Loch Ness Lodge
Loch Ness Lodge: the Hidden Gem of the Mysterious Lake
What amazes us most?
Incredibly warm, considerate and personal service provided by the owner of the boutique hotel, our smiling and very friendly host, Scott.
Why should you come here?
To hunt for (and if you are lucky, to see!) the most incredible and mysterious animal in the world - Nessie the Monster - who has made this area extremely popular among tourists over the years. While searching, you can enjoy the best-ever breakfast and hand-made pastries at Loch Ness Lodge, the best service, the best hospitality, and the best bed and pillows – I know I did!
THE MOST
special thing about the hotel
We arrived at the hotel after more than three hours driving from Edinburgh and were a little bit tired; the only thought we had was getting to our room, fast. But upon arrival, we were surprised not to find... a traditional reception. Instead, we were greeted by the beautiful smell of fresh flowers in a highly decorated hall and exclusive furniture with traditional Scottish elements like tartan carpets and thistle flowers, and Scott, the owner of the hotel. This young, smiley guy won our hearts immediately. He talked a lot, made jokes and invited us to have afternoon tea in the cosy drawing room with a magical view over one of the most popular lakes in the world – Loch Ness.
Loch Ness Lodge is one of the few hotels in the area located on the hill and it can be proud of its unique location and amazing views. Guests can enjoy the beautiful scenery without even leaving the hotel.
About 90 years ago, the first tourists came to this area after several articles in national newspapers about an unknown creature which was seen near the lake. Since then, the villages around Loch Ness have become very popular among Monster hunters (we met the boat captain who has been exploring the depths of Loch Ness for 30 years in his boat with an echo-sounder) and travellers looking for a tranquil paradise and untouched landscape. We thought we belonged to the second group of tourists. But after our delicious tea, carefully selected by Scott in the best shops of Inverness, we were completely relaxed on the sofa by the window and… we saw the Monster! In the lake, we noticed fluctuations in the water. Suddenly we felt like real adventure hunters and nature explorers, but Scott was smiling – waves and unusual currents are a common phenomenon here. That’s why the legend of Nessie the Monster is still alive after so many years and attracts tourists from all over the world to Loch Ness.
After such an exciting afternoon, we finally we got to our gorgeous room. There are just seven rooms in this boutique hotel and every guest is treated like a VIP. We didn’t feel like we had come to a hotel, we felt like we had come home. The place was full, but we met the other guests just once. We played chess, checkers and the other board games in the drawing room, drank tea and laughed a lot. After a long and tiring day of travelling, I felt relaxed and happy.
People who are looking for flashy luxury will probably not understand the concept of this small hotel with minimum intrusion and maximum attention to detail. But, if you are tired of huge hotels with thousands of guests, and you would like to spend time together with your beloved, you will definitely appreciate this unique place. “Luxury without pretension” – could be the main slogan of the Lodge. After you come here once, you will definitely come back. This is the reason why Loch Ness Lodge has won the Wedding Hotel of the Year Award, 2009; the AA Guest Accommodation of the Year Award, 2009 and 2010, Scotland’s Small Luxury Hotel of the Year and other highly-rated awards.
Another thing I have to tell you about is the breakfast. This is truly the best breakfast I have ever had in my life - with very tasty, unusual and organic ingredients. Scott came out to welcome all of his guests personally to the dining room, with a variety of language greetings, took orders and served food with personal recommendations of the day for each family.
The concept of a hotel like this came to Scott while he was was studying hospitality at university. After graduation, he joined the family business with new and fresh ideas. Scott created this hidden retreat on the hill where his father had already built four self-catering cottages. In 2005, Scott started work on a new building – the Lodge - and after two years, they had their grand opening. Scott saw a niche for an exclusive but intimate venue in the Loch Ness area and he was right. Scott personally visited a number of designers to find the appropriate person to help him carefully blend traditional and contemporary design. He created an amazing garden with small bridges across the pond and blooming bushes.
I loved the silence of this place, the location and, of course, the very warm service was second to none. Like many other guests, I am already dreaming of coming back here next summer.
HOW TO MAKE
the most of your stay
All seven rooms in the hotel have been individually styled and named after the most interesting places in the area – Loch (“lake“ in Gaelic) or Glen (“valley” in Gaelic). We suggest booking the best, premium plus room in the Lodge, Affric – named after the beautiful glen in the Highland region of Scotland. It is a winningly romantic room with furniture that Scott inherited from his parents. The main highlights of this room are the double-ended jacuzzi bath and the turret. The large windows of the turret make this room even more spacious and sunny and, of course, provide an amazing view over Loch Ness.
If you would like to spend more than three days in this unique boutique hotel, we recommend booking one of the charming luxury cottages, which you can find in the grounds. Each of the three cottages is set in its own private garden with panoramic views across Loch Ness, and all the comforts of home. Some cottages also have a sauna and jacuzzi bath for the best relaxation.
WHAT ELSE
to see and do around
There are activities available right on site at Loch Ness Lodge, including kayaking along the Lodge’s own private pier. One can get to the Loch’s shoreline below the road via a secret underpass. Scott is happy to organise a programme of activities to suit your individual tastes, from adventure sports like water rafting, mountain biking, hiking or paintball, to quieter pastimes like fishing or boat trips. Some exclusive options also are available. For example, a helicopter trip is a great way to see the landscape.
There are a couple of castles in the area worth visiting: just 10 minutes' drive from the Lodge one can find the Urquhart Castle ruins located on the banks of Loch Ness which provide stunning views; Dunrobin Castle, one of the Britain’s most continuously inhabited castles with 189 rooms; Cawdor Castle romantically linked by Shakespeare to Macbeth; and Eilean Donan Castle – one of the most iconic images of Scotland. And don’t forget to pay a visit to the capital of the Highlands of Scotland – Inverness.
HOW TO
get here
Loch Ness Lodge is located just 40 minutes away from Inverness Airport; 5 minutes' drive from Drumnadrochit Village on the west shore of Loch Ness. The boutique hotel hides on a hill off the A82 road and one could easily pass by without finding it. Don’t drive too fast and you will see a sign for Loch Ness Lodge on the road.
General Manager Talks
Mr Scott Sutherland
I always had a dream of building not just a hotel, but the ideal place, where every guest would be treated like a VIP. A place where guests would feel as comfortable as if they were at home, would get the best individual service like at an exclusive hotel, and would feel free and able to relax like they were in a country house. Every day I meet people from all over the globe and I love it. I enjoy being here all day long, sometimes 12 hours a day. It's not just my job, it's my baby and my passion. There are four people here working every day. We have a chef in the mornings to cook breakfast and make fresh pastries for afternoon tea. Every day we provide fresh food and new recipes. Our small team tries to give the best possible experience to our clients and we want every guest to feel the warmth and the soul of this special place. I want Loch Ness Lodge to be the place they recharge their batteries and relax. I am happy to see people coming back for a second and even third time.
