Virginia creeper

October: A Warm Welcome

As we wend our way through October, the air cools and the Autumn leaves fall. The Virginia creeper that climbs up the side of Ardanaiseig blushes crimson and we take a deep breath of autumn. With a keen eye, a walk through Ardanaiseig’s grounds will reveal a myriad of fungi species hiding under fallen leaves,…

Romantic Loch Views: The Boatshed

The view of Loch Awe from the Boatshed     The crisp water of Loch Awe gently laps at the shore. The Crannog, ancient dwelling place of the Picts, rises above the water providing a much-loved landmark. Across the loch lie mountains, including the 3,710ft-high Ben Lui which is the namesake of one of Ardanaiseig’s…

Glen Orchy

Orchy: A Room with Highland Connections

Continuing our look at the origins of Ardanaiseig’s intriguing room names, this month we’re looking at our Master Garden View room Orchy. Located on the ground floor of the hotel, Orchy has a rather special addition. At the top of some small steps sits a small conservatory, perfect for sipping your morning cuppa or lounging…

Loch Etive. Attribution: Jamie Campbell

Jewels of the Highlands: Glen Etive

  The namesake of our Master Garden View room Etive, Glen Etive and its river and loch are quiet treasures of the Highlands. Located north of Ardanaiseig in Glencoe, Glen Etive features the two munro mountains Buachaille Etive Mòr, a 1,021m-high peak affectionately known as the Great Herdsman of Etive, and Buachaille Etive Beag, a…

CIS-Excellence-Awards-logo

Award Nomination! Catering Scotland (CIS) Excellence Awards

Ardanaiseig is thrilled to announce that we’ve been shortlisted for the title of the country’s top hotel in Scotland’s most prestigious hospitality competition, the Catering Scotland (CIS) Excellence Awards. We are one of three proud finalists in the category of Best Independent Hotel. Our lovely General Manager Annabel Gregory commented: “Entrants for these awards include some of Scotland’s…

Kilchurn Castle

Jewels of Loch Awe: Kilchurn Castle

  As anyone who has visited Ardanaiseig will know, that view over Loch Awe of the crannog, Ben Lui, and the surrounding mountains is really something special. However as a 41 km-long body of water, the view from Ardanaiseig only shows off a small, though spectacular, part of the loch. If you travel to Loch…

Ben Lui

Room With A View – Ben Lui

  Master Loch View room Ben Lui   Ardanaiseig’s Master Loch View room Ben Lui takes its name from the Munro that can be seen through its window. An eye-catching part of Loch Awe’s beautiful backdrop, the 3,710ft high mountain is one of the most stunning of the Southern Highlands.   Ben Lui seen clearly…

Exterior - Winter

Hogmanay 2016 at Ardanaiseig

Hogmanay is the Scottish celebration of New Year’s Eve. Common traditions are ceilidh dancing and the singing of “Auld Lang Syne”, which is a Scots poem by Robert Burns. A custom which is less well-known is first-footing, which involves being the first person to visit a friend or neighbour and ‘cross the threshold’ of their land or property.…

Ben Cruachan ridge (photo courtesy of Ardanaiseig Hotel kitchen team member Sebastien Gouwy)

Ben Cruachan: The Hollow Mountain

If you’ve stayed with us before, you’ll know that each bedroom at Ardanaiseig has its own name. Over a series of blog posts, we’ll be exploring each room in turn, uncovering how it got its name and what makes it unique. For the first in the series, we’ll start with Cruachan, a Master Loch View…