accessible Munros. The Glen Shiel valley is a place where you can truly get away from it all.

Even though we live relatively close to the border with Scotland, our 6-7 hour drive to The Cluanie Inn makes you appreciate the vastness of Scotland, particularly when you consider that it would take another 4 hours still to drive to John O’Groats.

The final verdict

The Cluanie Inn is a welcome stopover for visitors en route to Loch Ness and the Isle of Skye, whilst also acting as a destination in its own right – not just for walkers interested in Munro-bagging but for guests seeking a remote reprieve from the hustle and bustle of their usual daily lives.

YouTube video

Disclosure: Our stay was courtesy of The Cluanie Inn from Black Sheep Hotels.

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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20 Comments

  1. That’s so good that traditional paper magazines are back. I’ve missed them. A few of the hotels that I’ve stayed at have had apps where you can download magazines. Reading a magazine on a screen is nowhere near as relaxing as kicking back and reading a glossy magazine – especially when it is on travel so that you can work out where you want to go next.

    1. I know what you mean, Angela… I am not a technophobe but I was in a suite in a hotel recently that had an iPad on the wall and four remote controls. Just putting on the TV was a challenge, and one of the remotes I discovered actually controlled the window blinds. The iPad on the wall seemed to be linked to a sound system for the suite, but there was nothing tangible that explained how everything worked!

  2. We love Scotland and generally like the food though over 2 weeks we can have our fill of haggis, oatcakes and salmon etc. A few nights of spicy food mid-holiday would make for a very nice break.

    1. The Cluanie Inn would suit you well, Jean! They have haggis on the menu, and other Scottish classics, but also plenty of traditional pub fare and international dishes.

  3. After the heat we’ve had to put up with recently I think Scotland’s looking a good bet for next summer. It all seems a lot greener and cooler than it is around my way. The way things are going I can see holidaymakers chasing after the clouds instead of the sun.

    1. Hi Steve – by good fortune, we managed to dodge the UK heat wave as we were in Iceland after our trip to Scotland. More from that trip will be appearing on the blog shortly… but yes, you are right – Scotland had its hottest ever day of 34.8 degrees Centigrade recently in the Borders, but that is still significant ‘cooler’ than other parts of the UK that topped 40 degrees.

  4. Even if we didn’t stay for a night it looks a great place for a pit-stop. Petrol, lunch and some goodies from the bakery. What more do you want?

    1. You’re right, Jack… worth a stop for those reasons alone. But if you are passing when there’s a vacancy, I would recommend staying overnight for the full experience! :-)

  5. Seeing all those deer from your window must have made your trip, you don’t get that sort of wildlife view everyday.

    1. Yes, Michael… we hadn’t actually noticed at first but my wife had just gone to let the dog out and looked up and saw them. Needless to say, the dog had to wait! She came back to tell me and I was able to take those photographs from the comfort of our own room. The herd stayed around for about 20-30 minutes before moving on.

  6. I’m not sure that short stay is the right title for The Cluanie. Yes, I can see that it’s perfect for a stopover if you need to break a long road trip.

    This is the sort of place where you ought to settle in for a week, do some walks, perhaps take a boat out on the Loch, do some bird-watching, chat with the locals. To me it looks a great base for slowing down and recharging the batteries.

    1. Fair point, Jessica… you could definitely spend a week there. There is a certainly a lot of serious walking that can be done from The Cluanie Inn, and you are well positioned for a variety of day trips. You could even comfortably make it on to the Isle of Skye and back for the day. The Skye Bridge is just a 40-minute drive away.

  7. Almost inevitable that you should find one of the locals walking through the heather in full traditional Scottish regalia whilst playing the bagpipes.

  8. The bar has a nice rustic look to it. Am I right in thinking that there’s a wide choice of whiskies available?

    1. Yes, Brian, there is an extensive selection. The Highlands has one of the world’s largest concentrations of whisky distilleries so you are well located if you like your whisky!

  9. I like reading hotel reviews and as I read so many I often forget them. Now, I keep a database of places that I’d like to stay. This one is quite different and very interesting so I’ll be putting it into that database.

    1. That’s good to hear, Hamish! I hope you get to visit The Cluanie Inn soon – and if you do, of course, please come back and let us know what you thought!

  10. For me the decor works, nice mix of traditional Scottish and lighter contemporary. Some inns go way over the top with the traditional look which can be far too dark and miserable.

    1. Hi Valerie – I think that’s a very fitting summary. All the tradition you’d hope and expect is there, whilst still being inviting and not oppressive.

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